Happy New Year!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Pictures

A sleeping Klaus

A playing and standing Klaus (look a Care Bear!)

A Klausmas Tree

A locked-out-of-the-apartment-with-no-clothes-on-Klaus

A slightly warmer but-we-made-it-work Klaus.

The Christmas decorations are slowly coming down as the apartment starts to resemble a normal living area. We should have some sort of arrangement by next weekend that makes this place liveable. I try to keep up on chores while directing the putting-awaying of the second bedroom, but the floor is littered with clothes (some of which are not ours.. where'd they come from!?) and half-unpacked boxes. Still unsure of if I like this place or not. Part of me is wary and wants to keep everything packed, just in case we need to move again. I'm picky, but this place is cheap and its fine for what we need right now so hopefully soon I will relax and settle in. We're looking for an official babysitter to give us two nights a month off (or whatever we can afford on a month to month basis) now that Klaus is 1. consuming solids like a vacuum and 2. becoming more difficult. We've become "those parents" that bring "those damn kids" to restaurants at night. Klaus was throwing a fit on the way out of Pizzeria Uno the other day and someone not only sneered at us but cussed at the kid under her breath (!!!) and we were leaving, too. Hmph. It will be nice for Jim and I to work on "us" and have dinner once or twice a month without only conversing about how to keep the kid quiet, or admiring toys, or getting covered in sweet potato. Or worrying about the kid stealing the beer. Or all four at once while the waitress stares at us in woe. We've suddenly become 25% tippers on a regular basis, and they earn it.

The toy chest we bought is brimming with toys. I got him a sorting cube and he actually gets the concept- the toys go in the holes! Generally he tries to put them in the wrong holes, so he will like the whack-a-ball toy that should have been here yesterday. We've spent all the Xmas money buying even more toys before they become scarce in February due to new gov't regulations making it even harder to get decent toys. I'll update you all as they come. Jim and I have also gone out to eat a couple of times. I've lost a random 5 lb during the holidays and Jim refuses to look at the scale so I assume he gained it for me ;)

Jim has Klaus in the babyhawk and is procrastinating doing the dishes. He says hi.

Christmas Update from the Babymetz Group

Videos might not work, I'm trying to figure out youtube. The one at the bottom SHOULD work if the others don't.
I'm going to let Jim update you this time since I have a roast in the oven and I should tend to it!

Christmas Eve started off with our oven failing as we were trying to make cookies for Santa Claus. All of the presents were loaded under the tree with care and we had to take care to keep baby Klaus away from it as he kept making a bee line straight to them. The night continued on and the baby was restless. There was simply no sleeping with all of those presents under the tree for him. He ended up watching the Jeff Dunham Very Special Christmas Special with us and laughing at the appropriate moments. It was really funny. He finally fell asleep with visions of sugar plums etc...

Christmas morning started off with a call to the front office and a repair to our oven(they came out on the holiday! I was extremely impressed) Klaus promptly went to town on the gifts and proceeded in destroying a good amount of wrapping paper in the process. All of the presents were right up his alley and he quickly became over stimulated with all of the excitement that was going on. We have already found what can and can't be shot out of the Leap Frog toy that my dad has purchased for him and what can and can't be said with the talking caterpillar that was given by my mom. He got the hugest kick out of the books with the finger puppets attached to them. We got him felted wool blocks with bells in them and a hand crocheted pizza slice. With the gift cards we got a ball and hammer set, a peg and hammer set, and a wooden stacking ring toy before private toy makers have to withdraw from the US market. They should arrive next week.

Okay I kicked Jim off to take Klaus to the toy box. I am going to wash all my socks and pajamas and Klaus' new clothes tonight, I love having a washer and dryer in my apartment. Oops Klaus fell (still trying to walk) maybe will finish later... Goodnight and happy holidays, thank you for helping make Christmas happen this year everyone!

Christmas Videos!

Here they are.

Merry Klaus-mas!

Click here for full size :)
Klaus and Santa Klaus. He was really good, I thought we wouldn't get ANY terrified Klaus pictures, but we did. Maysa just has to edit them and such. Isnt this sweet though? The outfit was perfect.

Nine Months

Klaus can do everything in red!

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

• Stands while holding onto something
• Jabbers or combines syllables
• Understands object permanence (Sometimes he struggles with this, but has the idea)

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

• Cruises while holding onto furniture (I don't know, haven't tried, but I'm sure he would. He walks easily just holding me with one hand.. but still doesn't fully crawl on hands and knees!)
• Drinks from a sippy cup
• Eats with fingers
• Bangs objects together

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)

• Plays patty-cake and peek-a-boo
• Says "mama" and "dada" to the correct parent (Still calls Jim "Im")

My mom has told me that a lot of you are emailing her saying you are still reading but cannot comment. I'll try to figure out why they are disabled today.. sorry about that! Just wanted to make sure I wasn't typing to a brick wall ;)

*Fixed it. Sorry about that.

We are in our new apartment and are trying to unpack. I unloaded a big hairy tarantula the first day so I refuse to touch anything else from the garage, so this is going slowly. Klaus is popping his second tooth and is needy and cranky all the time, all he wants is for Jim to hold him and to take baths all day, or to destroy a teething biscuit while yelling at us.

Christmas is fast approaching and I'm hoping our place will be in order in time to get a little tree for pictures. (We haven't been able to find the cord that lets us upload the pics to the computer and thus we have not posted any.. I also need to download editting software onto this computer so until then, you all will have to settle for grainy phone pics, sorry!) I realized today that I hadn't gotten him ANYTHING to unwrap and hurriedly placed a few online orders today, and will try and get out to get him a couple of wooden toys at the boutiques this weekend if we have time after unpacking everything. Hopefully they have SOMETHING left!

I can't believe my baby is nine months old. He is still intent on skipping crawling. He army-crawls everywhere and is really fast but I don't think he will ever get the hang of hands-and-knees crawling. He still can't pull himself into a sitting position, but can pull himself from laying down to standing and will even take a few wobbly haphazard steps on his own before crashing and burning. He will pull up in his playpen and stand there, watching us, for an hour before getting tired. He is hellbent on walking, and there's no convincing him otherwise!

Video and pics soon hopefully.

*Also, Klaus' wishlist has been updated due to popular demand, but I haven't gotten around to taking the stuff I bought off of it as of 2:20 our time. I will try to get around to it tonight or tomorrow.

A quick one.

If you are still reading the blog, please call and let us know or leave a note below.

Pretty Baby

From maysa. These are from October? He's so much bigger now but we can't find anything, including the transfer cord for the camera. Videos from Thanksgiving will be up soon!

Is anybody still reading this blog anyway?

Videos coming!

Today Jim and I got a flip camcorder thanks to a friends recommendation. I got it at Circuit City because they were on sale. Its really cool, its only digital so you put it in your purse and get videos anytime and just plug it right into the computer. My new computer burns DVDs so then I can transfer them right onto DVDs! It's not the best quality but its better than trying to use my phone all the time. Be excited! It was really cheap and awesome!

Klaus' tooth has officially arrived. We got a lot of pictures taken of him munching his first stalk of broccoli today (TOTALLY loved it, by the way) and he has caught on to this biting thing pretty quickly. We gave him fist-sized foods so he can perfect his pincer grasp and biting and chewing and swallowing, which he was having problems with when it came to bigger pieces of food.

My teeth are serrated and it looks like he has my teeth. That little bugger is razor sharp and he really chomps on me much to my dismay. Ouch :(

So, videos on the way, and hopefully we find a cable for my camera as well, there are so many great pics on there that I need to upload!

I am also working on Klaus' wishlist for christmas, it's taking me a while so give me another week or so! We are looking forward to his first Thanksgiving. Yay.

8 Month Milestones

Klaus can do everything in red!

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
• Says "mama" and "dada" to both parents (isn't specific) (well, he calls Jim "Im" but I guess that counts?)
• Passes objects from hand to hand

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
• Stands while holding onto something
• Crawls (pretty close!)
• Points at objects
• Searches for hidden objects

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
• Pulls self to standing, cruises
• Picks things up with thumb-finger pincer grasp
• Indicates wants with gestures (only sometimes, "Up" and flailing at toys out of his reach)

Toofers

Sorry about the long delay. I hope some of you are still checking!

Klaus has finally popped a tooth, the lower right (his right not mine) one. It is razor sharp and has been causing him a lot of pain (and moodiness) the last week or so. He's also nearly crawling, up on hands and knees but usually just crashing or giving up. He wants to walk straight away..

Hopefully pictures soon.

Pause on Blog

Im sorry for the long pause.. unfortunately it will continue. My computer finally bit The BIG One (RIP Toshiba 2003-2008) and we've been extremely busy besides.

We are all alive. When I can get my hands on a new computer I will resume writing again. I have posts saved and will post them all then so you dont miss anything.

First Haircut

Yesterday Maysa and I gave Klaus his first haircut. He looked like he had mange with his little friar's tuck mullet.. just a patch of thick hair at the back and his forelock in the front. We cut it evenly all around and trimmed his "bangs". It's sad that he doesnt have thick gorgeous hair anymore but it's growing in fast and I wanted it all to be even. It's cute, especially from the back with those big ole ears! :D

Hope everyone is doing well! We are fine, just busy getting ready to move!

Sweet babies! and a moving update...

Klaus and I spent the night with Parker and Maysa. Maysa and I have been obsessively scrapbooking for about a week now and Klaus has been so wonderful. He is starting to laugh all the time now.. if you tickle him, make funny faces, toss him in the air.. he will just burst out in contagious laughter. He brings joy to everyone around him!

Klaus and Parker have bathtime! (the water is red because we were painting and Parker likes Lush baths just like we do!)




Maysa has been struggling with bills and rent just like we are. The economy here (there and everywhere) makes it very hard for us to get our feet underneath us. You all have been so kind and helpful but we yearn for a little more financial independence (I'm sure you all do as well!) and so we have decided to move in with Maysa, Parker, and Jeff into their house. The window of opportunity for us to move to St. Louis closed and we decided to stay here and pay off some bills and try and get a better second car before we make the trip. We are coming for Christmas and Klaus and I will be there into the New Year, so everyone will finally get to meet him and have plenty of time to soak up all the Baby Goodness. :)

So we are excited and nervous. Its hard to go from your own place to moving in with roomies, no matter how close you are. Maysa and her family have been so kind to us. Maysa cleaned my house and took care of me after the birth when Jim needed to be with Klaus. It is so nice to be with someone who shares the same parenting values that we do. Arizona is pretty progressive and accepting, and we are lucky to have AP friends.

We are hoping to do some container gardening so I can feed Klaus homegrown organic vegetables. He is ready for solids, but I'm not sure if I am ready for that leap! All of the major organizations say breastmilk is all he needs for the first year so I don't feel rushed at all. I want to make sure he is getting the best I can give him. Anyway I am doing some research on it and I'm going to try to make it to an Arizona gardening class in the next few weeks. I want to grow spinach and beets and herbs and dwarf trees. :)

As much as we would love to come to St. Louis, we will have to do it when the time is right. I am still working online and I hope to find something else I can do to raise money so that we can start visiting more often so that all of you don't miss out on this precious time in Klaus' life. Sometimes I think that the joy he brings me will fill me up to the point of explosion. I have to share it with you all to make sure I don't explode ;)

More pictures and updates as we have them. I miss you all. We will see you soon.

Five Month Milestones

Klaus will be five months tomorrow :( I can't believe it, how big he is. He isn't a tiny little helpless baby anymore, he's a big boy! And I know it will just get worse... just humor me! He started rolling from his back to his front on the 12th of this month, and I MISSED it! He did it again at Liz's baby shower and FINALLY I got to see him roll over. It's so precious.

No pictures for now. His rash has been really bad so I haven't been uploading them.

Klaus can do everything in bold :)

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
• Distinguishes between bold colors (he's done this for quite a while)
• Plays with his hands and feet (he's getting more and more interested in feet)

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
• Recognizes own name
• Turns toward new sounds
• Rolls over in both directions

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
• Sits momentarily without support
• Mouths objects
• Separation anxiety may begin (he gets pissed when we leave the room)

Okay, so he can do everything. LOL

Updated Slide Show

Okay okay.

Here they are! Some are from the end of July, most are from this week.


":D" He loves his new exersaucer! I got it on craigslist for $20!




This is a cute silly face!


"And so I says to him, I says, Johnny, you gotta quit the booze."


Hammin' it up. I love his outfit.


His orthopedic Bumbo chair and his giraffe.


Klaus and his favorite mobile

Spoiled rotten!


Pthththth!


I just can't resist pictures of that dimpled butt!


Oops, forgot to turn this one. "Don't make me throw this giraffe at you!" He has a thing for giraffes.


Grandpa's hand


Klaus and his PINK diaper (It's PINK Tom, it's PINK!)


So cute


Yellin at his toys


Really tellin' em!


"Mine?"

"Enough mom!"

July's pictures will be ready to ship out to Walgreens soon. Let me know if you want them.

Pics from mom's trip

Here are a few pics mom got while she was here. Enjoy!



Smile!


He has already outgrown this :(


SMILE!


Almost TMI, but too pretty not to include!


Instructions not included.. Call Grandma!


There's a glimpse of the red hair for you fans.


Bathtime!

Will upload more soon. I'm going to Babies R Us with Maysa when Jim gets home.

Bouncy Klaus!

I know, I know...

I'm bad at updating. Here's a video from earlier in the month to make up for it!

*Okay, so apparently it doesn't want to even post the video. Tsk tsk.

I have a bunch of pictures on the camera but I have been so incredibly busy. Every free minute I have has been spent working online to try and help with the bills. I'm behind on everything, but getting pictures up is pretty high on the list so don't worry, they will be here soon!

4 Month Milestones

Klaus can do everything in bold font.

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
- Holds head up steadily.
- Can bear weight on legs.
- Coos when you talk to him.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
- Can grasp a toy.
- Reaches out for objects.
- Can roll over.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
- Imitates speech sounds — baba, dada.
- May cut first tooth.
- May be ready for solids.

He weighs a little over 13 pounds.
Everything is going well :)


Sorry for the TV in the background LOL

Comments Open.

I made it so that anybody can comment on the blog without registering. If I get spammed too much, I'll turn the feature off, but for now it should be open :)

Four months!

I can't believe he will be four whole months old tomorrow.

few more :)