16 and 17 month update

So,  I didn't even get your 16 month post up.  I kept meaning to blog, but would forget once I sat down for the day.  That is a sure sign of how much energy I spend on you all day :)  Let's see if I can remember how June and July went.

June - 15 months
You have a definite spunky little spirit.  It was easy to tell that you felt more independent this month.  You would walk into school all by yourself and get right to playing.  We spent most of our days together, but on Tuesdays and some Fridays you went to "school."  I don't take you until around 9:30 or 10:00 and when I tell you we are going to school you grab your back pack and say "bye, bye."  You love being around the other kids and all the new toys.  I had a few weeks this month where I wasn't feeling great.  We would come home from going to the library or somewhere in the morning and I would need to rest.  Turns out I was pregnant and in that first trimester funk.  Unfortunately, we spent more time than I would have liked watching tv and cuddling on the couch.  You bonded with Elmo and he is now your best friend. 

Highlights:
- second time to go to horses for healing event, and papa jeff won you a huge swing set in the auction
- bought your first cowboy hat
- took a bath in mom and dad's jacuzzi tub
- took a bath with cousin nora while Ashton was babysitting you
- went to the public pool and loved it
- threw your first fit when it was time to leave the pool

You use your signs and words so much now.  Your words are dada, more, please, uh-oh, melmo (elmo), bye-bye, elle (ella), and the occasional momma.  It is so clear that you understand much more than you can say, but we speak to you and read to you all the time to help build your vocabulary.

You love to wrestle and you like to play rough.

Running around the house in your towel after bath time is a nightly event

trying out cowboy hats

working on using your silverware

Horses for Healing

loving outside time with your "toys"

You needed another hair cut.  It grows so fast and so thick.

Telling me stories during snack time

nap time at your school

one of your favorite places to go is Grandma and Grandpa Walker's house.  They spoil you while we are there.

July - 16 months
It has still been super hot here, with many days over 100 degrees.  This has kept us from being outside much, which makes you mad sometimes because you love it outside.  However, your poor face gets bright red and you sweat like crazy after 5 minutes.  I learned the hard way that you can open all of the doors in our house, because one time when I was doing dishes I turned around and you were in the garage playing and had let ella out.  We now have to keep the doors locked so you don't escape. 

Your new obsession is to take a stick and hit a ball around the house.  Grandpa ("pa") taught you this one night when he was babysitting you and it has been all you have wanted to do ever since.  You find many objects that fit the "stick" category, including a cane from your great grandpa (my pawpaw), my wooden spoons, dad's golf clubs, and brooms.  Your favorite toys are balls, cars, motorcycles, and books.  You have started going to your room and playing by yourself a lot.  This is so cute for me to watch because you will "talk" to yourself and make up these cute games.  It also gives me time to try and clean up the other messes that you have made. 

Highlights:
- you had your first class party.  G-mama, daddy, and I all attended.  We were the only parents there until the very end.  You were so excited to show us your toys and your classroom that you didn't even eat all your food like the other kids.
- you have become an adventurous climber, which has given me many gray hairs
- you went to your first magic show...you were not impressed
- we took another trip to Cabot to see my grandpa
- aunt mila came into town and you got to spend a lot of time with her.  she can make you laugh really hard, but you make her work for your attention.
- your adopted grandma, my "other momma", Jetty passed away this month.

My belly is growing each day and I am worried how I am going to carry you in a couple of months.  We practice holding hands and walking places.  Sometimes it is successful, but sometimes you try to yank away from me.  One development this month has been your attitude.  It is cute, but exhausting.  Since you don't have many options to communicate, you raise you voice and whine when you are not getting what you want.  We work on calming down and trying again by signing "please."  You are usually very good at doing this and then we can move on. 

Your words now include "mommy."  I love it.  You say it all of the time and it melts my heart.  You also say "pa" for grandpa and "d" for g-mama.  You say ball, cheese ("eese"), and ice.  You will mimic EVERYTHING that we do, especially your dad, so we have to watch ourselves closely.  One of your favorite things to do is throw trash away.  You give yourself a little round of applause each time.  Too cute. 

One of our favorite games now is to read your book together.  I will ask you where things are and you will point to them (sometimes with your feet, which his funny).  I can also ask you to point to your nose, mouth, cheeks, ears, hair, toes, knees, eyes, shirt, belly, shorts, socks, shoes, and lots of other things that you know.  It would take me all night to try and list all of the words that you are aware of, even if you can't say them.  You are also learning your letters and love to point them out in the store or on the tv.  You are really good at B, O, Y, D, X, and sometimes A.

You have had a couple of days of teething this month, but really overall you can't really tell when you are cutting teeth.  The only thing you really do is randomly fuss at night and not eat as much.  Right now you have three top teeth and two bottom teeth. 

at our class party

When we shared the big news about you being a brother

you were flirting with a little girl

showing off and giving me a heart attack at the same time

your favorite place to sit, but I don't think you will be able to fit in a few more weeks.

where I often find you

or here, reading more books

it rained one day and you had a blast playing!  You kept asking for more and I didn't know how to explain to you that I can't make it rain more.

I let you ride in the big part of the cart and you thought it was the best thing ever

our more public baby announcement

playing peek-a-boo with me during dinner

Your personality is so sweet, curious, independent, and generous.  You love giving hugs and kisses and, trust me, I ask for them all the time :)  We are so incredibly blessed to be your parents.  My days are incredibly brightened when I get to spend time with you.  I can't wait to see how you continue to grow and change while turning into the man that God wants you to be. 

15 Months

It is funny to me that throughout the month I will think of all the things that Walker is learning and say to myself, "you have to remember to add this to the blog," but inevitably, I forget...oh well, at least what I remember now is better than nothing.

New Things:
You are so good at your baby sign language.  The only problem is that you don't stop.  For example, you seem to think that if you continue to say "more, please" that food will magically appear.  I know that you understand "no" and "all done," but you continue to beg for food.  You also use the sign for open a lot.  You can get the back door open by yourself, so we have to be very careful to keep it locked. 

saying "more"

Ella broke her leg this month, which for you was great because it was like a toy on her leg that you chased around whenever I wasn't looking. 

You like to bring the paper inside from the driveway. 

Dad finally got your toy car put together.  You like to push it around just about as much as you like to ride in it. 

You will take my necklaces, or mardi gras beads, put them on and then go check yourself out in the reflection of the tv or oven.  It is super cute.  You also like to put on purses, bags, sunglasses, and hats. 

yes, those are mr. potato head's, but you love to wear them

Mother's Day was eventful this year, but not for a good reason.  Turns out you caught Strep.  I guess it is a special form of baby strep that is not contagious to me, and doesn't affect your throat, but it gave you a super nasty rash.  It looked like you had some horrible skin disease.  The doctor said it wasn't contagious to others, but I didn't risk taking you anywhere for a few days.  The upside was that it didn't seem to bother you at all. 

We visit the library a lot.

You went to the splash park with Nora.  Ashton took these super cute pictures.

I wasn't feeling great on Memorial Day, but you and your dad had a ton of fun together.

I spoiled you before leaving for our anniversary vacation by letting you eat  your lunch and watch tv.

We spend time outside, either playing in the water at home, or going up to the square.

Our weekly schedule:
Monday - sometimes go to mom's day out, otherwise we hang out the two of us
Tuesday - spend the morning together, then you go to school from 10:30-6:00, dad picks you up and  you guys have "guys night"
Wednesday - we hang out until 4:00 and then Madison comes over to watch you until 7:00
Thursday - you and me all day
Friday - sometimes you and me all day, sometimes you go to school for a few hours
Saturday - family day
Sunday - church and more family time

I would rather you be with me all the time, but you absolutely love school!!  You basically throw yourself out of my arms to get to the toys and into the classroom.  I can see so many benefits of you being so social and spending time in other environments, that it makes the time I have to be away from you worth it. 

Your dad and I went on our first trip away from you at the end of this month, but don't worry we made it back in plenty of time to celebrate your 15 month birthday with you. 

New York Vacation

Marcus and I recently celebrated our 7 year anniversary. Normally, we do a nice dinner somewhere as the extent of our celebration, but this year I thought we would do a little more since we have not been on a vacation in about 4 years if I am remembering right. We usually go on an annual ski trip, but something has come up every year. Also, I felt it was important for us to do something just the two of us since sometimes our relationship gets lost in parenthood.

Now, neither one of us are travelers and we don't really get much enjoyment from vacationing far from home (unless it is to snow ski), so I knew it would be best to do something short and sweet. I was also well aware of how extremely difficult it was going to be for me to leave Walker for 68 hours (I had only been away from him for about 12 hours max before this). Marcus's is also very busy with work right now, and would have had way too much catch up work if we were gone much longer.

So, I got on the Internet and started brainstorming. I learned that IF the New York Rangers (hockey) continued to win in the playoffs that they would play on Friday, June 1st at Madison Square Gardens for the Stanley Cup. This was awesome because Marcus is obsessed with the Rangers and I have come to enjoy watching them too. I also learned that Colbie Callait and Gavin DeGraw were playing an outside concert in Central Park on Saturday. I love both of these artists, and Gavin DeGraw is who we danced to at our wedding. I felt that the trip couldn't be more perfect for our anniversary.

I booked plane tickets for Thursday evening (so Marcus could finish out 3 closings...and I could spend the day with Walker) and then returning tickets for Sunday morning. I also bit the bullet and bought our Rangers tickets ($$$ ridiculous) and concert tickets (super cheap). My sister told me about airbnb.com, where I found a cute, open, one bedroom on the upper east side for us to stay in. Granted, we had to walk up four flights of stairs and it was a little old, but staying here saved us a lot of money compared to a hotel. And the location was perfect.

I spent all Thursday (really all week) being super intentional to spend as much time as possible with Walker. We went to the airport and said our goodbyes (only a few tears, on my end not his ;) ). I get up to security and realize I don't have my driver's license (yes, I know, how could I be such an idiot? I really think I was using all of my brain power summoning strength to leave that I was struggling with simple, yet very important things). Anyway, long story short, I make it back home and back to the airport with plenty of time...but it was torture to have to go through the goodbyes all over again.

Getting my last cuddles in before leaving

 Friday, we enjoyed getting up on our own and relaxing (no morning wake up call from the monitor). We caffeinated at Starbucks and then began our journey.

First, we toured the 9/11 memorial. I definitely recommend this. It doesn't take very long, maybe 45 minutes, but is very moving and unique. Then, we explored the Financial District, Battery Park, 30 Rock, and made a few stops for shopping. Now, since the Rangers did not make it to the championship (sad story), we did not have plans for Friday night. However, we ended up meeting our friend Ashley Haguewood and my sister for dinner at this cute place called PJ Clarke's. After dinner, we went to McGee's, which is the bar that inspired McClarren's (the bar from the show How I Met Your Mother, one of our faves to watch together). It was a perfect day!

9/11 memorial

the Survivor Tree at the 9/11 memorial

Marcus got a pretzle from a vendor.  This is a huge moment if you know my husband.

The Federal Building.  Marcus's favorite of the trip.

Statue of Liberty picture

At McGee's

Saturday, we woke up exhausted :) I had no idea I was so out of shape. We went to the MET, Chinatown, Soho, No Lita, Little Italy, the Fashion District, and Bryant Park. My sister met up with us and was a wonderful tour guide.

After a quick stop at our apartment, we went to Central Park for the concert. I have no idea how they fit so many people in the venue, but they did. I pictured us on a blanket sitting and watching the show, yeah right, I should have known better. It was standing room only. We found a great spot, but were both soooo leg tired that it was pretty uncomfortable to stand. I really enjoyed the concert though and the experience in Central Park. We ended the trip with dinner (yes, it was 10, but that's the New York way) and watching the hockey game we wish would have been the Rangers. Again, it was a wonderful day.

In Central Park

I was incredibly tired and ready to get home to Walker!!!! My mother-in-law was so wonderful and stayed at our house while we were gone. She would send me pictures regularly to let me know that Walker was happy and having a great time getting spoiled by grandma :) 

SO HAPPY TO BE HOME