Saturday, May 26, 2012
Cleaning Up
Jesper likes to help us clean up after dinner. Not exactly in the way that Josh and I would do it, though. :)
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sing-a-longs and First Words
No joke – Jesper was “singing” along with Adele’s “Rumor Has It” song in the car this morning. Every time she sang “rumor has it” in the chorus, he would go “uh-uh-uh-uh” in time with the song. So funny!
He also seems to have figured out his cup today. He refused his bottles but drank happily from his cup at dinner tonight. Here's hoping this new habit sticks.
Another new development - he said his first word today! I was quoting one of his books on his changing table tonight. It has a line "Bubbles blowing, bursting, POP!" and Jesper repeated "bubble." It sounded more like "bubba", but it was understandable and he kept saying it. I think it counts as his official first word (after mama and dada, of course)!
He also seems to have figured out his cup today. He refused his bottles but drank happily from his cup at dinner tonight. Here's hoping this new habit sticks.
Another new development - he said his first word today! I was quoting one of his books on his changing table tonight. It has a line "Bubbles blowing, bursting, POP!" and Jesper repeated "bubble." It sounded more like "bubba", but it was understandable and he kept saying it. I think it counts as his official first word (after mama and dada, of course)!
Changes
Jesper graduated from the Middle Infant to the Older Infant classroom on May 7. We had a parent-teacher conference prior to the change. They said he is excellent at manipulating toys (stacking blocks is his new trick) and is very social and active. He loves to play “Where’s Jesper” and often initiates games.
He is going to have so much fun in the new room – they have a lot of new and different and more challenging toys, do art projects every week, and have a music teacher come into the classroom on Thursdays.
So far, the transition was the easiest of any of his classroom changes. He hardly even seems to care that he is going to a new room. In fact, many times that first week he could hardly get on the floor fast enough when he saw the fun things they had planned for him that day (giant blocks one day, a parachute with balls the next, and mirrors all over the floor another day).
The same week as his graduation, he began transitioning to one nap per day. Oh, the freedom that comes with only one nap!! Several times, he has waited to go down for his nap until about noon but sleeps until almost 3pm. It’s amazing how much stuff you can get done in a 3 hr. time span. :)
He is going to have so much fun in the new room – they have a lot of new and different and more challenging toys, do art projects every week, and have a music teacher come into the classroom on Thursdays.
So far, the transition was the easiest of any of his classroom changes. He hardly even seems to care that he is going to a new room. In fact, many times that first week he could hardly get on the floor fast enough when he saw the fun things they had planned for him that day (giant blocks one day, a parachute with balls the next, and mirrors all over the floor another day).
The same week as his graduation, he began transitioning to one nap per day. Oh, the freedom that comes with only one nap!! Several times, he has waited to go down for his nap until about noon but sleeps until almost 3pm. It’s amazing how much stuff you can get done in a 3 hr. time span. :)
One-Year-Old
Jesper’s one-year appointment was on April 16. He was 32 cm. tall (97 %) and weighed 24 lbs. 10.5 oz. (75th percentile). I think he hit a growth spurt just a few days before his appointment, so his weight will probably catch up to his height in the next few weeks.
His sleeping and eating patterns are very much the same. We are still working to transition from a bottle to a cup. Jesper understands the concept but still gags and chokes on about every 3rd sip. I’m wondering if his tongue-tie is affecting his ability to control liquids in his mouth.
We asked Dr. Koch about the tongue-tie (again), and he referred us to an ENT specialist. We made an appointment for later in the month. The ENT specialist told us that Jesper is 100% tongue-tied (the frenulum goes all the way to the front of his tongue). He cannot stick it out past his lips. There isn’t a perfect correlation between how badly the tongue is tied and how many issues it can cause with speech, eating, dental hygiene, etc. Some people are badly tongue-tied and can talk well, while others are only moderately tongue-tied and have major speech issues. Either way, we are scheduling the frenuloplasty for Jesper and are hoping to eliminate the potential for problems later in life. If we waited and he did have issues, he would also have to have speech therapy to correct any bad habits he had formed while learning to talk.
He is still working on his first word and walking. He took a spill at school when he was cruising around the classroom and split his lip slightly, so his courage isn’t growing as fast as his balance. However, he is a very proficient crawler and is definitely getting into EVERYTHING!
His sleeping and eating patterns are very much the same. We are still working to transition from a bottle to a cup. Jesper understands the concept but still gags and chokes on about every 3rd sip. I’m wondering if his tongue-tie is affecting his ability to control liquids in his mouth.
We asked Dr. Koch about the tongue-tie (again), and he referred us to an ENT specialist. We made an appointment for later in the month. The ENT specialist told us that Jesper is 100% tongue-tied (the frenulum goes all the way to the front of his tongue). He cannot stick it out past his lips. There isn’t a perfect correlation between how badly the tongue is tied and how many issues it can cause with speech, eating, dental hygiene, etc. Some people are badly tongue-tied and can talk well, while others are only moderately tongue-tied and have major speech issues. Either way, we are scheduling the frenuloplasty for Jesper and are hoping to eliminate the potential for problems later in life. If we waited and he did have issues, he would also have to have speech therapy to correct any bad habits he had formed while learning to talk.
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| Hurricane Jesper in the doctor's office |
Happy Birthday in DC
Jesper turned one on Easter weekend (April 6). Happy Birthday, my sweet baby boy!
We flew to Washington D.C. to celebrate the weekend with Jodi, Paul, Stacie, John, Elise, Ariana, Grandma June, Grandpa Ron, Curtis, and Robbe. What a fun trip!
Wednesday
Josh and I both worked half-days on Wednesday because we were scheduled to fly out Wednesday evening. At about 11am Wednesday morning, I got a call from Jesper’s teacher because she had just taken Jesper’s temperature and it was 103 degrees. They suspected he had Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. Yikes! We had 4+ hours of travel time ahead of us that night.
However, despite his fever, Jesper was in a relatively good mood. It actually seemed to work to our advantage on the flights because he was tired and mellow. He even fell asleep right at take-off from Milwaukee to DC and slept for a good portion of the flight.
Thursday
On Thursday, Grandpa and Grandma Ratzlaff arrived from Charlotte right after Jesper went down for his nap. Once he woke up, we decided to visit the city of DC and do some sightseeing. We took the metro to the Air and Space Museum and then walked down the Mall to the Washington Monument and World War II monument. We could see some of the cracks in the Washington Monument from the earthquake last fall.
Side note: Air travel is a luxury I take for granted, but the Air and Space museum reminded me that it’s a relatively new science. I asked my parents about their first flight, and was surprised that they did not go on an airplane until they took Jodi and Stacie to visit our relatives in Oregon for Christmas 1981. They did not even purchase tickets before they drove up to the airport – they just bought the tickets at the gate!
The Gopher hockey team played in the Frozen Four later that evening against Boston College. We ordered pizza and watched the gophers lose a heart-breaking game. Oh, so sad to see the season end that close to the prize!
Friday
The guys (John, Paul, Dad, and Josh) headed to Andrews to play a round of golf. Stacie and Mom went shopping for a couple hours in the morning while Ariana and Jesper slept. Jodi and I hung out with Elise and sidewalk chalk until the babies woke up. Then we went for a little walk – Elise and Bailey skipping ahead, Jesper in the stroller, and Jodi trailing behind with Ariana in her walker. We must have made quite the sight!
Curtis and Robbe arrived later that afternoon just in time to tag along on our trip to the White House. Paul had organized a tour for the whole family with the VP’s presidential aide. We saw the Vice President’s official office first and Elise and I both used the secret bathroom attached to the room.
Then we headed to Vice President Joe Biden’s actual office (the one he uses vs. the one that is shown on tours). We waited around for a little while until President Obama left the oval office. At one point, Jesper dropped his pacifier and I was afraid that we were going to lose it in the office. He also had his diaper changed on the VP’s floor. In summary, he was kind of a big deal on his birthday. :)
We also saw the Oval Office, press room and rose garden.
Later that night, people without babies went out to eat at the Wharf. Those of us with children drove back to Jodi and Paul’s house for Thai take-out. The children had a pool party in the bathtub that night and LOVED it. I wish we were closer so they could see each other more often!
Saturday
Josh and I walked around Old Towne Alexandria on Saturday morning. We were looking for a little brunch place, but unfortunately, nothing opened until 11:30am. To pass the time, we walked up and down the street, through the Farmer’s Market, and down by the water. It was a beautiful spring day and really nice to spend some time together sans child.
When we got back to Jodi and Paul’s house, we officially celebrated Jesper’s birthday (a day late). He is generally very tentative with new food or situations, but didn’t seem to hesitate with the cake. He seemed to like it a lot! I’m pretty sure he would’ve made it his lunch if we had let him.
Jesper received money from both sets of grandparents and Bruce and Marnee Brandenburg and a giant blowup ball pit from John and Stacie and his cousins. We gave him a “lawn mower” with popping balls when we got home.
Later, we all went down to Olde Towne Alexandria to take family pictures and go out to eat. Thanks to our photographers, John and Robbe, we got some great pictures!
Sunday
Curtis and Robbe left on Sunday morning and I went to church with the family on Sunday morning while Josh stayed back with Jesper while he napped. After a barbeque lunch, the kids (Elise and Jesper) went on an Easter egg hunt in the backyard. Jesper wasn’t really sure what was going on, but I think he enjoyed the walk with Grandpa and Mom holding his hands. Elise was very generous with her Easter eggs and “helped” Jesper find many of them.
We napped, talked, and watched the Masters for the rest of the afternoon until Grandpa and Grandma left for their flight.
We flew home Monday morning. It was a fun trip and we are both looking forward to going back in September to visit Paul, Jodi, and little Baby G.
We flew to Washington D.C. to celebrate the weekend with Jodi, Paul, Stacie, John, Elise, Ariana, Grandma June, Grandpa Ron, Curtis, and Robbe. What a fun trip!
Wednesday
Josh and I both worked half-days on Wednesday because we were scheduled to fly out Wednesday evening. At about 11am Wednesday morning, I got a call from Jesper’s teacher because she had just taken Jesper’s temperature and it was 103 degrees. They suspected he had Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. Yikes! We had 4+ hours of travel time ahead of us that night.
However, despite his fever, Jesper was in a relatively good mood. It actually seemed to work to our advantage on the flights because he was tired and mellow. He even fell asleep right at take-off from Milwaukee to DC and slept for a good portion of the flight.
Thursday
On Thursday, Grandpa and Grandma Ratzlaff arrived from Charlotte right after Jesper went down for his nap. Once he woke up, we decided to visit the city of DC and do some sightseeing. We took the metro to the Air and Space Museum and then walked down the Mall to the Washington Monument and World War II monument. We could see some of the cracks in the Washington Monument from the earthquake last fall.
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| Grandpa and Grandma Arriving |
Side note: Air travel is a luxury I take for granted, but the Air and Space museum reminded me that it’s a relatively new science. I asked my parents about their first flight, and was surprised that they did not go on an airplane until they took Jodi and Stacie to visit our relatives in Oregon for Christmas 1981. They did not even purchase tickets before they drove up to the airport – they just bought the tickets at the gate!
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| On the metro |
Jesper does not sleep while moving anymore (too much to see!), but the sight-seeing really wore him out. By the time we got to the World War II monument, he was absolutely cashed. I picked him up out of the stroller and he fell asleep in my arms after only a few minutes. For a moment, I bravely thought I could carry my 25 lb. child back to the metro station that was 30 minutes away, but I was obviously wrong (a little behind on my strength-training, apparently). We got a cab back to Paul and Jodi’s house instead and my little man slept the whole way.
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| Josh and Jesper in front of the Washington Monument |
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| Grandpa, Grandma, and Jodi at the WWII Memorial |
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| World War II Memorial |
Friday
The guys (John, Paul, Dad, and Josh) headed to Andrews to play a round of golf. Stacie and Mom went shopping for a couple hours in the morning while Ariana and Jesper slept. Jodi and I hung out with Elise and sidewalk chalk until the babies woke up. Then we went for a little walk – Elise and Bailey skipping ahead, Jesper in the stroller, and Jodi trailing behind with Ariana in her walker. We must have made quite the sight!
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| One gift on Friday morning |
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| Birthday Boy |
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| Jesper and Ariana playing |
Curtis and Robbe arrived later that afternoon just in time to tag along on our trip to the White House. Paul had organized a tour for the whole family with the VP’s presidential aide. We saw the Vice President’s official office first and Elise and I both used the secret bathroom attached to the room.
Then we headed to Vice President Joe Biden’s actual office (the one he uses vs. the one that is shown on tours). We waited around for a little while until President Obama left the oval office. At one point, Jesper dropped his pacifier and I was afraid that we were going to lose it in the office. He also had his diaper changed on the VP’s floor. In summary, he was kind of a big deal on his birthday. :)
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| Waiting in the VP's office |
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| The girls in the Press Room |
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| White House |
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| The man who made the tour happen - Thanks, Paul! |
Later that night, people without babies went out to eat at the Wharf. Those of us with children drove back to Jodi and Paul’s house for Thai take-out. The children had a pool party in the bathtub that night and LOVED it. I wish we were closer so they could see each other more often!
Saturday
Josh and I walked around Old Towne Alexandria on Saturday morning. We were looking for a little brunch place, but unfortunately, nothing opened until 11:30am. To pass the time, we walked up and down the street, through the Farmer’s Market, and down by the water. It was a beautiful spring day and really nice to spend some time together sans child.
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| Playing |
When we got back to Jodi and Paul’s house, we officially celebrated Jesper’s birthday (a day late). He is generally very tentative with new food or situations, but didn’t seem to hesitate with the cake. He seemed to like it a lot! I’m pretty sure he would’ve made it his lunch if we had let him.
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| The boys watching the celebration |
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| Birthday cake |
Jesper received money from both sets of grandparents and Bruce and Marnee Brandenburg and a giant blowup ball pit from John and Stacie and his cousins. We gave him a “lawn mower” with popping balls when we got home.
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| The party included clowns |
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| Mom and Jodi |
Later, we all went down to Olde Towne Alexandria to take family pictures and go out to eat. Thanks to our photographers, John and Robbe, we got some great pictures!
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| The grandparents with their grandbabies |
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| Grandma and Grandpa |
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| Cousins |
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| How many adults does it take to coordinate 3 children in a photo? |
Curtis and Robbe left on Sunday morning and I went to church with the family on Sunday morning while Josh stayed back with Jesper while he napped. After a barbeque lunch, the kids (Elise and Jesper) went on an Easter egg hunt in the backyard. Jesper wasn’t really sure what was going on, but I think he enjoyed the walk with Grandpa and Mom holding his hands. Elise was very generous with her Easter eggs and “helped” Jesper find many of them.
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| Easter Egg Hunt |
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| Walking with Grandpa and Mom |
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| Elise finding Easter Eggs - so pretty in her Easter dress! |
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| Love you, Birthday Boy! |
First Haircut
Jesper got his first haircut on March 31. We went to Kid’s Hair in Edina and paid $16 ($12 with a $4 coupon). One lady cut his hair while another blew bubbles to distract him. They also had kid’s shows playing. The haircut took all of 5 minutes. He was a little unsure about the whole thing, but it was over before he could react. :)
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