15 Months!

Weight/Length- No idea. lol

Eating- You love food (you take after your mom in this regard!), and you starting to get better with a fork.  You are SOO proud of yourself when you can get something on your fork and into your mouth all by yourself.  But, I have to admit, I have caught you picking up food with your fingers and then putting it on your fork to finish the process.  =)

Teeth-Still 14.  We thought that one was working it's way through last month, but still no sign.  Hmm.

Sleep- Bed around 8:00 pm.  On the weekdays you have to get up about at about 7:15 to get to daycare, but on the weekends you've been sleeping in until 7:30 or later (sometimes 8:30... it's magical. lol)

 Clothes-Some 12, more 18 month now... though you are too slender for 18 month shorts... they look kinda goofy on you... but, we're making it work.  

Personality- Still very independent... and you're a climber.  You want to be up high, seeing what everyone else is seeing.  It's getting to the point that we turn our heads for a second and you're up on a chair or in the wheelbarrow or something. lol  I need to get you some kind of step stool so that you can watch what I'm doing when I'm making dinner.  You get super frustrated when you're down on the floor, but I can only do so much one-handed!

Likes/Dislikes-

• You're definitely a water baby.  You love playing in the water when I'm watering my garden, and you've started to like your kiddie pool a bit better, too.  And the water play area at OMSI?  Don't even get me started! lol
•  You love other kids.  You follow them around and try to make friends with everyone, it's adorable!
• You also love dogs... but just to look at them.  You'll walk up within 6 inches of them, but you don't want to touch, just look and bounce up and down.
• You LOVE kicking balls.  Doesn't even have to be your own. lol

•  You don't like feeling like you're being left out (i.e. you can't see what we're doing in the kitchen, garden, etc.)
• You don't like riding in the car.  You're not (always) vocal about it, but you put on your troll-face and it's obvious that you're not a happy camper.

Milestones-

• You can jump!  And you catch some pretty good air!
• You can climb into dining room chairs all by yourself now.  Meaning that you can help yourself to the piano whenever you want. lol
• I think that you went to your first parade (I don't remember if you've been to one already).  We went to the Fourth of July celebration at the local community center.
• You can reach the doorknobs... uh oh!

Vocabulary
Words you understand:

I've decided to eliminate this category.... the list is going to get too long! lol

 Words you can say:

• "Dad" (Sometimes "Da", sometimes "Dad", sometimes "Dada"... but I'm pretty sure that you're talking to him now, so I'm counting it).
• "Kitty" (sounds more like "key")
• "Bye" (you've said it a couple of times, but not regularly).
• "Shoe" (Sounds like a high pitched "shoooo")
• "Mama" (others have report that she says this... I've yet to hear it.  Go figure).
• "Two" (we say one, you say "two!")
• "Hi"  (gotten this one a couple of times)
• "Ball" (at least, we think that's what you're saying! lol) 
• While you aren't saying "yes" or "no" yet, you are making your opinion known with affirmative sounds and/or head nods.

Parenting Styles? Or Just "Parenting"?

I was reading some posts from one of the mommy groups that I follow on FB and saw a reference to "unschooling" their children*.  It got me thinking about all of the different "parenting styles" out there that I was 100% NOT familiar with before I got pregnant/had a child, and now see all over the place in mommy groups, media, social networks, etc. Did previous generations of mothers pay so much attention to documented parenting styles?  Knowing my parents, I highly doubt that Dr. Spock had much to do with our upbringing... my guess is that my parents raised us how their parents raised them (with a few tweaks here and there, I'm sure).  

At first I thought, If generations past didn't follow predetermined "styles", I'm curious what the next generation is going to be like (as I think that my generation turned out pretty good).  But then I started to think, what exactly ARE these "styles" other than a way that someone did something that worked and then they named it and told people about it?  I don't think that my parents followed a "style", and I don't think that Jacob and I do/will either, but I keep running in to things that describe what we have done... without intending to do.

For instance, we used Ferber's "Progressive Waiting" style of sleep training.  When introducing Emily to solid foods, we used a "Baby Led Weaning" approach.  In terms of Emily's independence and personal curiosity, Jacob and I fall into the "Detachment Parenting" style.  None of these were really discussed or planned... they were just what felt/feel right to us and seem to be working out ok.

This post may be a bit of a ramble, it really is just thoughts that I've had today, but again I'm left wondering, is "attachment parenting" a style, or just a way that works for some people?  Is "baby led weaning" something special, or just something that happened when a 10 month old grabbed a piece of bread off your plate and goes to town?  Did these "methods" really start out with all kinds of research and studies?  Or did an exhausted Sue one day stick her crying infant in a crib in order to step outside and count to three, only to discover when she came back he had fallen asleep, and the "Cry it Out" method was born?

I'm curious if methods and styles of parenting were as relevant in previous generations... thoughts?






*Per usual, I had no idea what this one was, but my good ol' friends Google and Wikipedia filled me in.  =)

Getting My Sexy Back

Is it just me, or has Justin Timberlake gotten MUCH more attractive as he's gotten older?

Alright, on to the actual post. :)

Since the beginning of July I've been trying to bike to work a couple of times a week (9 miles roundtrip) and have also restarted a Couch to 5k jogging program (I injured myself the last time a tried... really paying attention to my body this time). It's been less than three weeks, and I realized yesterday that my love handles are less handle-y and my baby-tummy is firming up. Its amazing, and I'm so happy.  I'm still about 20 up from my pre- prego weight and would love to get it off and get in better shape before we start trying for number two.

I've been using the Nexercise app to track my workouts. It's been pretty motivating to know that I'm writing it down... I find that I'm holding myself more accountable.  I also signed up for my first ever 5k in September so my goal is very concrete.

What do you all do to motivate yourselves to work out?

Relay for Life

This will be the 3rd year (and 4th relay!) that Jacob and I have participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.  Cancer has been a pretty big part of my life since I was about 12 and both my uncle and grandfather were diagnosed. 

I have come to terms with the fact that, with my family medical history, cancer is not a question of "if" but rather "when".  With grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, and uncles on both sides of my family having to deal with this disease, I find myself bracing myself... and doing what I can to help the cause.

It would mean so much if any of you out there in blogland would like to donate a few bucks in the fight for a cure.  When the "when" does occur for me, you, your family member or a friend, let's work together so that the chances are survival are no longer an "if" but a "when" (and a "win!")

Eugene Relay 2012

Did her part, wore herself out!  =)