First Christmas Cookie!

Recently, I let Xander decorate his first Christmas cookie.  I realize he way too young, but I figured it doesn't hurt to try.  

At first he was just kind of intrigued with the activity.

Then he figured out it was edible.

Then the decorating stopped altogether.  Notice the sprinkle container...

Final product.  This is why he only got to decorate ONE cookie.

Baby Trays - 13 Months

After the move it took me a little while to get the trays set up again.  Now that I am finally a little bit more organized, I am hoping to keep up on them. (Hopefully, I can continue to come up with developmentally appropriate activities!  Most of the examples from other blogs are for much older children.)  I know Xander loves them.  Here is what we did last week.

The puzzle was Melissa and Doug's Zoo Mix N' Match Peg Puzzle.  I think it is still too hard for him since he really only got it out if I did it with him.

I set up a tray with an empty juice bottle and some medium sized pom poms.  Because he has never done this type of activity, I wasn't sure how he would do.  He ended up LOVING it.  He frequently wanted to do this activity and was entertained for quite a while.

So proud of himself!

On another tray I set up a felt activity.  I cut a tree out of green and had a bunch of ornaments and a star for him to put on.  This was his first experience with felt, so he wasn't quite sure how it worked.  Although he did it a few times, I think I will put it away for a week and then try again.

He ended up really enjoying putting the "ornaments" into this adorable reindeer plate the teacher I work with gave him.

The final tray was his ice cream.

Gremlin Giggle

Xander has this weird giggle he makes that sounds almost like a gremlin.  I wasn't able to catch too much of it on video, but here is what I did get.

Magnetic Ice Cream

Now that Xander is a bit more dexterous, I decided to dig out my ex-stepdaughter's Melissa and Dough Ice Cream set to put in his tot trays last week.  For the most part, he hasn't had much experience with magnets.  I set the box in front of him and proceeded to use the scoops to pick up the "ice cream."  He was very intrigued.  He has gone over to the box many times since I put it out and likes stacking the ice cream.  However, I think we are a long way from understanding how to use the release lever on the scoops properly. I am very glad I got it out.

Life Skills - Laundry

In the new house, the washer and dryer are on the main floor as opposed to the basement.  For some odd reason, Xander has taken an extreme interest in the clothes washing process.  Tonight I set him up on top of the dryer and let him watch me put the clothes in the washer.  When they were done and I was trying to switch them to the dryer, he insisted on standing right in the way.  I decided to run with it and hand him the clothes.  He thought it was a great game!  I ended up handing him each individual item from the load and having him through it in.  Maybe in a couple years he will be doing it on his own (hey a girl has to have her daydreams).

Pre-Writing Practice

For his birthday, Xander received a Magna Doodle.  At first he just didn't get it.  The age range on it was a little old for him, so I figured he would just grow into it.  Well he sure did.  He loves it now.  He writes with the pen and knows how to use the stamps.  He also knows how to put the stamps away, although throwing the across the room is still more fun.  We may need to revisit crayons soon!

Birthday Bash

Hooray for finally having internet on my computer!  I don't know if the wireless adapter I ordered got lost in the holiday mail, or what, but it took a long time.

Anyway, three weeks ago was Xander's birthday.  For his actual birthday, Grandma, Grandpa, and I took him to Jungle Bungle for pizza and to play in the tubes.  He had a blast!  He wore himself out climbing through the tubes.  He got to the point where he would lay his head down for a quick rest before taking off again.  It is definitely something I will take him to do again.

That weekend we had a party for Xander at the community center.  I choose turtles for the theme for multiple reasons.  First of all, when Xander was a teeny tiny newborn fresh from the hospital, I frequently remarked how he looked like a little turtle.  He swam in his clothes and he was so skinny and wrinkly, his neck looked like it was peeking out from the "shell" of his shirt.  Later when Xander began eating solids, he would literally attack the spoon.  We always joked that he was a little snapping turtle.  Therefore, a turtle theme seemed to fit.  He wore a turtle shirt with turtle shoes, he had a turtle cake, the invitations and decorations also had little hand cut paper turtles.  I also set up turtle crafts for the kids to do.  The party favor bags included mini bags of goldfish, homemade turtle soaps, and bubbles.

Unfortunately, many of our friends ended up getting sick that weekend, so it was a rather small group.  Regardless, Xander was surrounded by many people who love him.

This is his cake.  I didn't get to do quite as much detail as I would have liked, but it wasn't too bad.  The turtle from the top ended up being his smash cake.

Here is the banner I made to hang at the party.  I have one picture for each month.  It was really neat to see how he changed over his first year.

It ended up being a lovely day.  I am so blessed to have him in my life.  The one year milestone definitely reminded me how quickly it is going!