The best co-pilot on the block...

For the life of us we can't keep D interested in his little motorized 4 wheeler. He gets on, goes a few inches and he's off. He gets on...rocks back and forth...then he's off.

However, last week I come home from work to find a cul-de-sac full of kids and toys spread through out the street. With all the parents scattering to pick up kids, toys...etc. Cody sticks D in the closest thing to him...a pink barbie jeep...passenger style!

Of course, the first thing I do (like a crazy mom) I run inside to get the camera. The wind couldn't wipe the grin off of his face. He was a natural at it, like he has been watching us all this time when we drive in the car. He leaned back, with his arm over the door and just rode around like he was the coolest lil boy. Who wouldn't be though when you have a cute little blonde girl driving you around. All 3 big kids took turns driving him around. Lil Miss. Mia loved to go off road more than the boys. And Hunter would talk to D like he could talk back...asking him if he wanted to go faster and to get out and look under the hood "as if it was broke down". And finally there was Miss. Finley who she is just getting the hang of the big kid car and would drive in circles...so then they got put on the slow mode to make sure they were ok.

It was way to cute! We did end up having to help him understand it was time for everyone to go inside to eat dinner...he didn't want to stop.

Then again this past Friday night, he stayed up real late to play with the big kids in the street. From cars, to brooms to all the kids getting D to say "gaga" to limbo, was all quite amusing. He once again was not ready to go inside even though his eyes were glazed over.

I have a feeling his bedtime is going to become later when it gets cooler...he's not going to want to be inside at all!

1, 2, 3 and kerplunk!

Once again in the blink of an eye D starting something new. Maybe he does it all day long at daycare, but when I walked around the corner in the kitchen to see that he had a tall tower of empty coffee cans stacked as tall as him...I was surprised! Wow D, you did it!

And of course it is life's newest greatest, pleasure. Anything and everything he stacks. Once he has 3 blocks stacked high, he tries to add two at the same time to make it two wide. Quite clever if you ask me?!

Did he just say what I think he said?

Every day is a new day! And every moment is one worth savouring and treasuring!


Our lil one has become quite the chatty charlie these days. He has gibberish sentences that you can tell he is trying to communicate and well...likes to hear the sound of his voice...but who doesn't, right?


Anyway, he is doing great at watching you and then repeating a word. He is to the point that when he grunts at something, and constantly grunts...we make him say or attempt to say the word before we give it to him.


Of course, you have heard about "ice". But he loves also walking up to you and point at your eyes and saying "eyes".


He loves "Car", "Bus", "Boat" and most importantly "Truck". When he is playing with cars now he starts to make the vroom sound as he pushes them along.


He loves to make the airplane sounds and especially with gestures across his body, but has yet to say airplane.


He knows where the clock is and of course loves to point at it and say "clock".


He has a story book bible that sits on his dresser...which we don't get to read to often because he isn't that gentle with the pages. But he loves to point at it and flip through it really quickly. So the other day I said "bible" to my surprise he said "bible" clear as day! It was amazing!


And well I have to say his "Uh Oh" is becoming very short and sweet and well well-mastered.

Tales of the pacifier past...

So I wasn't going to write about this because I simply didn't want to jinx myself. However, being that D just turned 17 months and the 18 month mark of getting rid of his pacifier was soon approaching...I would have never in a million years guessed that he would give it up all on his own!

Just about a month ago we gathered up all of his "green" pacifiers, the ones well...for newborns (but were somehow his favorite for a very long time). The only one that has been lingering has been the lone ranger of the infamous "blue" pacifier. And after all this time I can't believe we didn't have a name for this comfort item of his!

It started out that when he was going through a very mild...ok not so mild period of teething and crying hysterically and nothing would help him but the Tylenol or Motrin bottle...he absolutely wanted nothing to do with his pacifier. It was a shocker to us. I guess maybe it hurt to suck on it? Anyway, he was congested and maybe he couldn't breathe...at least that is what I kept telling myself.

Then...oh about 6 days ago, on an unintentional night I held him like normal, read him his book...and he had a tight grasp on a hot wheel car. He laid there in my arms listening to me sing to him and slowly but surely his eyes got heavier and heavier. I got up and put him in his crib and over he turned to get to that butt in the air position.

After about 3 nights...I would come running out of his bedroom hooraying my arms in the air "Like I did it"! We kept saying to each other, really...just like that? It really hasn't been bad...and he doesn't depend on it all the time. One day he saw it and I asked him to hand me his pacifier and he brought it to me and gave it to me?! Shocker!

Of course we did have that one night where he woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't put himself back to sleep. Followed by an "uh oh" the next morning for him to find it on the floor. He unfortunately still gets it at daycare...but only at nap time. So this past weekend, and only one day out of the weekend we had to give him his pacifier at nap time.

But hey, we'll take what we can get. We weren't even betting on this...we thought we would be going longer than our "goal".

Sianara, pacifier! We won't be pulling you out until round 2! :)

Ice, Ice baby...

One of D's favorite things to do is to pour things in and out of cups and into containers. And with that he also loves to get ice from the refrigerator and feed it to Gunnar (Ice Biscuits). Now D will grab a cup, want it filled with ice and then he feeds one to Gunnar and one goes in the cup.

A few minutes later he will try to stuff the whole cup in Gunnar's mouth and the next minute he is pouring them on the floor so much to Gunnar's surprise, then D throws attitude and tries to push him away when Gunnar tries to eat them all.

Well, this morning it was the best. He kept grunting and grunting for the ice or the freezer door to open. We kept saying "ice". And finally...he said it "ICE"!

When he got home from school today it was the same act all over again...this time he kept saying "Ice, Ice".

Oh our baby is so cute!

A bird, a plane...

With the onset of cooler, more comfortable weather that came in this week it is much easier to say "ok, let's go outside" which to D's liking is the best thing in the world!

So, I run inside to get the camera and I come out to find daddy and the neighbor showing off their remote control plane/helicopters.

D was so delighted. He wanted to walk right up to them, grab them and of course throw them to the ground.

Needless to say it was a battle to come back inside...but not before one last throw of daddy's helicopter!

A year later...and we have "power"

It's hard to believe a year ago we started our trek of 15 days without power.

The whistling front door, the clanging of the garage door, the lovely tinging sounds of generators throughout the neighborhood...and then there was our 5 month old little boy. He was oblivious to all that was going on around him. All that mattered to him was eating and rolling around on the floor. And oh...sitting in his bebe pod watching us cook waffles all the while plugging in the toaster to the extension cord.

It's just amazing and hard to fathom all we went through a year ago. I look back and we have a stronger bond with our neighbors, met some we had never met before in the 6 years we have lived here and we grew as a family. Learned how to survive without power, TV's (OK we cheated and had one station all day every day), computers and the more frivolous things in life.

The days and nights were long but were mostly occupied with visiting friends and watching the kids in the streets, chatting about when we would get "power" and of course the infamous trips to find water, gas and food. We BBQ-ed a lot, especially out in the front yard this time so you could share some time with your neighbors instead of getting away from them. And of course shared stories of friends, families and strangers of whom needed help, got help or just how easy they had it.

It's crazy, I don't think I will ever forget about Ike or where I was or what I was doing. Or how we camped out in our bedroom with the door closed to keep the "window a/c" cool in the room. Or how I put on makeup with a flashlight next to the mirror in order to look somewhat decent when I went to work. Or how D got extremely sick with Croup a few days after we got power...could it have been the hot to cold room we kept going in and out of?

I just remember when we "finally" got power...thinking "how are we going to sleep without all the noise of generators in the background?" It was almost like music to our ears...almost that is!

Bottom line, it's hard to believe it has been a year! We were oblivious to all the damage that actually happened in Galveston due to no power. But our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all the families that were effected and are still recovering. We thought we had it rough with no power, but some had it so much worse!

Bubbles...

New word from the weekend...BUBBLES!


Just like that, he came home pointed at our bubble jar and said "Bubbles". Lovin it! He tries so hard and makes the cutest face.


See for yourself!

17 Months...already?

Is he really almost a year and half? Already? This little boy is our pride and joy! And what a busy pride and joy he is...not a dull moment...never!

We wouldn't trade it for the world...and we look forward to the day we can continue to have our family grow...but for the time being it's speed racing by.

17 months down and our little one is still hanging on at 25lbs. He's about 31" and as well all know has a 5 1/2" shoe. Oh and he is still a great eater...cross our fingers! Anything else? j/j

Everyday is a new day with him. He's bright, loving, adventurous, particular, caring, goofy, chipper and I could go on for hours! He makes you smile in the moments that mean the most and just touch your heart.

He's starting to make words and understand and look at you when you talk. He can now say: car, hi, bubbles, ball and eyes.

He is the most precious gift from God and we fall in love every day all over again.

A lazy Labor Day

We didn't do much last weekend. It was a very eventful, but uneventful 3 day weekend. We had something to do every day and it was right in the middle of the day so what else could you do. I felt like we didn't get time to relax...so by Monday (Labor Day) we decided to do nothing but have fun with D.

We went to the park and boy was it hot! But holey moley, lots and lots of people...it was packed. I got to see where the local Stroller Strides hang out...at those moments I wish I was a stay at home mom. What more fun than to take your kiddo with you to work out and then hang out at the park. Life is good...

Of course after that we were all just sticky from sweat...we decided to attempt the water fountains again over by the mall. This time there were much more kids and Dylan seemed to enjoy himself more. Of course it wasn't so new this time so he could enjoy the simpler things we thought he would the first time. He did find a little boy quite amusing running in the "do not swim" fountains. The social butterfly D is, we had to run right over. Then there was a little girl who was obsessed with him. She kept giving him hugs to the point she wouldn't let go. We finally had to tell her goodbye.

After an afternoon nap. We headed to the pool. D had fun laughing at Grandpa swimming laps in the pool and of course he still had no interest in sitting in his raft in the pool. He would much rather empty and pour buckets of water into things.

He sure had a fun filled day with sun and water, but I do have to say we were pooped after chasing him around all day. So...maybe it wasn't so "lazy".

Double Trouble...

With our small point and shoot camera sent in for issues two different times and for at least two weeks at a time, hence no recent video. And with the wonderful warranty we bought on the camera they finally told us to come pick out a new one. Ok, twist my arm!


At first I was a bit weary, I didn't like how it was focusing and every picture seemed to be a blur. But then out comes a picture like this! I can't complain. Who wouldn't love those crystal baby blue eyes. Ok, fine...I'll keep it!


However, one night as I was trying to capture a picture of D's newest bruise on his head.


(We played last weekend at the water fountains over by the movie theater and of course I wasn't prepared and forgot the camera. This time it would have been good to have the camera...the dude was trying to run so quickly and his feet and toes got mixed up and he met the concrete this time head hitting first. Immediately, the bump turned purple and of course we had an uncontrollable crying toddler...who at which stopped when more kids arrived. Of course, he can't cry in front of other kids, that would be too babyish!)


Anyway, back to the original story...I left the big, fancy nice camera on our art niche. It was one of those moments where I looked at it, walked past it a few times and said to myself don't forget to move that. Otherwise in the morning D is going to think that is a fun object to pull on as it just screamed "pull me off the edge". Well...sure enough I didn't put the camera up.


So the next morning I am in the bathroom and Daddy is in the kitchen. As usual I hear D walking around the house and down the hallway. The next thing I know and see is he meets me in the bathroom partially proud of himself and partially looking a bit terrified pulling a camera behind him by the neck strap like it is a toy. At that moment, I couldn't even be mad I was quite amused he drug it all the way into the bathroom to show me.


Of course, I pick it up and the filter we have on the lens is cracked...badly. Luckily, it is the inexpensive filter compared to the lens itself. Daddy came in and inspected to find that the lens is sticking when trying to focus but for the most part seems to be in good shape.


So...once again my lovely husband bought the super duper warranty...which means I will probably have to ship it off for two weeks but hopefully they can fix it with no problem. And in the mean time be without my wonderful camera. But thank goodness for our new point and shoot.


What can I say, we live with a 17 month old...things are gonna happen. Don't sweat the small stuff and it's all small stuff, right?

Learning curve...

We've slowly been learning new things with D and some things he picks up quicker than others.


He knows that cows go "Moo". So most of the time if he sees a cow in the field or on TV or in a book, it is almost immediately followed by "Moo". Sometimes we get "caow".


He knows dog of course, but can't yet say "ruff" or "woof".


If he sees a picture of a tiger, he growls under his breath.


We most recently learned to "Baa" when we see sheep...I know you would think this is the easiest but not so much.



From our "So your baby can read" entourage full of learning books/DVDs/board games he has learned "Mouth" and most of all of the time will open his mouth and say "ahhh" with his mouth open wide.



When he sees Liberty or any horse for that matter it is always "Eeeee". We try to tell him "Neigh" or "Horsey" but it is always "Eeee". I guess that is somewhat like "horsey".



He has become infatuated with little hot wheel type cars. And always says "car, car". Along with "vroom".



And last but not least he sounds like a space ship sometimes in his high chair and moves his arms across his body as if he is mimicking an airplane.



So much to learn and this is only the beginning...

One very loooong week!

Having to take your parent to the hospital is not something anyone every wants to do, having to stay over night in the ER to later find out they have to be admitted is even worse!



All I wanted for them to do was to say that everything would be ok and when I heard it was diabetes I knew it was manageable, but getting her their would be a task. 3 very long days later, she was sent home and told to rest and change her lifestyle! Not an easy thing to do for anyone.



For now everything is good, but it will be an adjustment and learning curve and adventurous ride all in one. But the positive thing is that D has gotten the chance to spend more time with Nana. With that, comes late nights and late bed times. I sure hope that he isn't getting use to falling asleep later...I do love his 7:30-8 o'clock bedtime!



Hopefully things will get back to normal and everyone will catch up on their sleep. Bottom line, it's manageable and she is 100% better than she was when they admitted her. Love you Mom!

Uh oh!

D's new favorite word...


Most of the time it's his doing...i.e. throwing something on the floor then saying "UH OH" or moving something close to the edge of the table saying "UH" and then pushing it over the edge and proceeding to say "OH".


He's got it down to a science and loves saying it...intentionally or not. And the look on his face and the shape of his mouth really does make an "O".



Priceless!

Ooops...my feet are too big!

With the onset of stinky feet and thinking "wow, these shoes have lasted all summer"...we started thinking we needed to possibly get the dude some new shoes. After all, our favorite store was having a sale! We thought, we can't pass that up.

However, when we got to the store we didn't see anything that jumped out and said "hey you need to buy me" and they were all looking more like winter shoes...we thought, "ahh, we can wait a bit, he doesn't need new shoes right now".

Boy were we wrong! The dirty smelly feet smell was getting on our nerves and after looking at his poor toes after daycare one day, I told Daddy we need to get him some shoes.

Off we go to the store, much to our surprise...the sale wasn't on anymore...go figure! Just our luck. Either way...he needed new shoes. So they measured him.

I was beside myself to find out that our lil one is in a size 5 1/2 and his shoes we have been squeezing him into all summer long are 4's!!! I felt like the worst mommy!

Needless to say, he got a new pair of tennies and well another pair of sandals to last us a few more months...after all it is still 96 in September! Ugh!

I couldn't help but think, him unstrapping his shoes all the time, and him tripping all over the place were clear signs that he needed a new pair of treads!

It's done and over with and now he is off...and running! 3 months almost to the day and he grew 1 1/2 shoes sizes! I think we are in trouble!

Speedy Gonzales...

I think this just about sums it up. He's on the move...and this it involves two little feet moving as fast as they can i.e. "running".



With his chin tucked to his chest and his right arm swinging back and forth those little feet move as fast as they can. The pitter patter of the feet or shoes tells me he's on the move down the hallway and not looking back!