18 months

Dear John Walker,

Today you are 18 months old. In just a blink you went from newborn to full throttle toddler. You have an infectious giggle and you even have a fake laugh already. You make every day better. You wake up happy in the mornings. Saying hello to your dad and I. Saying hello to your toys. You love the outdoors and working with tools. Every day you come inside, you are dirty. Dirt and grease and who knows what all over. You are such a little boy. You love trucks and airplanes and playing the drums. You love dancing and singing and water. You LOVE water.

You are learning new words all the time. You give us big hugs and sweet kisses. You grab our fingers a lead us where you want us.

Next week you start preschool a few days a week. While this is bittersweet for me, I know it is coming along at a perfect time. You are so smart and ready to learn new things. Ready to play with other kids your age.

I know I have said this before, but this is my new favorite age.

Our life is simply better because you are in it.

We love you,

Mama & Dada

Big boy bed?!?!

Seriously, are we traveling at warp speed? I swear I just gave birth to this beautiful boy and now… Now, he has moved into a toddler bed?!?! What the heck. Maybe you think 17 months is too young, but we had no choice (ps – today is his 17 month bday). He would have a bottle and we would read a book in my bed, snuggle and then once he was asleep I would do the transfer to the crib. (Side note – I know I should have just put him in the crib awake, but truthfully I liked this snuggle time just as much). Well, he would always wake up in the middle of the night and be livid that he was in his crib. Sometimes if he fussed a little we could let it go. But, if he got all crazy mad I’d have to grab him because he can climb out. Now I have only caught him with his leg over the railing, but my fear would be he pulls up on the side and falls on his head (AKA NECK!!). My pediatrician has been putting this fear into my head since he was like 10 months! She said the second you think they can climb out – change it.

SO.. you see, we had no choice.

Last night John was able to figure out how to convert his crib because (surprise, surprise) I lost the instructions. It was like Christmas Super Party Time when the bed was done! J loved it! He ran back and forth, hoping on and off his bed, squealing with delight! It wasn’t cute at all. ;)

Bedtime rolled around, we read two books, had a bottle, laid next to the bed and he was asleep. This is probably a total fluke, in fact he was probably pooped from all the running around in excitement, but it still went pretty well. He woke up a couple of times, but I would definitley call it a success. The best part was at 6:30 (ok 6:30 isn’t the best part) he came tearing out of his room yelling “MA! MOM! MA!”.

I pulled him up in our bed and he snoozed another hour.

I swear I’m going to blink & he is going to be 5, then 10, then AHHHH!!! It’s all too fast.

15 months (and some change)

Dear John Walker,

Today we had your 15 month check up. You are actually about 15 ½ months old. This is such a fun age. You are discovering everything! You are a pretty passionate, happy kid. When you are happy, which is most of the time, you are all smiles and giggles. When something makes you mad?? Man, you get irritated. It is pretty funny, although you don’t think so of course. You are trying out new words almost daily. You are such a great mimic sometimes.

Favorite foods right now:

Pickles (still your all time favorite)

Hummus

Mustard

Raisins

Broccoli

Oranges

Newest words:

“Hey dude”

“All done”

“John”

“Pretty”

“Outside”

“Five” (I think you are saying 5.. I’m not totally sure about this one)

Oh and you did say “Papa” clear as day a couple weekends ago & Papa was THRILLED!

Sleeping:

Well last week you were IN YOUR CRIB until early morning. You would wake up & want a drink & then back to sleep. BUT… starting 3 days ago you decided you HATE your crib. UGH! Back to the drawing board.

Bath time:

Out of the kitchen sink & into our tub and you LOVE it!

Nap time:

I think we are slowly going down to 1 nap. You have a pretty decent one around 11/11:30, but you just can’t make it to bed time so lately you have been trying to pass out around 6 or 7 which ruins bedtime. Your sleeping is kind of a mess right now. L

New favorite activities:

You finally like me to read to you! It has taken some time, but you started bringing books to me.

Today you got two shots. I was so nervous about it, but your doctor assured me there is nothing to worry about. You have to be up to date on your vaccines by the time Montessori starts (3 months away.. tear..). I don’t want to have you pumped full of vaccines right before, so I have had to try and catch you up. Today you got the MMR (AHAHAH! This one scares me) and chickenpox. You and Nana met me at the doctors. You were so sad after your shots (note to self – don’t make appointments at naptime). It was heartbreaking.

You are such a fun little person. You are the best thing to happen to us and we love you so much!

Baby J Update

So, its Friday night. We had friends come over with their little one for a while tonight and now we are just relaxing. I'm reading blogs and now blogging while watching the royal wedding from this morning (it aired at 4am today). John just explained to me how weird blogging was to him and that I am a weirdo b/c I have a blog. He is so sweet. I started going through my old blog posts and I am so glad I have this blog!! So many things are documented about the baby - first roll over, sitting up, foods he tried, laughing, walking, words. I am so thankful I have a record of all his milestones.

With that said, here is a little update on my beautiful munchkin...

Today he is 14 1/2 months old.

• He walks/runs everywhere
• He knows where his nose and eyes are
• Gives kisses
• Says Mama, Dada, Nana, Doggie, Bug, Lando (sorta), Shhh, No, mmm, Up, Papa (a few times :)) and I swear he says bathtime. Oh and Baba.
• Waves bye-bye (oh yeah, he says bye-bye, hello and hi)
• Can open EVERY door in our house. good grief.

• He still loves the bottle more than a sippy cup
• Is more dangerous then ever! He climbs everything and is constantly trying to hurt himself
• Has 7 teeth. I'm a little afraid to feel the back gums to see if anything has broke through b/c he is a pirana
• LOVES being outdoors
• Likes dirt, bugs, tools, trucks, airplanes, your stereotypical boy things
• Has the best smile and laugh in the world

1 YEAR OLD (a little late)

The morning of baby J's first birthday I received an email from Baby Center. Telling us happy birthday & congratulations - I now have a toddler.... WHAT? Not yet! But, I think they are right. At about his 1st bday he started full time walking and up'd his vocabulary. He now says... (drum roll please)...

Hi

Hello

Bye

Bye Bye

Dada

Uh oh

Oh No

No

Mama (sorta, but he doesn't say it often. sad for me, I know)

His party turned out great. We were worried about rain, but it all worked out. Here are some pics... I didn't have time to take a lot, but here are a few.

Baby Stuff!

Last Sunday the baby was standing outside our room, holding on to the wall, I was sitting inside our room and called his name and guess what?? He took two steps to me without falling and without holding on!! I immediately yelled for John and called both our moms. So proud.

He is also clapping. Tonight he was rambling away and Obama was on the t.v. giving a speech, when the t.v. clapped, he did too. He can stand by himself and clap. So cute.

Just a little update on my genius. ;)

9 months

Well, our little dude is 9 months. 3 months from being a 1 year old. Crazy & sad. He is really crawling & getting into everything. He likes everything that could hurt him: cords, remotes, outlets, the oven, oh and he likes to put everything in his mouth. Which scares me all the time. One of his newest things is pretending to drink out of a cup. He takes a deep breath and then "drinks" nothing... He is so funny.

Oh, and he cut his top two teeth this week. They look super cute. I know I say this every month, but I really do think 9 months is my favorite age so far. He is so much fun. I just love him!

Crawling

The babes is for reals crawling now... and is into EVERYTHING!!!

My little guy is 8 months old

Wow. He is 8 months old. In 4 months he will be a 1 year old. That is so crazy (and a little sad). It really goes by way too fast.

I want to start doing a rundown of what he is up too. Especially since I am about 8 months behind on his baby book. (EEK!)

Words: (sorta says) Mama, Dada, Nana -- sorta… :)

Eats: Still nursing, but eats baby oatmeal, baby yogurt, bananas through the mesh bag, fruit and veggie purees and puffs

Milestones: Sits up great. Can grab small things (like his puffs) with his little fingers and bring them to his mouth. Is discovering his voice (jibberjabber & happy screams). Barely army crawling, but not actually crawling. He rocks back & forth on all fours & then his little arms give. Can book it in his walker now. He used to just go backwards, but now he can go forward too.

Mood: Happy almost all the time. Fascinated with everything. Loves taking peoples glasses. Loves the dogs, remotes, cell phones & water bottles.

Sleep: Oh sleep. Oh how I miss sleep. Naptime is going pretty good, he is a light sleeper and always moving, but naps have got longer. How many each day and for how long is pretty inconsistent. I’m sure this is not helping our night time sleep. At night, I nurse him to sleep and the second I put him in the crib he screams. It’s been awesome.

We go to the doctor on Monday for 2 more shots. I’m still doing the delayed/Dr. Sears vaccine schedule. I’ll try to get the nurse to weigh him so I can get his new stats. I do know that he is growing out of everything FAST! He is in 9 to 12 months & wearing a size 3 diaper.

Oh, and every time I am nursing him on our bed & someone walks in. He stops and rolls off onto the bed until he is on his tummy/elbows and greets the person with a smile. He literally does a little dismount EVERY.TIME.

Mama-ma-mum-mum-mama-ma

He says "mama" now! He started a few days ago. I'm not so sure he knows it is me exactly, but everyone I say that too says that he does. Regardless, it is so sweet to hear. :)

Sitting up

Well, Munch is 6 1/2 months old and he is starting to sit up. He can sit up for a few minutes, but when he gets excited or if he reaches for something to the side of him, he crashes. Whatacutie!