And I thought staying up all night and having a newborn 'hooked up' to you was tough. It has been
the most trying last couple of months, but also the most hysterically FUN!! E has become a rambunctious 1.5year old tot going on 3: nonstop energy until sleep time, lots of babbling and talking, dancing, climbing, investigating, and just plain getting into everything he
knows he's not supposed to. B & I couldn't be more in love with this little one, and he has just made us laugh the last couple months with his hysterical antics and attempts to satisfy his curiosity and insistent desires. These are all of the things I want to remember about E over the last three months:
* At 15months he was
all about 'GARBAGE', or "
ga/
ga-
ga". Anything that he could pick up tried to make it into the nearest receptacle. Eventually he learned that leaves, mulch and toys don't get thrown away, and the difference between recycling and garbage cans. It was quite embarrassing on the playground when my son was more interested in finding/throwing away garbage than playing on the cool equipment! His newest trick was 'Touchdown' that he learned from Daddy's video game, and he loves to throw his arms up in the air for attention.
* At 16months E started to say new words/sounds on a daily basis and get into EVERYTHING. We never wanted to do much of any child proofing (can you say 'tacky'). We now have door locks on all cabinets, locks on bi-fold doors, door handle locks, and other things we just hope guests don't notice. It's a fine line between allowing a child to explore and discover vs. keeping them from destroying your expensive equipment/things ;) And, how could I forget playing in the car- for as long as I will possibly let him. He loves pushing all the buttons in looking in the cubbies.
* E's 17thmonth has been by far the most amusing. He is all about 'commanding'- grabs and pulls you to where or what he wants you to be doing (this includes mom & dad, close neighbors, and relatives). And if he insists on you playing with a particular object he will literally touch your hand to the object until you interact with it. Just wondering when this stage ends- Ha. He has his first character love: Curious George. What do they have in common?? Chubby Cheeks and Curiosity. He loves George and watches short DVD clips and reads the books. Can't wait to take him to see the exhibit at the
Kohls museum. His new trick: showing off his muscles.
E-Speak!!! E is starting to say more and more but still in his own language. Now it is neat to hear him try multi-syllable words. Can't wait for him to actually start talking!!! Here is my attempt to record
some the new words he's tried out the last couple months:
caca/ca = crackers
mi= milk
gee= geese
ga= glasses/sunglasses, garbage, grass, garden
cuh= cup
moo= cow
guh= girl
ogah= yogurt
deh= dishwasher
dih= dirt/dirty
tee= teeth
cac= clock
mow= mouse
cuh= washcloth
cawa= colors
mo= moon
caco= scarecrow
anguh= magnet
ba= bark from trees
nay-nay= fire alarm, fire trucks, fire hydrant
Mama e Dada= Mommy & Daddy (he says this non stop throughout the day)
guhcuguh= Go Cubs Go! (yep, that's right, the little fan can cheer on the home team!)
He also says 'particular sounds' for circle, triangle, heart, rectangle, but I haven't a clue how to write them down.
What Else!? In no particular order, because, as you can see,the last couple of months have been busy for him ;)
* scooting backwards on his tummy on the hardwood floors.
* unzipping & taking off his vest jacket.
* putting cars/trucks in a straight line/row.
* moving an objects (such as a lego box) to help him climb up on a bigger object.
* flushing his toothbrush down the toilet!!!! He thought it was hysterical and waved goodbye until he realized that it was 'GONE'. HAHAHAHA
* insisting on what he wants. Tantrum training.
* realizes that things are missing (long-term memory) aka. Daddy is at work, Teddy & Paci are gone and goes looking for them.
* tries to put socks and shoes on.
* more dancing, and listening to music. He LOVES Ralph's World and will hum along and dance to the songs.
* he loves to get and open the mail with me. And then throw it out or recycle.
* he knows FEAR. I was amazed that a bit of his innocence is gone. He is terrified of: Fisher-Price Big Foot, Matchbox Stinky the Garbage Truck, and R/C CAT dump truck (had to take the batteries out). Found this out at the toy aisles of Target- he is scared stiff!
* he drinks from a 'big boy' open cup during meals. His kid cups are from the restaurant and he thinks the guy on the cup logo is Daddy, so to him they are the coolest cups- Hahaha!
* he is able to handle more alone playtime and stays/waits downstairs when I tell him to, instead of needing to follow me around everywhere. Still working on upping the duration.
* tries to feed us/share his food. Sometimes I'm a willing participant, other times, when I see sticky fingers or soggy food I insist that it is 'E food'!
* eats with a regular spoon & fork.
* will spend an extended amount of time playing with his megabloks.
* he loves Gershwin. He gives him treats, chases him around and torments him, and loves to help feed him in the morning.
* he likes to sweep, and enjoys insisting Mommy sweep by getting me the broom and dust pan and opening the garbage can for the 'dih' (dirt).
* insists on helping unload the dishwasher, and can point where each thing goes or put it away himself.
* he is trying to walk upstairs/downstairs upright. Yikes. Since he fell and split his forehead in April, there's a reason I'm discouraging it.
* he's such an amazing helper, and oh so good at cleaning up his own toys every night.
* he is still such a cuddler and is full of kisses and hugs, and loves to be read to, and interact with us as much as possible.
* he is a fantastic Big Brother and will randomly lift up my shirt to give kisses to Baby, and put his Teddy on my tummy to 'share' with his little brother/sister.
All this said, E has been an amazing trooper since I found out we are pregnant with his little playmate. He spent ALL of September dealing with my around the clock nausea/sickness, exhaustion, emergency doctor appointments, and didn't whine or demand extra attention, on top of dealing with 1.5mth of colds/coughs/sore throats between the three of us. And, he has been an angel since yesterday- I have had the most excruciating lower-back pain, and after I explained it to E, he has helped with everything, not demanded to be picked up, gone up/down the stairs by himself, allowed me to just sit and play, been lovie, calm and funny, and has fallen asleep easily (no holding). Sometimes he seems so much older than he looks.
This year we hosted a very intimate Thanksgiving with my BIL and his new wife.
This one obviously did not make the cut.
The lighting didn't work for one; and, is E trying to send me a message?? Ha.
Half the way there.
Ok, pics sooo weren't happening on Take 47!!!
Tiffany and I hosted a Sip & See for our sweet friend, Emmalee, and her
Even Yoda loves football ;)
