Year One

On Saturday Kyle celebrated his first birthday. There were balloons, there was cake, and there was a little guy crawling around, laughing and entertaining his guests. He's a far different person than the tiny baby above, who rested next to Jennifer just hours after his birth. So much has happened to us in the past year that at times it feels as if an eternity has passed since those early days, and yet I can remember them as if they just happened.

Kyle, as you may remember, was a bit hesitant to come out of the womb. His due date was June 10, but he had no intention of coming out then. Since Jennifer's doctor wanted the little guy out before he hit puberty, she scheduled an appointment for the 11th for us to go in and be induced. That was a bizarre day. Jennifer and I went to Baskin-Robbins to pick up an ice cream, and later that same afternoon we went to the hospital to pick up a baby. There was no dramatic water break, or me rushing around to pack a suitcase. It was an oddly typical day leading up to this major life-changing event. We even were stuck in traffic for a while. The day stopped being average once we were given a delivery room and nurses hooked Jennifer up to several tubes and monitors. By the time we were woken up in the middle of the night by a woman in another delivery room, shouting "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" as she gave birth, we had fully entered crazyland. You could say the nervousness started to kick in at that point. About 24 hours later, our little guy arrived, and we haven't had a "typical" day since.

Now here we are, one full year later, still learning the ropes of parenthood. Every day there's a new lesson, as Kyle tests his boundaries, and finds new dangerous places to check out, places I didn't even realize existed in our apartment. I've discovered that the little guy loves to take long naps on beautiful days, and then can't sleep at all during days of horrible weather, when going outside isn't a very good option. He tends to sleep through the night, except on days when Jennifer works really late or I'm not feeling well. On those days, he wakes up at 4:30 am and can't fall back asleep before breakfast, no matter how hard we try to coax him. Occasionally he sleeps late into the morning, too, but only on workdays. Our kid is ticklish, enjoys making silly noises with other people, and is a fan of exploring things, though at times certain objects have caused him to scream for no apparent reason. Among those are car keys, candles, and a disturbing toy my brother gave him for his birthday, which makes noises and spits out plastic balls. Apparently, he also has a problem with cake. Those of you who read my other blog, DaveWeekly.com, know the whole story. For you Baby Beaudry readers, here's a special treat: the actual video.

Of course, Kyle isn't sour on all foods. He's a big fan of sweet potatoes, squash and the "chicken and rice" meal by Gerber. He loves his toast, Cheerios and banana puffs... that is, when he's not throwing them on the floor. Kyle also enjoys long walks outside, the swings, and sunsets. And he doesn't spit up much anymore! So, ladies, this is one guy you don't want to pass up.

Next month I'll put together pictures from his 12th and 13th months. For now, you can check out this photo album of his special day:

Kyle's First Birthday

Enjoy! See you next month.

Almost one

It's about time Kyle accepts the truth: he's getting old. Last week the little guy hit the 11-month mark, which means we have less than a month to go until his first birthday. It's an important milestone. Even though we'll probably still refer to him as a "13-month-old," "18-month-old," or "55-month-old," beginning next month we can also simply refer to him in years, which will be the preferred measurement. That means the "monthies" are nearing an end. Kyle's five-month-old and six-month-old friends are already harassing him about it and sending him "over the hill" cards and black balloons. In the meantime, Kyle's trying to enjoy what's left of the monthies as he reflects on life and questions whether it's too late to follow his dreams.

This was quite an eventful month for Kyle. His 11th month included his first Easter, his first Mother's Day, and the first time he could refer to his mom as an "esquire." He's eating more, crawling more, and demanding more from his dad, who finds himself worn out most evenings, after spending the days chasing the little guy around. I am finding myself drinking more and more coffee. College didn't do this to me. A stressful job didn't do it. Even the overnight shift didn't do it. No, the one thing that is pushing me into the pit of caffeine addiction is a little guy who can't even walk yet. Incredible. At least he still sleeps from time to time.

Anyway, I have a new photo album for all of you to enjoy:

Kyle's 10th & 11th Months

That's about all I have right now. Time for me to start preparing for a birthday!

The baby & the bunny

This past week was very exciting for the Beaudry family. Jennifer's alma mater became NCAA champions in basketball, my alma mater became NCAA champions in hockey, and infant formula was on sale. We also celebrated Kyle's first Easter on Sunday. Like with Thanksgiving, Christmas and Groundhog Day, Kyle did not seem to understand what was going on or why everyone was so excited. When we tried to explain to him the resurrection and salvation, he concentrated more on eating his socks. The Easter Bunny concept appeared to go a little better.

The dentist's favorite rabbit did arrive for Kyle, and a basket was waiting in our living room Easter morning. Kyle seemed intrigued by the new object in the room, though it contained some of the animals he already owned (the Easter Bunny was kind enough to not want to clutter the Beaudry home just yet). I was there with my video camera for the big moment, only to learn that its battery was all out of juice. Fortunately, my digital camera has a record function, but, since it was manufactured in the early 1920's, it shoots only silent movies. You'll have to imagine the "oohs," "ahhhs" and occasional passing of gas in the video below:



Now you may be wondering what was in Kyle's basket, considering that he's too young for jelly beans or chocolate. Well, the wise and powerful Easter Bunny came up with an alternative - baby food and empty plastic eggs!



The little guy was absolutely thrilled.



We promised Kyle that this Easter ritual will get better. The Easter Bunny eventually will put jelly beans and chocolate in the basket. Hopefully by then, through a careful upbringing, we will have convinced him that those foods taste awful. That way he will reject them, and force his dad and mom to eat them for him. It's a sacrifice we're willing to make.

Yesterday Kyle turned ten months old, though he doesn't look a day over nine months and three weeks. Age suits him well. We're now less than two months away from his first birthday, which is hard to believe. He hasn't quite said what he wants for his birthday yet, but I'm guessing he'd like a new video game system to use on his new TV. Just a hunch.

Nine months later...

Last Friday Kyle became nine months old. That means our son has been out of the womb longer than he was in it. It's a very exciting milestone.

We're still debating whether this is a good thing. Of course, Jennifer's happy to have him out, but I wonder whether Kyle truly is. Sure, he seems to be enjoying his time on the outside, but he certainly appeared to enjoy the womb, too. After all, he was in no rush to get out - labor lasted more than 30 hours, and Kyle was still kicking around and having fun during the delivery.


(Above: Which Kyle is happier?)

There are pros and cons to both sides. Since entering the world, Kyle has learned how laugh, crawl, and make funny noises at his dad. He enjoys going places in his stroller, playing with toys in his crib, and flirting with waitresses and nuns. Before his birth, Kyle could not enjoy any of that. Back then, the outside world was just a collection of garbled noises, mostly from Jennifer's law classes. Most people on the outside don't understand what goes on in those classes, so Kyle didn't stand a chance. He'd also be bothered by garbled silly talk and a few pokes, which came from his dad. Kyle was trapped in his cocoon, forced to undergo this harassment whenever his dad felt like it. Sadly, his dad enjoyed doing these things and did them often.

On the plus side, the womb was very comfortable for the little guy. He could sleep whenever he felt like it, he never had to fret over a dirty diaper, and didn't have to rely on a filthy New York City pool for a good swim. When his parents suffered through a cold winter or a heat wave, Kyle didn't notice any change and would be content just kicking away or resting comfortably on his mom's bladder. It's hard to imagine wanting to leave that lifestyle, especially when the outside world can force you to deal with terrible weather, sleepless nights, and American Idol.

So perhaps it's a trade-off. Though, looking down the road, I'm guessing it's better for Kyle to be outside. Adolescence won't be fun, but at least he'll be able to stretch his arms during it.

This month I have a new photo album for you to enjoy. Check it out:

Kyle's 8th & 9th Months

That's all for now. More to come in April, when Kyle hits the double digits.

Crazy eight

Today Kyle turns eight months old. We have just a few months left on the warranty before the hospital won't take him back. That is, if the warranty's still good. I may have broken him - he's been acting awfully silly lately, and he often goes haywire. Maybe some formula accidentally spilled on his circuits.

Kyle just can't sit still these days. He'd rather squirm around or climb up your shoulder - sometimes when you're standing and holding him. When he's in his crib, he must use some of the new skills he's perfected this month: crawling, standing, and shooting flaming arrows. Keeping on top of all this is making his dad very tired. Each day I try to figure out ways to get Kyle to wind down and take a nap... so maybe I could take a nap myself. Sometimes that requires the exersaucer or mechanical bull, while at other times I just have him crawl over the same piece of rug over and over and over again. Check out the video below to see what I mean...

This seems to be working, and his drool helps clean the rug, too. It has caused me to get rug burns on my elbows, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make as a parent.

I don't have a photo album to share with you today, but I do want you to take a close look at this official portrait of our son:

I know what you're thinking: "I can't believe Kyle's already wearing glasses!" Yes, it's true. It appears that he was seeing everything two-dimensionally, and that had to be corrected. It's an affliction we Beaudrys have. But that's not main reason why I'm showing you this picture. Take a close look beneath the glasses, right here:

That's right - the little guy is sprouting teeth. It used to be that Kyle's bark was worse than his bite, but that's not the case anymore. Our kid is gnawing on everything he can get his mouth on, and he's even removed some of the crib's finish. I'm sure we'll soon see teeth marks on tables, chairs, and the refrigerator. Nothing is sacred.

Yet even though Kyle is single-handedly ruining all of our furniture, I guess I really can't complain. His teeth are essential to living, after all. Plus, he certainly comes in handy when you can't find a pencil sharpener.

The beginning of the end

This January is a month of transition, a month of change. The status quo will be put aside soon, and we'll have to learn a new way of approaching things. There's hope that better times are ahead of us, though some of us at times will long for days' past. The future may be bright, but at the same time it's also a bit scary. Who knows what will happen to us?

Of course I am talking about the impending end to Kyle's use of the bouncy seat. It breaks my heart to say this, but I don't think it's as safe as it used to be. Back in the day, we were able to use the bouncy seat to "stick the baby somewhere" - by our dining room table, near the living room couch, or in the closet. There he'd lie back quietly, rhythmically kicking his left leg, rocking himself for hours on end, turning our home into his own personal deep-sea cruise.

(Above: Our living room, from Kyle's perspective)

Kyle in his bouncy seat was the envy of any adult. I mean, who wouldn't want to lie back all day, rocking yourself? If every office cubicle was equipped with an adult bouncy seat, I'm sure most jobs would be far more enjoyable. But apparently Kyle doesn't realize how good he has it. He now prefers sitting up, and he hardly ever kicks anymore. These days to rock himself, he just moves his head up and down. It's like having your own living bobble head doll. He also fights against the restraints of the bouncy seat. At first, the seat was still able to hold him in, as this picture from New Year's demonstrates:

But Thursday night the seat came close to losing the little guy. He was in it, playing with some toys as I was taking care of the recycling (that's about as much fun as it gets these days, being a parent). As I was folding up one of our boxes, I heard a cry. I looked up and saw Kyle, still in the seat but lying horizontally. He was fighting his way out and nearly succeeding. His arm was stretched out, trying to grab one of the toys he had thrown onto the floor. He was not bouncing.

"Uh, oh," I thought. "This can't be good."

So now Kyle's using the bouncy seat even less and will soon stop using it altogether. He's moving on from the bouncing world to the sitting world, a move he'll come to regret once he spends enough time in a church pew or one of those metal fold-up chairs. By then it'll be too late, unless someone takes my adult-bouncy-seat proposal seriously. Maybe I should write the new president about it. A surge in the bouncy seat industry might be just what this economy needs.

(Above: A tribute to the bouncy seat)

On a side note, Kyle turned 7 months old this last Tuesday. Here's a new photo album from the past two months (and a few more bouncy seat shots):

Kyle's 6th & 7th Months

Enjoy!

Halftime special

This past Saturday was Kyle's half-birthday. Hard to believe, isn't it? The day was relatively low-key: the biggest excitement was us feeding him mush that smelled like green beans. There was a party that evening, but it wasn't to celebrate Kyle. No, instead it was a Christmas party. And that's the sad truth that Kyle will have to live with: throughout his life, his half-birthday will be overshadowed by Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year's. He will easily get lost in the shuffle, no doubt. Very few people even recognized his first half-birthday, and he didn't get any gifts (except for the green beans). No, Kyle won't have it easy like those other kids who have their half-birthdays in June, especially on June 24th or 25th, when school is out and summer has begun. Those kids certainly have it easy. My only hope is that the half-birthday neglect will make Kyle stronger.

In fact, it has been a recent goal of mine to make Kyle a tougher kid. I've taken it upon myself to start teaching our little guy self-defense by throwing objects at him. You can see the video below (though people who get my posts by e-mail might have to go to the blog itself).

I figure the video can replace the photo album this month, since most of the pictures we took this time around ended up on DaveWeekly. Since we're no longer as camera-happy as we were before, I'm going to start sending out albums every other month. You still can check out the chair pictures at the end of each post.

Finally, this month also marks one year since I launched this blog. If you'd like to see just how naive we were, check out the first post. Ah, the memories... of staying up past midnight.

Enjoy the holidays!