18 Months!

Here is another post I wrote before but never polished!  February 1st, 18 months!

It's so hard to believe that my baby boy has been out of my belly for 18 months now.  I know every one says the time just flies by so to enjoy every moment.  Let me tell you something, it does, and I do.

Crinks chilling out on the benches at the aquarium

I haven't worked in childcare and I'm the first of my friends to have kids so I'm not sure what is 'normal' for this age.  But I think he is so smart.  And I'm not saying above average or anything but it is just amazing what he understands.  Here are a couple stats on the little man:

Weight - 25 lbs (45th percentile)
Height - 33.5 in (85th percentile)


And just because pictures are fun and I'm at home, I can post them...

My two favorite men

Gavin at his cousin's 3rd birthday party

Upside-down baby!

My Baby and I

He does this adorable thing where he just rests his forehead against mine.  I love it :)

Back at Christmas time

His first snow!  All bundled up and ready to go!

Playing with one of his new toys

I'm seriously loving this time with him and LOVE this age.  It's absolutely fascinating to me to watch him comprehend so many things.  When he watches you do something and copies, it is just amazing!  I'm sure I won't say that when he's copying my language!

Speaking of language he's got a few words down:

"Bye Bye" - clear as day
"Hi"
"Hi Doh Doh" - Hi doggy
"Hi Doo Doh" - Hi Juno (one of our pugs)
"Ball"
"Dahh" - dark
"Dahs" - shoes and socks
"Mla mla mla" - Banana, it's really cute when he says this.  His tongue sticks out at every 'l'
He knows what sounds a couple animals make but a majority are grouped into "woof woof" or "neee" (aka, "meow")

He has this one phrase which The Bage and I can't tell what it is, "What-ih-what-tahh".  You have to say it fast and all together like one word.  It's just funny.  I think I got it on video (hopefully!).

I can't think of much else right now.  He's transitioned into the 18 - 24 month room at daycare.  They have a lot more freedom there to run around the whole room.  The Bage and I aren't huge fans of the teachers in there so much but hopefully it'll just take a little time to warm up to them.

Pace,
Megan

Go Blu!

 

Light...

So on Saturday February 9th I received my Philips GoLite Blu (For some reason I started writing this but never posted it!).  The Philips light is a therapy light to help people who deal with, suffer, whatever you want to call it with Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD, as so appropriately acronymed).  It's not FDA approved so that that for what it's worth.  However, various studies have been done showing positive effects.  Even if it's just a placebo effect, I still think that's better than feeling crappy all Winter!

Philips goLite Blu

 I wanted to start with a baseline and kind of update people as I go along in case any one else is wondering about how and if this works.

I chose the Philips goLite Blu because of it's features.  Due to the cost of these devices you probably won't be able to try different ones at will unless you can borrow someone else's. 

Features:

1) It's compact, and can run off a charged battery for a couple days. 

2) Adjustable light settings.  I feel like a majority of the SAD lights I looked at really only had one light intensity.  The goLite Blu has 4 making it versatile for finding out what intensity and time combo works best for you.

3) It had an alarm.  You can set an alarm for either a sound chime or the light to turn on.  Or both!

4) It has a timer!  When the time runs out, it automatically shuts off.

So upon receiving it (purchased off Amazon) I opened it up and stayed patient while I charged it the 8 hours recommended before turning it on.  When I turned the light on,  I was blinded.  Sort of, just be careful and LOOK AWAY as the light is on full capacity!  Anyway, I had some difficulty figuring out how to set the timer and alarm.  I didn't quite get the symbols at first either.  I felt the instructions could have been a little more clear but I made it through. 

For those interested here are the symbols and their meanings:

"Bell" - If this symbol is on, a chime will go off (and it's not quiet) at the time set on the alarm
"Sun" (or ball with spines) - The light will turn on at the time set on the alarm

*If you have a combo of the above two showing, both things will happen

"Clock" - This is the timer and will count down the minutes to the light turning off.

Once I figured the above out, the rest was easy as far as increasing and decreasing the light intensity.

I'll follow up once I've been using it for a while to report back!

Pace,
Megan

I'm done with today.

I just feel like nothing.  I feel like crying.  I don't feel like thinking.  I feel trapped in this stupid chair.  I feel trapped in this work.  I don't want to drive.  I don't want to have responsibility to do anything.  Sometimes I wish I could be like those people don't care.  I don't really mean that.  I can't fathom deciding not to pick up my kid or whatever.  I just want to go home.  I just want all the happy things and to not do anything right now.

I feel like I try and try and nothing even gets caught up.  I can't handle this and I'm trying really hard.  I try to realx and take breaks at home but things need to get done that don't get done.  Something needs to change but I don't know what.

I just want to go home.