Tripp Turns ONE YEAR OLD

Tripp. Tripp. Tripp. My Little Boy. This past year has been a wonderful one with our little guy.  He has brought new depths of joy and happiness like I've never known.  I am so thankful for this little man's endless good days.  His smile is contagious and that grin brings a new level of love to the Sickler household.

Tripp, at one year old, loves to crawl. He army crawls most of the time, but is beginning to do a little stiff-elbowed, hand and knee crawl. He is pulling up on anything 30in or shorter. He loves to climb the stairs and is faster than a toupee in a hurricane when the gate is left ajar. Tripp has figured out how to open kitchen drawers and about 50% of the time can manage the kitchen cabinet doors as well.

Tripp loves to clap, to wave, to point and to grab. He is working on those fine little motor skills while turning the pages of his board books--he shakes, he is concentrating so! He is quite busy with the books, and will occasionally let you finish reading one to him. But most of the time, if you start to read a book to him, he wiggles down, finds another book, scoots back and enjoys "co-reading".

His favorite game is putting small things into bigger things, dumping out, and then repeating.  He plays with all of Charlie Ann's baby-friendly (and the non-baby-friendly, actually) toys, and tries to do everything she does.. especially coloring and magna-doodling.

Tripp is a chitter-chatter-chatter box.  He doesn't stop talking.  Even when I have soothed him to sleep, and as I am laying him down in his crib, he still is mumbling and smiling with his eyes closed.  What a funny boy.  He is saying a few words, like "stop, stop, stop", "all done", "daddy", "night-night", "Taiga", "mama" and "no, no, no, no".  (An insight into his little world, maybe? Ha.) He is learning sign language for please, thank you, more and all done.

He is a bit picky on foods.. rather, I have let him be pickier on foods. Sigh, some things gotta give.. and when there is a challenge on eat this! vs. eat something!, I usually go to the latter.  It's mainly just non-pureed meats and veggies that we have problems with.  But he does pureed meat and veggies just fine... Hence, why we are still purchasing jars of 'chicken orzo' and 'beef with mixed veg'.

Tripp still nurses.  Sigh.  However, over Thanksgiving, with the help of our holiday company, Tripp has managed to take a soft spout sippy cup! Whoop.  I have him on almond milk and occasionally cow's milk.  He is not really into it as a substitute for nursing, but... baby steps?  Also, he is successfully going to bed for Jarod or our holiday guests.  Which is like... MEGA-RELIEF for this mom. It's like a pinch hitter. A pinch hitter that you want to write into your will.

He is LONG AVERAGE and SKINNY still.  In the 60% for height at 30'', and 11% for weight at one ounce shy of 20 lbs. Ha. Tripp wears size 18 month clothes across the board.

Tripp is in the funny (not-so funny) stage of merging his two naps a day to one.  Making for either a long morning or afternoon (whichever one didn't get the nap). His night sleep is good. When he is not teething or under the weather, he sleeps a solid 12+ hours.

And, at 12 months old, he has 12 teeth. Chomp.

Tripp is the cuddle bug of the family- still snuggling and laying on shoulders.  He is so sweet.

Tripp is seriously a ball of joy and laughter and I am so thankful he is part of our family.

Tripp - 11 Months

Tripp's last "official" month as a baby. Gulllllllpppp. Someone stop the clock. For reals. 

Eleven months  

Loves: Tie-duh (Taiga), army crawling as fast as his four limbs can go, Autumn walks in the stroller, sticks and leaves and other collectables from said Autumn walks, Cheerios, smiling, talking, playing by himself, Charlie Ann... The list goes on and on.. I genuinely feel like this kid just loves LIFE! 

Hates: teething, runny noses and congestion, getting diaper changes, getting dressed, trying new food. 

Fav toy: Little People everything

Fav book: "garden animals" by Lucy Cousins (never gets old... It's been his fav for months)

Fav food: TJ's version of Ritz crackers, cheese and ALL fruit (fresh and chunked). That would be his meal of choice all day long if possible. 

New tricks and stunts: professional army crawler, pulling up to knees, clapping, signing "all done", sharing food and toys and *actually stopping* when being told "no" (ie, computer cords, {out of order} fireplace, chewing on bottoms of shoes, pulling up {and out} of baby tub, etc.) 

First carousel ride 

Eating: Tripp does a pretty bang up job of eating big people food in baby size chunks. However, to make sure he's getting a fairly balanced and healthy compilation of foods, I still will purée some veggies and meats.  Because, like I mentioned earlier, he'd just live off crackers, cheese and fruit in his little kingdom. He's like the perpetual baby shower food kid. 

Nursing: yep. Still luvvvvvvving it. Myself, ehhhh, can't wait til he's one!

Sleep: he's pretty good at it. Except when he's teething or has a cold. Both of which are happening as we speak, this week. Poor boy. I'm also thinking we are going to say good bye to that morning nap any day now. He seems to be able to take it or leave it nowadays, and it does get left a lot. 

Sleeping on Mom

Sleeping on Mom again

Size: Tripp is wearing all 12mon size clothes and some 18mon. This guy is SO LONG and skinny. The go to method is to roll the waist band of his 12mon pants in efforts to prevent him from crawling out of them. Silly boy. 

We all love Trippy Boy!

Tripp - 10 Months!

Another month passed last week, good grief!!

10 Months! 

He was ready for his nap, so he's looking a little sleepy..but still happy!

Likes: Toys! (especially balls and cars that easily roll, wooden stackers and electronic ones with buttons that make noise), stroller rides, ergo rides, Taiga's ears and nose and feet, army crawling, Cheerios, his sister's singing, electrical cords and chasing the vacuum.

Dislikes: diaper changes, most veggies not disguised with applesauce, holding still and getting dressed. 

New tricks: Army crawling... Everywhere!- Bring out the baby gates and remember to close doors. I am thinking this kid isn't going to be as containable as my other one. Pointing... So cute! He's really got that index finger working all the time. Going from Sitting to Crawling... So long being able to "keep" you still. Saying a lot of consonant sounds (d, g, m, b, p, w, t) on repeat.

And of course this new trick of spoon balancing.

Eating: well, we've pretty much moved on from most puréed foods. Tripp would much rather pick up bits and do it himself. And he's more prone to a wider variety of food if I let him do it on his own. This is a good thing because it's super easy to toss lunch on his tray and let him eat with the girls. It's a bad thing because my kitchen floor, booster chair, child and child's clothes are generally peppered with squished lunch. Needless to say, I'm mopping daily and changing Tripp's clothes two to three times a day. Also, I haven't been as strict with the four day wait rule either.. Oops. But on a plus note, we haven't encountered any more reactions, and we've crossed some big barriers (eggs, peanut butter, gluten, etc.)

Snacks from the floor are okay, yeah?


And chicken legs? Those are super okay, yeah?


Wild curls!

And he lives on graham crackers. Sorry, kid.

Sleeping: we are on a solid 6:30pm to 6:30am night sleep schedule. He's sleeping til about 4:30/5am, nurses, and goes right back to sleep for another couple of hours. His naps are at 9/10am and 1/2pm. He's kind of a short napper, about an hour or less each time. But I'll take what I can get. He doesn't show signs of dropping his morning nap yet, and I'm totally okay with that.

Nursing: he lovvvvvvves it.  Still going strong about 5 times in a 24 hour period. I've been making my exit strategy for his weaning in a couple of months. I have a feeling it's not going to be pretty.  

Firsts and other happenings: First time in the pool! A little apprehensive at first, but he warmed up quick. This month Tripp went on another camping trip to the Adirondack Mountains (see previous post). It was quite a different experience taking a 10mon old, as compared to taking a 6mon old.. (ahem, belly crawling e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e) and the sleeping was definitely a miss on the second night.  But we all survived, and much more fun was had than not, so I chalk that up to a SUPER successful camping trip with two littles. We also found a great board walk and pier about 5 min from our house, that's been the new "go-to" for the witching hour before dinner and bedtime.  It keeps us all sane.  Tripp is a growing boy (although because of a pediatrician debacle, I do not know his official size) and is completely in 12mon clothes (some 18 mon!!), is busting out of his size 2 diapers (but Mommy is cheap, and making him finish the box) and has three new pairs of fall shoes in size 3.  

Pool!!

The only cute thing about trying to tackle a drain problem at Home Depot.

Our happy place at Ontario Beach Park (again, note the graham crackers.)

Until next month, my happy little guy! 

Tripp: Nine Months

Here we go, nine month recap!

Favorite Foods: graham crackers and mangos

Favorite toys: First Puzzle, Little People, ABC 123 Puppy, and Play House. (Fisher Price, for the win!)

Favorite books: "Garden Animals" by Lucy Cousins. 

New tricks: sitting (confidently, and able to withstand bumps and nudges with out tipping over from an eager sister) waving (a lot!), pointing (a little) and scream squealing (too much!) 

New Sizes: 9-12 months in all clothes, size 2 diapers and size 3 shoes. Weight, unofficial from my own scale: 18lbs. Height, unofficial from my own tape measure, 28in. 

New solid foods: yellow lentils, carrots, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, spinach, cantaloupe, graham crackers, cinnamon, watermelon, pumpkin and chicken. 

Unfortunately, he has his mom's sweet tooth--so I am mixing most things with applesauce :/ He is very much into solid food now and eats lunch and dinner meals regularly.

Sleeping: this kid! It seems as though everytime I feel like we make forward progress in sleep routines, it barely lasts a few days before teeth, travels or a cold interrupts our progress. HOWEVER, the last four days have gone, on the whole, very well! As in 12 hour night sleep (with no mommy visits) and two 1-2 hour naps at 9am & 1pm. Maybe it's a new corner?? Hoping it lasts!!

Nursing: we are still going full steam ahead with the breast feeding. I have managed to cut it to 5-6 feedings in a 24 hour period. Tripp still does not do a bottle. While I'm very thankful for the ample supply and a good nurser, I am ready to have a little distance with this kiddo! 

Firsts: first trip to the beach! 

First double bath!

First playground!

First hike!

Sure love this boy!