Walking!

There are so many things to report, but it's been an embarrassingly lazy year here at Franklin Forum (Only 32 posts?!?), so we'll just stick to the headlines: Sam is walking!  He took his first steps right around Thanksgiving (13 months), and by Christmas, walking was his primary mode of transport. This video was taken a little over a week ago, and already he's so much more stable. It's amazing how quickly it happens!



And since it's not recorded anywhere else, I should also report that, after a 6 month dry spell, Sam has some new teeth.  Two molars on the top, and one (?) on the bottom.  Hooray for being able to eat more crunchy and chewy foods!

Finally, here are a couple of bonus videos to give you a sense of his developing little personality.  Hopefully 2014 will be a better year for the Franklin Forum editors.  C'mon, guys!  Get it together!

Where are the kids?

Sometimes I wish we had a bigger house so the kids could have more space to play.  And sometimes...

Mommy Nap Time Hack

I love rocking my babies to sleep.  Really, I do.  But, there is just no way that I can leave Marley and/or Amelia alone for long enough to get the job done.  Actually, I have no problem leaving them alone.  They're the ones who cannot leave me alone!  If I leave the room, even if they have been completely occupied and playing by themselves, I have about two minutes before they come searching for me.  This happens even when I tell them where I'll be and what I'll be doing.

"I'll be right back.  I just need to lay Sam down."

"Okay."

45 seconds later...

"Mommy!  Where are you!?! I need help!"

This has led to some innovative parenting on my part.  I discovered the magic of wearing my baby on my back when Amelia was a baby (thanks, Kristie!), and Sam has been riding back there since he was just a couple of weeks old.  

So now, when nap time rolls around, up he goes.  Then, I go about my business until he falls asleep, which usually takes anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes (he especially likes when I do the dishes or fold laundry).  Finally, it's time for the transfer!

  

*Observant readers of the blog may notice that we have separated the crib from our bed, and put the side back on it.  We decided to do this a couple of months ago because Sam was just getting too mobile and needed to be better contained.  He now takes all his naps in his crib (and I don't have to worry about him falling off the bed!), and starts each night in there (though he still joins us in bed sometime in the middle of the night).