Day Care Pics

David's primary teacher Ms. Darlene is quiting and going to work for a preschool. She loves taking pictures and as a parting gift she gave each child a CD of photos from their time in her class. Here are some of David's pics:

Busy

I haven't been on in a while, because we've been busy! I've been equally busy at home and at work. Summer is my busiest time at work. (It's better to work on gas mains in the summer when its warm then in the winter and have to cut off people's gas-no heat). Also, the DOT likes to close roads around schools in the summer when school is out. At home we've had things going on practically ever week end. Next weekend Zach is in Jeff's wedding in Milledgeville. It is going to be a grand event- the guest list is over 700 people!

David is doing well, babbling and trying to talk like crazy. Finger foods have proven to be a big problem. His teacher pulled me over on Friday and told me that we really needed to focus on David eating finger foods because at 1 year old he moves to the next class where they don't feed baby food anymore. Honestly, I just don't think he's ready. He just doesn't want to feed himself and if we put anything chunky in his mouth he spits it out. But, I don't want him to starve in the next classroom, so at dinner every night we are trying to put food out on his tray for him to try. That brings us to another issue- nothing we eat David can eat. Most of our meals have cheese, milk, egg, butter, peanuts, or something he can't have. So, we are having to cook 2 meals. I'm hoping David will get the hang of things and start eating the food!!

If you are reading this, I bet you know that cheese is made from milk. Well, David's teacher, bless her heart, did not. One day he came home from school and on his sheet it said David had cheese that day. We asked about it (because he's allergic to milk) and the teacher apologized and said she didn't know, but not to worry about it because he didn't eat it anyway. I thought that was funny.

I talked to David's daycare about me bringing in soy cheese so he can try cheese like the other kids, but they will not allow you to bring your own food. I feel like this is so unfair! If they don't provide soy products, they should let me take my own. Because of how RIGID his daycare is on many things, I've been looking into other day care centers. However, the fact that the current center's teacher to baby ratio is 4:1 and 8:1 everywhere else, I continue to keep him at this place.

David will move rooms at 1 year old, but the other stipulation is he has to be walking (not well, but a few steps). I am now really hoping that David will walk late so he can stay in his room longer and have baby food longer! I don't want to hinder his progress with walking, I'm just wishful thinking that he'll be late in that area- isn't that weird?? David is also supposed to be using a sippy cup by the time he moves rooms, and we are working on this and it is going ok. He will drink juice out of it, but not milk. I think we'll get to that point by 1 year old, though. And this, they are not as strict about, so I'm not worried about that.

Oh, I forgot to mention that David has Pink Eye again. We started noticing it yesterday mid-day. We have drops left over from last time so we started using them and went ahead and sent him to school because it already started looking better and we didn't want to have to take sick days. I'm actually working from home today, but I can't keep David at home becuase my boss said if I ever worked from home I was not allowed to keep David home and if he called me and David was there I'd be fired. And, I don't want to be fired! I understand where he is coming from- I might be able to work a combined 2 hours-maybe- if he were home.

Found mommy's credit card!

King decided to snuggle with sleeping David.

David got into the laundry and this is how we found him.

11- Month Birthday

Yesterday marked David's 11-month birthday. David has made some big developments in the past couple of weeks. First off, he can clap now! Yeah! Additionally, he has turned into quite the chatter box. His first word was 'hi'- which happened several weeks ago. He can also say 'dada' and 'cat' pretty clearly. He somewhat says 'mumu' (his version of mama) and 'duck' (more of an 'uck'). He also loves to point at things and make a sound. Granted, his sound usually makes no sense whatsoever, but he's trying! His teachers think that he points and says 'look', but I don't think he's saying that. He has also gotten very good at waving 'hi' and sometimes 'bye'.

David also had an evalutation at school. Every 3 months or so he gets one. I have to put a disclaimer here, I am about to brag. I usually get annoyed at bragging parents, but here it goes anyways. When Zach and David's teacher had his 'parent teacher' conference, the teacher told Zach that she thought David was the smartest baby in the class because he could follow simple commands (such as, come over here, roll the ball, hand me the toy). I didn't even realize that was advanced! Here is what David's report card said:

Accomplishments:
1. Developed some fine motor and self help skills. David grasps and manipulated objects and plays peek-a-boo with blanket and bibb.
2. David goes to the shelves and rolls the cars to make noise. He likes to make noise. He likes to sit at the table while the older infants are eating.
3. David plays peek-a-boo with care givers and hide and seek with his peers in the tunnels. He's gained an understanding of basic concepts and relationships.
4. David follows simple intructions (roll the ball)

Future Goals: (things he needs to work on)
1. Coordinate eye and hand movement. Learn to stack blocks without help.
2. Learn to eat chunky foods, and regular foods. Learn to feed himself.
3. Gain an understanding of knowing objects don't disappear when hidden.

So, David's 1 year is now rappidly approaching. I know I'm going to buy him some books from amazon.com because he is seriously lacking in the book department. I looked online and there are several for only 0.01 but they have a 3.99 shipping fee. I guess $4 for a book isn't too bad (used of course). I want to write more but I'm getting a call for work... I'll post then add on later.

Feeling the crunch

I didn't post about this, but when we were on vacation I got a speeding ticket. Then, nearly 1 week later, I got another speeding ticket- this one I got caught in a speed trap while traveling to some po-dunk town for work. Well, each one is $150 dollars. So, we are really feeling the crunch right now between spending extra money for vacation and my speeding tickets. Next week I have to travel a lot for work- Monday in Atlanta, Tuesday in Thomaston then to Macon then to Vidalia, spending the night in Vidalia Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday, then coming back to Warner Robins Friday. Whoa, I am going to be SO careful not to get a ticket!

Pool

We took David to our neighborhood pool yesterday and he LOVES it. I have never seen him have so much fun. He has a float he hangs out in and it's cute. We went at about 6/7ish so it wouldn't be so sunny. The pool water was HOT- almost uncomfortably so. That's Middle GA for you. Between the beach and pool trips we have had this year I would say that David is going to be a water bum. We tried dunking him under water at the pool and he didn't even cry. I'm thinking we are going to start swim lessons as early as next summer. We've decided we are going to try to go to the pool at least once a week now becuase David loves it so much. He really goes crazy shreaking, splashing, laughing, kicking, it's neat to watch.

Weigh-In

If you notice my weight bar hasn't moved it's because last week I didn't get weighed in do to being gone, and this week I weighed the same! Frustrating! 2 weeks and no loss- and I did stick to the plan.

Vacation Recap

Last week we headed to VA Beach for vacation. First, we stopped in Northeastern Carolina to see Zach's family and spend a night there, then we went to the beach for the rest of the week. My grandpa owns a trailer on the beach and my parent's family stayed there (my grandpa relocated to FL when my grandma passed away) and Zach, David and I stayed in the trailer next to that one (owned by a friend of my Uncles). It was a good time. David LOVED the water even though it was FRIGIDLY cold! I couldn't even put my foot in it, but he kept crawling to the ocean- the days of relaxing on the beach are gone for me! I thought he would sit under the umbrella and play or play in his pool (we brought out to the beach), but no such luck. He made a B-line to the water every time he could. I have lots to say about the trip and lots of pictures. I'll post the pics here:

Here is David and his cousing that is 1 day younger, Logan. David is doing his new favorite thing- pointing.

Zach's stepbrother Marshall with Logan and Zach with David.

Mimi (my mom) and David.

Zach and Amy

Me and my sister Lindsey (I'm 5'3" and she is 5'8"- at age 15, crazy huh?)

Our little beach bum

Intense water face

David and Mimi

David and Grammy (Zach's mom). Grammy came to visit us at the beach one day. (she lives an hour away in northeastern carolina)

Naked pool play

David will sleep anywhere with anything going on except in his crib or pack-n-play

4th of July

Our Family

David's mad face (he wanted the camera)

Hanging out with Aunt Lindsey and Grandpa

Anything is a toy!

David liked Aunt Lindsey's glasses