A Day in the Life at 18 months

Mommy cannot believe you are 18 months old!! Where has the time gone?? You are doing so many new things! You have discovered climbing my friend! You love climbing on the ottoman and chair (we are having big talks about how chairs are for sitting not standing!) Good thing we have started going to Gymboree Play and Learn so you climb your little heart out there! You are also talking up a storm! You have started putting words together, the other day you said "There's Momma" and your favorite phrase of the moment is "My Ba Ba" (that would be your one true love, your paci!)You also do the funniest thing when you try to wink at someone, you close both of your eyes!It is by the far the cutest thing ever! So I thought it would be fun to describe a typical day for us. You usually wake up around 6:15 and Mommy lets you lay in Mommy and Daddy's bed for a bit while we all snuggle (poor Daddy is very busy this time of year at work and this is the only time he sees you all day!) After we snuggle for a bit you help Daddy get ready, and by help I mean stand right next to him and watch his every move! You especially enjoy pretending to shave as Daddy shaves! After Daddy leaves for work we have breakfast, your favorites are blueberry waffles or mini pancakes, with no syrup (I know crazy right?? Mommy has offered the sugary goodness but you prefer your morning carbs plain!)and we always have some sort of fruit and of course yummy milk. After breakfast Mommy needs coffee ASAP and we play downstairs and watch a little PBS, you LOVE Cat in the Hat and Super Why! You also love to color in the morning, and by color I mean color for a bit and then try to eat the crayons! Now that you are such a big boy Mommy lets you play upstairs in the playroom while I get ready, now in theory you would play in the room with dozens and dozens of toys in it but no siree my friend you would much rather play in the bathroom with Mommy! And oh my goodness the mess you can make!! Yesterday you found the band aids and proceeded to open them all! After we get ready for the day Mimi usually swings by and we run our daily errands or just wander around Kohls for a minute, you never know what you can find! Sometimes we head over to Mimi's house and play there for awhile, you LOVE playing at Mimi's house, and it's even better when Poppy is home!! Oh how you love your Poppy! You have started "working" like Poppy, you sit at Mimi's desk and pretend you are working on the computer and writing just like your Poppy! By this time it's lunch, you really prefer eating at Mimi's house because she plays all sorts of games with you while you eat. Your favorite lunch items are: nug nugs (soy "chicken" nuggets, still a little vegetarian!), corn or lima beans and your absolute favorite a cheese quesadilla. You love cheese, but only in melted form! After lunch it is nap time, you are still a champion sleeper my love. After nap we play some more, if it is nice out you love to play outside, especially with Poppy at their house! You have a little routine with Poppy, you water the flowers, visit your bunny in the flower bed and go walking looking for workers (I don't what we will do once Mimi and Poppy's neighborhood is finished, you just so love watching the workers!) Usually in the afternoon you slow down enough to read some stories, you still love books! After a fun filled day it's time for dinner, then bath and bedtime! We still read "Goodnight Moon" every night! You are such a joy my love! Everyday is an adventure and I'm so grateful we get to spend everyday together!!

Christmas!!!

Mommy is a bit behind in our Christmas blog due to your very first cold, which then turned into your very first sinus infection! We made it 18 months without an antibiotic, but I'm just glad it is making you feel better! Alright let's start talking Christmas!! A couple of days before Christmas Daddy gave us a BIG surprise, he said Mommy's present was too big to wrap and we had to go outside to see it. And guess what??? Daddy bought Mommy a brand new car for Christmas!!! Mommy was very surprised and you even got into the action by smiling and clapping your hands! After our big surprise we headed to Ripley for some pre-Christmas fun with KK and Grandaddy. In Ripley we had a great visit with your cousin Eleanor, you all loved each other! You even sat in her lap! KK and Grandaddy also got you a Nativity set which as you can see you added your own special touch to, your Uncle Pook was so proud!



You had a great visit with all your cousins at the annual Christmas party in Ripley, but you had the most fun climbing up and down the stairs! Grandaddy was very patient going up and down several times with you!





After a fun filled couple of days in Ripley we headed back home to celebrate Christmas Eve at Uncle Lee's house! You had soooo much fun playing with Ryan and all his cars! And oh my goodness the presents!!!! Everyone had such fun watching all the boys opening their presents!

Your new tricycle, which you L-O-V-E!


Sesame Street toy!!

Daddy helping you with your loot!




After all the presents we headed back home so Santa could come visit us!! And my goodness did he ever come visit!! Mommy and Daddy had so much fun waking up with you Christmas morning and seeing how excited you were to see Santa's goodies! Such sweet memories love!!


Look what Santa brought you!!
You love your moo cow!!

This is Mommy's favorite picture!! You were sooo happy!!

And just when you thought there could possibly not be any more presents Mimi and Poppy came over with their presents!!! Not only did they bring their presents MawMaw and PawPaw came over too with more presents! We had a wonderful morning complete with all of Mommy's favorite Christmas morning yummies, and you had chocolate milk again! Mommy has never seen so many presents! You had a great time opening your presents and helping everyone else open theirs also! You also were a very special secret shopper and gave Mimi and Mommy matching bracelets, soooo sweet! I'm not positive but I think your Daddy may have helped you!



Playing with Poppy and your zoo!

Mimi showing you how Cookie Monster works, you L-O-V-E Cookie Monster!!

More presents, I think you were just taking it all in here!

At some point later in the morning you just laid your little head on Poppy's shoulder and announced you were ready for a nap! I think all the Christmas fun had worn you out!! After a very good nap we were all ready for our first annual Christmas evening party at our house! Your Daddy is so excited to start this new tradition where everyone comes to our house on Christmas night. And everyone did come! Uncle Lee, Aunt Leigh, Ryan, Baby Jake, KK, Grandaddy, Mimi and Poppy!! The only people missing were Uncle Pook and Aunti Shanti, hopefully next year they can come too! It was a great party!!! And the best Christmas ever!! Can't wait till next year my love!!!

A Visit with Santa

Well my love after weeks of preparation the day finally arrived, you were going to see Santa!!! Now Mommy has been showing you pictures of Santa on the TV, on ornaments, on lawn decorations, in books everywhere there was a Santa so you would feel comfortable with the big jolly fellow and you have been very receptive! You point out Santa and say "Ho Ho Ho" all over place, so Mommy was thinking that this whole picture with Santa might just be a success...not so much my love! This morning as Mommy was changing your diaper I told you we were going to see Santa today and you clapped and said "Ho Ho Ho" and Mommy was feeling oh so optimistic! Mimi and Mommy arrived at the mall at 9:58 convinced we would be the first to see Santa at 10:00, you were looking so very cute in all your Christmas smocked glory and saddle oxfords just a smiling and waving at people. Low and behold there were two kids in front of us but you were still happy happy happy just working the crowd! Then the little boy in front of us sees Santa and promptly burst into tears, at this point you just looked at us as if to say: wait a minute now what is going on?? We went up to Santa (the same Santa from last year! I was hoping you would remember your positive previous meeting...not so much) and you just started to wave your arms vigorously in your "no no no" pattern! Well Mommy went ahead and put you on a stranger's lap and this is the photo result:



No tears, but just a look of sheer horror!! It's a picture we will never forget my love!! Thankfully you recovered nicely and proceeded to stroll around the mall like you owned the place! You walk just like your Daddy!!



All in all a very fun Christmas outing!!

Gobble Gobble

Hello my little turkey! We just celebrated our second Thanksgiving together! I can't believe it is already your second holiday season!! We had a great turkey day, we (and by we I mean you my love) woke up very early and were ready to go! Or as you say "Go Go Go!" So off we went to Mimi and Poppy's to have donuts and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (a tradition your Mommy has been participating in her whole life)and oh my goodness something very special happened, your Daddy thought it was time for your first taste of chocolate milk! And of course you LOVED it! Mommy thought the experience wasn't complete without a little donut as well!



After we watched the parade for awhile we headed home for nap time and to gear up for our big Thanksgiving feast back at Mimi and Poppy's. When we arrived MawMaw, PawPaw, Pook, and Aunti Shanti were all there, it took you just a minute to process that all these people were at your Mimi's house but then you decided to work the crowd! We had such fun watching you show everyone all your tricks! You even got sit in your highchair at the dining room table with everyone! It was a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Sitting at the big table!

You love pushing Pooh in your grocery cart!




Daddy bought you a Thanksgiving balloon!



And then it was time to decorate for Christmas!! Daddy and I have had such fun decorating this year with you! You already know how to say "Ho Ho Ho' for Santa!! Can't wait for all the fun holiday happenings headed our way!

Fall Fun!

It's Fall!! And boy have we been busy my love! There are always so many fun things to do in the fall and we have been doing them all! Our first fall adventure was our annual trip to Gentry's Farm with the gang! We have been going all together since Mommy was pregnant with you! Here is a look back at the mandatory whole gang portrait (I have to give Miss Nicole props, because I totally stole this idea from Abby's blog!)

Our first trip, you were still in Mommy's tummy!

Look how little you were!

This year's picture! We are missing Ellie though! You are looking at Baby Kate, you LOVE babies!

You had such fun at the Pumpkin Patch! You saw sheep, goats, chickens and cows!! Oh my goodness you were just a Baaaing and Mooing all over the place! You favorite part of the whole day was the hay ride!! You had soooo much fun watching the cows and pointing to them! You were so excited that you couldn't even sit in Daddy's lap you stood in his lap the whole time!

Trying to get Ryan to smile! You are such a sweet boy wanting to hold his hand!



You loved the tractors!





Our next fall extravaganza stop was the zoo!! It was the annual Ghouls at Grassmere and Mommy is going to be honest I was a wee bit nervous that it might be too scary for you but Miss Nicole and Aunt Leigh assured me that as long as we were there before dark you would be good to go and they were right! You LOVED every minute of it!! And the best part you got to wear your super duper cute Lion costume! Oh my goodness love you were by the far the cutest little lion I have ever seen! You even can roar!











Your favorite part of the whole evening was the merry go round! You had so much fun going round and round! You especially loved waving to Daddy, Mr. Jason and Abby's Mimi! Mommy was so proud of you, you even kept your costume on the whole time! I thought for sure we wouldn't make it out of the parking lot with your mane on but you were such a big boy! I think it helped that we parked next to Abby and she was all decked out in her Mickey costume so you knew that something special was going on! There was even a dance tent where you shook your groove thing with Abby, Ryan, Ellie and Abby's cousin Clara Lee, you all looked so cute just busting a move on the dance floor! And we went on a haunted hayride!! Which once again Mommy was very nervous that you would be scared but you LOVED it! In fact you thought the whole thing was just hilarious!! Such fun my love! Mommy just loves all these fun activities with you my sweet boy!! Next stop: Pumpkinfest on Saturday!!

Look Who IsTalking!

You are a talker my love!! Oh my goodness you are just like a sponge (a very cute one of course!) you are just soaking up so much!! Here are all the words you can say so far:

Momma
Da Da
Pop Pop - for Poppy
My My - for Mimi, which I think is so sweet because it is like you are saying Mine Mine, which of course your Mimi just loves!
Balloon - you LOVE balloons! When you say it you look up!
Ball - you are such an eagle eye too my love you can spot balls everywhere! Even on TV!
Go
Cat
Yum - oh my goodness you say this when you are eating or pretending to cook and it is so stinkin cute! You stick out your tongue a little bit when you say it!
Boat
Bye Bye
Gobble Gobble - for a turkey

These are all the sounds you can make:
Moo
Baa
Meow
Arf Arf
Fire engine siren

Sesame Street has also become a favorite of yours! When you see Elmo on TV or in a book you make the sweetest high pitch sound, imitating Elmo's voice! You also do a Cookie Monster voice!

There are so many cute things that you can do! Mimi has taught you how to "sniff" the flowers! You even "sniff" the flowers in books! She also taught you how to "hammer hammer" when we ask you what the workers do! You love watching the workers build new houses in Mimi and Poppy's neighborhood. You also have started making the cutest gesture when we ask you where something went, you hold up your hands and shrug your little shoulders like "I don't know!" Mimi also taught you to raise your arm up when she says you are soooo big!

You know colors too!! You know orange, red, and blue!!

You are also a dancing machine!! Mommy LOVES your dancing! Anytime you hear music you stop what you are doing and just bust a move!!

Here are some other favorites of the moment: Dinosaur Train on PBS, Morning Star chicken nuggets and Bocca Burgers (you are a little vegetarian my love, though you do like rotisserie chicken!), lima beans (which Mommy thinks is just crazy!), riding in your wagon, going to the store with your Daddy, watering the flowers with your Poppy and reading your books. Everyday you are learning new things and Mommy is loving every minute of it!!

On the Road Again

Well we are just on the move my love!! After chilling at home for a week after our big Texas trip we headed to the lake to celebrate Daddy's birthday! And guess what??? The whole Grugett clan was there to celebrate with Daddy!! We actually went down a little bit early so you could have KK and Grandaddy all to yourself for a bit. And boy did you have fun!! You loved walking around the harbor and looking at all the boats, you even learned how to say "boat"!! You are such a talker now my love (more on all your verbal skills in a later blog!!) You loved playing basketball with your Daddy, ball is another one of your favorite words!







Soon Uncle Lee and Ryan joined us, and then the fun really started! You just love following Ryan all around and playing with him! Ryan was very sweet with you and always shared the toys with you! KK and Grandaddy also got you a new farm toy! You had so much fun making all your animal sounds for everyone! You also have a new favorite toy, Ryan's tricycle!! You LOVE riding it, but so does Ryan! So Mommy asked Santa for your very own tricycle for Christmas. We played and played and looked at the boats, we even went on a picnic! By this time Aunt Leigh and Baby Jake were also there, such fun with all three boys!! You were sooooo sweet with Baby Jake, you even offered him your paci!! That means love my friend because we all know how much you love your paci! Mommy and Daddy had such fun watching you play with your cousins! Here are some more highlights! Wonder where we will venture to next??