we have a 14 month old

Post Hair Cut #2

Hartz is 14 months old.

My sister, Becky, said that months 14-16 are the "most challenging"... when she said it I thought, "whatever, my kid is super chill." Well, he still is really great, but he does do one thing that makes me want to drink a beer at 1pm some days.

He has started screeching... I said that I thought he sounded like a seagull and Chris thought it was more like a pterodactyl and I said "no, that is what Charlie Belle sounds like with the raspy noises she makes"... he continued on to tell me that no one knows really what a pterodactyl sounds like, which doesn't make sense since he said he knew... well, whatever, he screeches like someone might really be hurting him, but he just really wants something... i.e. to get the walker over the foyer threshold, to get the blankets he chucked out of his crib, to reach the toy he rolled under the couch.. you catch my drift. One day, he will politely say, "mama, can you help me?"... right?!

Other than that, he is perfect. :) Some highlights of this past month:

1. He took his first steps on August 5th (see prior post).

2. He gives super sweet hugs... I keep asking for them because I have this fear he is going to stop handing them out like candy.

3. He loves to eat. We do tons of avocado, cottage cheese, yogurt, pb & honey, peaches, mangos, toast, pancakes, and he dives into really anything we have for dinner. I am thankful.

4. He "meows" at the kitty... and any dog he sees. ha.

5. Started taking baths in the real bathtub.

6. We attempted to give back his paci one morning around 5am when he was screeching.. He explained that he hadn't had it for 2 months and didn't understand why you would shove a piece of plastic in your mouth. We might have screwed ourselves.

7. He loves the water.. pools, splash parks, baths, whatever you got.

8. He still has just his 6 teeth (4 on top, 2 on the bottom) We brush them with his banana toothbrush twice a day... usually.

9. I told Dr. Amber I have a real boy now, with bruises all over his shins.

10. He still LOVES balloons and isn't sweet anymore letting me know he sees/wants one at Publix or CVS (screeching episodes = embarrassed mama)

11. He still is nursing about 4 times a day.

12. He thinks he is so great when he stands with "no hands" ... he is getting really good at just standing.

13. Got his 2nd haircut by mama.

14. Says da-da like a champ and I think he has kinda said mama a couple times... but sounds more like nah-nah. It's close enough to make me feel loved.

15. Goes to bed by 8pm and wakes around 6am lately (gasp) ... naps usually at 9am and 2pm.

Oh wait he isn't perfect...what?!

We have been having a bit of separation anxiety. It doesn't seem to last long when we leave him... usually until a cool toy is introduced or something yummy is put in his mouth, but it does make my heart hurt to see him crying as I leave. Especially at the YMCA... running on the treadmill just doesn't seem worth putting him through something so traumatic (can you see my husband rolling his eyes, as I explain my thoughts about the pain he must feel not knowing if I am coming back?) I do know that it is good for him to be away from me and me to be away from him. It does make me run faster for sure.

Hartz, we love you. We are so thankful that we get to hang out with you everyday and watch you grow into a little person. You make our world complete. Love, dada and mama.

visit from the dunns

This past weekend, the Dunn family of 5 came down to spend a night in the cozy Van Slyke home. Yes, we had 4 kids and 4 adults in 1100 sq ft. Who says we need a bigger house?! Saturday mid-day, we met up in Lake Mary to try out the splash park there and headed home for afternoon naps... naps that didn't happen. Guess that's what happens when too much fun is going on. We got a chance to watch sweet baby Joanna (4 months old) for the evening while Becky, Chris, Sanders, and Andy all hit up medieval times with the Dunn clan. I love our family.

Hartz (13 months) & Joanna (4 months).. COUSINS!

Chris & Becky

Andy, Sanders, Hartz, and Heather splashin' it up

first steps

On August 5, 2011, Hartz Christopher Van Slyke took his first steps. Aunt Amber and Charlie Belle were staying with us since that's what we do when our men are out of town. Hartz had been standing "with no hands" for about 1/2 day and he was so proud of himself when he would let go for 2 seconds and fall over. Amber was holding him and he stood up and lunged forward towards me. Amber said, "he took steps!" and I thought no way, he just fell into my arms. But you know she is a doctor, so we tried again... sure enough he took 2 steps. We cheered and I was overflowing with pride for my boy. I dreaded texting daddy, who was out of town for work... his reply was something along the lines of "tie him down, don't let him move, stop him, wait till I get home" ...

Here is a video from August 8th where Hartz finally let us catch him in the act.

my mom

My mom was a super amazing lady. I can't believe it has been 9 years since we lost her. 9 years since I last saw her sitting, reading a book to her 2nd graders and I was able to give her a quick hug before I headed home... only to be awoken by a phone call while I took a quick cat nap on the couch before dinner. It has been 9 years, but I still can feel everything if I let myself.

I sometimes think that 8/8 is my day to just let my emotions pour out and truly let myself miss her. I think through all the things that she should be here for...especially all her grand babies. It still seems so unfair and brings me back to those months after she died when I would listen to Bebo Norman's song "Rita" over and over in the car. The main lyrics that brought me comfort were these:

Your broken body, it cannot weather
The years your youth still longs to spend
So go down graceful, sleep with the angels
And wake up whole again

'˜Cause it was not your time; that`s a useless line
A fallen world took your life

I needed to know that the pain of loss was not what God ever wanted and it wasn't His plan. This world is fallen and makes me so thankful to know the hope that rests in Jesus Christ and to know exactly who my mom is with.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder...

Today is day 3 of Chris being gone on a work trip to Kansas City. You would think that I would be loving my time of being a bachelorette...ahem... with a 13 month old.

I mean there are a few pros of being a loner for the week.

The pros:

1. Fruit loops with marshmellows for dinner.

2. No one thinking that I might be a little messy when they get home from work.

3. Less laundry.

However, there are way more cons...guess that is why most people desire a mate in life.

The cons:

1. I had to haul the stinky trash can off the street.

2. There is no one to clean up Hartz's mess after dinner while I give him a bath. (It was still there even after he was sparkling clean in his jammies)

3. The cabinets remain open after I rummage through them and forget to close them.

4. No one for Hartz to wave bye to in the morning and say "da da" to...

5. When 4:30pm comes around I am still alone with a kid.. 5:30pm still alone.. 6:30..

6. No dinner conversation except trying desperately to get my kid to use sign language instead of screeching for more avocado.

7. Watching "Chopped" alone just isn't as much fun.

I miss my husband. There are a lot of sappy reasons too, but I will spare you.

Family Time

Hot Baby

This past weekend we had a blast with Nana, Hogpaw, and cousin Amanda visiting. Saturday morning we all went out (sans Amanda since she flew in Saturday evening) to the Children of the Nations Run for Africa 5k. I didn't get a single picture, but Chris and Nana ran/walked it. It was hot and they were awesome.

Sunday we braved the Central Florida zoo. I think Amanda from New York realized why Disney in July might not be the greatest idea. We all had sweat in places we never thought possible. ha. But, it was a good time and I think Hartz was stunned that animals from his books actually are real.

Our Tour Guide

Sharing his eating space with the goats...

After touring the zoo, Hartz made a last stop at the splash pad.