Finally, an update!

This week has been busy. I've started babysitting two kids a couple of days a week. The days I have the kids are long and I generally have them for 12 hours on those days so I've been busy this week.

On top of that, my boy still has a runny nose and I've been wiping boogers for over a week now. Fun!

Matthew has started walking!!! It's amazing to think that my baby boy isn't a baby anymore. He's a toddler now! He took a couple of steps for Gilbert on Monday night and then didn't do a whole lot for a couple of days. On Wednesday he started taking more steps and now he's starting to walk several feet before he either loses his balance or just plops down on his bottom.

My booger nose



Inspecting Daddy's big hand



My happy, silly monkey







So happy! (and standing up on his own)









Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddd here are the videos of my boy taking a few steps around the living room. He gets better every day.


Untitled from Melissa S on Vimeo.


Untitled from Melissa S on Vimeo.


Untitled from Melissa S on Vimeo.

Sorry, people. No new pictures today. It was a rough weekend here. Matthew got Gilbert sick and they were both grumpy all weekend. Matthew seems to be coming around. Hopefully I'll have a nice photo update for you all =)

There have been a lot of tears around here lately. I'm trying to wean Matthew now and he hates the taste of formula. I'm supposed to wait until he's one to give him cow's milk but he hates formula. He'll take a sip and as soon as he tastes it, he throws a fit. This goes on for a loooooooooooooooooong time at dinner. I called his doctor and we talked it over and she wanted me to try another kind of formula. Problem is, formula is expensive and I'm not really willing to spend more money on something that could potentially just be wasted. She said I could give him cow's milk in a couple of weeks if he really doesn't take to the formula. I've had several of my mom friends tell me that they started their little ones on cow's milk at around 11 months, too. So... in an effort not to confuse him by going back to nursing him at dinner, I gave him some cow's milk last night to see if it's really the taste he doesn't like or if he's just rejecting the idea of weaning altogether. After a much shorter struggle than the ones we've faced with formula, Matthew drank all of the milk in his sippy cup. Yay! This is major progress because no matter how patient I was with the formula and no matter how long we sat there, he would never take more than an ounce. Now I just have to watch for any type of allergy symptoms. I'm hoping he doesn't show any and we can continue with the milk. It also seems as though he may be coming down with a cold. Good times.

I can't believe my boy is going to be 11 months tomorrow. We're down to our last month of having a baby. He's almost a toddler. I can't believe it.

Matthew and Daddy played drums together. Matthew wouldn't let Daddy have the good drum sticks, though.



So... Matthew is terrified of the sound that his power wheel makes when you push the button to make it go. However, he has decided that it's a lot of fun to push around the room.







He's taken an interest in books. He loves looking at the book Grammy sent him last week. He particularly enjoys pointing to the dog while saying "dog" =)



Happy boy





We went to the grocery store yesterday and he got his first balloon while we were there. He was so happy.





Lots of thunderstorms over the last two days. I love the rain. I just wish it was cold rain. Instead, it's hot, sticky rain. Ah, to live near the gulf =).

It's a sad day in the Saldana house. Our handsome little boy with gorgeous, curly, shaggy hair... now has short hair... I took him for a hair cut yesterday and the lady misunderstood me and because I was trying to keep him distracted I didn't notice until she took out the clippers to clean up his sideburns. He's still gorgeous, but we LOVE his shaggy, curly hair. Hopefully it will grow back quickly.

It's been a big week for Matthew. Grammy has been sending gifts over. He got his birthday present early and she sent him some books and a lion puppet. Life is good for the boy.

I love that he now stands on his tip-toes to get things he can't reach.



I miss his hair



This one of the books Matthew has taken a liking to recently. The penguin in the middle of the book is actually a finger puppet.



And this is how he likes to hold the book





He looked like a 50's basketball player in his jersey and high top converse



Opening his gift from Grammy





Checking it out again this morning with his new haircut



I tried to style his hair but it wouldn't stay this way because it's too curly





This video is a little long but definitely worth watching. Matthew's first ride on his power wheel.


Untitled from Melissa S on Vimeo.

"Seriously, Mom, enough with the camera."



Standing up on his own



Breakfast!



I promise he really liked the waffle



This is how my son has decided he likes carrying his sippy cup around



Ready for his nap



Happy boy with a full tummy



All 6 teeth!





Ok, these next few pictures started out being really funny and by the end I was trying not to laugh because he was really mad. He found Gilbert's jedi cloak on the floor (seriously, how many wives can say that???) and he somehow managed to wrap himself up in it. He knows how to get out of it but it took a bit more effort this time around. Poor guy was mad by the time he got himself out of it. Of course, I took pictures before I picked him up, but he was pretty happy after that.









All of that anger was quickly followed up by lots of hugs and a nap. This video was shot before his boundless rage presented itself.


Untitled from Melissa S on Vimeo.

Saturday was Star Wars day here. Gilbert and a couple of guys watched all 6 movies in one sitting. It was insane. Matthew hung out with the guys for a little bit, too.

Sam and Kelly enjoying the movie



Sam and Matthew playing with the lightsabers





Even Mommy got in the spirit for a bit



Todd, Sam, and Kelly enjoying more of the movies



Jedi Sam



Uncle Gilby and Sam



All of the nerds that survived the entire day... Matthew had already gone to bed so he didn't get to be in the picture



Yesterday we spent the afternoon cleaning up the mess from Saturday and then we relaxed. Matthew got curious about the ice in Daddy's glass. He kept forgetting it was cold and kept reaching for it. It made for some laughs:


Untitled from Melissa S on Vimeo.

A poor quality video of Matthew saying "dog".


Untitled from Melissa S on Vimeo.