At what age does a baby quit being a baby? I just don't think I can classify my baby as a baby anymore. I mean, he will always be my baby...but all the babyness is going away now.

Rocking him to sleep has gotten increasingly more difficult. If I have him on my shoulder, his knees have to bend with his shins resting on my thighs. If I hold him longways, his head is really far away from my body, and it's hard to snuggle him close. Tonight we finally found a comfy position, and I rocked him there for awhile after he fell asleep. Those are the good moments.

We're about to put the baby bottles away...it's really sad...it marks the end of an era, as if the sippy cup is a rite of passage into toddler-hood. Babies drink out of bottles, and to not have bottles around will make me feel like my baby is all grown up. We gave ourselves a goal of weaning him from the bottle by the time he turns 1, but he's doing just fine with the sippy cup now. He hasn't his formula in a bottle for a few days, so we're getting confident that we can put the bottles away and not look back. Granted, the sippy cup is messy, but thank goodness for bibs, right?

Of course, it's always a matter of finding THE sippy cup (like it was finding THE paci...). Luckily some sippy cups I got at one of my showers have worked out marvelously. I have bought several other kinds naively thinking they'd work and give him some variety, but they have all been a bust.

Suddenly, the word "sippy" has lost all meaning to me.

I was talking with a friend at work who has a friend who had a baby a few months ago. They were talking about a mutual friend who opted not to try breastfeeding, and the friend started spouting off about how terrible it is that she wasn't going to do that for her child, yada yada, and completely blasted her for going this route. It was then that I realized that there is nothing, NOTHING, that anyone can say that will make me feel guilty about my decision.

Don't get me wrong - I am absolutely not against breastfeeding. I wish it had worked out for us, and I hope that maybe I can muster up the strength to try again next time and perhaps succeed (though I highly doubt that it's something I'll want to do more than a month or two). It's just that that judgmental attitude towards anyone who chooses not to do it for whatever reason is my biggest pet peeve in the world of motherhood. So much so that I must mention it every other blog.

My baby is formula-fed, and he's pretty darn healthy and well-adjusted, thankyouverymuch. And SO AM I!

He's been quite a challenge lately. He's getting into more and more, and he thinks that "NO" is a game. There are a couple things that I stick to my guns about and not let him do, just to teach him that no means no...Like, for instance, the baby monitor component in his room. He always goes for it, and never allow him to. I say "NO" in a tone and with a face that is supposed to communicate that I am serious. That kid cracks up everytime. As soon as I start coming towards him to take him away from the thing, he starts laughing uncontrollably. It's actually a little cute, but sometimes it really tests my patience.

I have been enjoying listening to his new little language. His syllables have gotten much more distinct in the last couple weeks, and he instead of babbling lately, it clearly sounds like he is being intentional about the syllables that come out, as if he is having a conversation. It's just not English, and I have no idea what the thoughts behind the words are. It's adorable, though.

Bottom line is, I love that kid. He is such a bright spot in my life, and I get more and more attached to him each day that goes by, despite the challenges. His smile just melts my heart every time!