Pete's Forty-Ninth Week, February 25 to March 2 (Pete exerts his will)

At nearly a year, Pete has a long list of likes and dislikes. Likes: playing peek-a-boo, tackling the cat, eating nearly anything, drinking out of a sippy cup, pointing, looking out the window, dancing, watching other diners at restaurants. Dislikes: us interfering with any of these pursuits. Getting his diaper changed has become something of a battleground; so has putting on clothes. Our method: distraction. He doesn't like it when you take things away from him, or leave a room; he doesn't even like it when an animal leaves the room. He has a real sense of where things belong (mainly they belong in his hands). He's easy to distract, though, and it's fun to see Pete assert himself. He's cautious (yay!) but determined. He also seems sensitive, which I hope for his sake is just a phase! It's not fun to go through life with a thin skin, Pete--take it from someone who knows! He has a lot of travel ahead of him: this month alone we're going to San Francisco and Los Angeles. And between those two trips, Pete turns one! I can hardly believe it. It's a real pleasure, being Pete's mom, every day something new.

Getting distracted by selfies during a diaper change

VERY INTERESTED in the dog food; not happy when it had to be taken away because he wanted to eat it.

My publicist, Liz, skyping with my Creative Writing class!

I take him to the grocery store once a week. (Going to the grocery store is one of my favorite things to do, and now it's even more fun with Pete!)