15 Months Old!

Dear Chuy,

You are 15 months old this month and you are rocking and rolling! Your walking has turned into running, and your babbles have turned into crazy words and almost sentences. When Daddy left for school the other day, you looked out the window, waved, and said 'Buh bye puppy baby!'...

You've been getting better at eating with a spoon as well. Most of the time, the item that you scoop up actually ends up in your mouth. There was one day in particular however that we seemed to take a step backwards... spaghetti day.

They feed you spaghetti at escuela and you never come home covered head to toe in it, so, they must have some sort of magical day care trick that I don't know about...

I'm not sure why Daddy decided that you needed a giant plastic fork, but he gave you one, and here's what happened...

Granted, you seriously enjoyed yourself, we got an awesome video of it, and I'm still thankful that we took your shirt off first, but the amount of spaghetti consumed versus used to 'decorate' the kitchen was not what I was looking for that day.

You've really been into pillow forts lately - which I think is so cute! I used to be way into pillow forts too - like Mommy like Son I guess. It's so cute how you want us to build them around you. You'll just sit and play with your puppy or Mrs. Hoppel inside the fort...

You've realized in the past few weeks that walking is fun, running is more fun, but climbing things is most certainly where it's at. Here you are trying to scale the arm of the couch with assist from the Lego bucket...

...here's a seriously dangerous move wherein you not only balance on the back of the Wheelie Bug, but you take it a step further by trying to stand on it's teeny tiny handle... yikes... seriously kid, you're going to give your mother a heart attack.

...and last, but not least, you've figured out how to conquer the ottoman cubes... all by yourself... with ease... we're so doomed...

Last weekend, we celebrated Sylvia and Penelope's 2nd birthday party at LocoMotion - one of those crazy bouncy house places. You LOVED it and thankfully didn't catch any viruses! Yay!

New raincoat! You hated me stuffing you into it, but it's SOOOOOO cute...

Having snacks with Logan at your Bachan's house. She got you two that cute little table to sit and eat at... like big boys!

All in all, we had ourselves another super busy but fun month. I can't believe how much you are talking and using your sign language - it's so crazy to be able to communicate through language with you. I'm not sure I'm ready to have full blown conversations yet (tender Mommy heart and all), but I'm down with talking about where Daddy is and if you can get into the bubbles (bath)...

Love,

Mommy

14 months old!

Dear Chuy,

Today is my 35th birthday! That's right, your Mommy is officially an old lady. "Middle Aged"... sounds dreadful, doesn't it? Thankfully, I don't act like I'm a grown up very often, so, at least there's that.

You, my son my son, are 14 months old this month! Crazy! This time last year, you were recovering from a battle with some pesky viral menengitis and I was questioning the whole 'day care' decision and feeling bad for my sick little baby. This year, you're happy, healthy as a horse, and thriving at your escuela - thank goodness!

So, what have we been up to lately? Well, we've been holding off getting your hair cut because it's never been cut before... and they're your sweet little baby hairs... and I couldn't bring myself to admit that my tiny little baby is a big bad toddler that has some crazy Bill Murray hair going on.

We decided on just a trim, just around the neck and ears and that our buddy Stacy was the lady for the job!

Turns out, one out of one babies agree - haircuts are super scary! You were not a fan. I think that you were upset in anticipation of the scissors hurting you... but then seemed confused when they didn't hurt at all.

Thankfully, it was all over quickly and Stacy let you play with a comb and help sweep up hair.

In other news, you've really been into reading your books lately - especially if they are peek-a-boo books. This particular book is a farm peek-a-boo that makes animal noises when you lift the flaps. It's pretty darn entertaining. You're even starting to make the animal noises along with the book. Too cute.

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I'm so thankful that your teacher at escuela, Miss Jasmine, likes to take pictures as much as I do! Here you are at school finger painting...

I think you might be enjoying yourself just a little bit... :)

I can't believe how fast you grow. I can never believe how big you are. I am never surprised at how smart you are - you're my super baby genius. It is so much fun watching you learn and explore.

Love,

Mommy

P.S. This pic of you and Daddy is too much - I love both of my boys!

Thirteen Months Old!

Dear Chuy,

Can you believe it? You are one year and one month old! We're totally rocking out your second year on the planet... pretty cool, huh?

You have been changing soooo very much in the past couple weeks. For one thing, I think your head has gotten bigger - it's very difficult to get your shirt over your head nowadays...

You're also really super duper into reading books, having books read to you, bringing us books to read, even sitting in our laps and turning the pages. It's been really cool to see you start to realize what sounds animals make and that you remember where the 'touch and feel' parts of your farm peek-a-boo book are.

You've also figured out how to climb the couch - and you've gotten pretty sneaky about it. Turns out, when you walk behind me and then get perfectly quiet and still... you're up to something, and that 'something' is climbing the couch like a little monkey. Here you are trying to get your Daddy over the arm of the couch - danger, danger!

We celebrated the Fourth of July at home with your BFF Clover, Auntie Vic, and Uncle Dave. We started the day watching the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog eating contest (also known as the one time during the year that we tune to ESPN), then had our friends over for a cook-out. It was good fun, you ate a whole 1/4 pound Kosher hot dog plus beans and corn... you're hungry!

You had a fun party at escuela too - here you are with your friends... funny how your plate is empty, but everyone else has a full one... my boy is hungry!

Your cousin Logan celebrated his 2nd birthday on July 9th - we went down and had ourselves a cook-out that weekend - it was tons of fun!

Logan has all sorts of big boy toys that you had much fun borrowing... like this awesome slide!

Your teacher at escuela, Miss Jasmine, loves to take pictures as much as I do - she's been e-mailing me what you've been up to while you're at school... how fun! Here you are playing with the sprinkler during water play...

...and here you are playing with a cool steering wheel toy on the playground... I've also seen you enjoying that awesome tractor tire there behind you...

Happy 13th month, my funny sunny boy!

I predict more fun, sun, swimming, and good times before summer is over.

Love,

Mommy

Tiny Hatter Birthday Party!

The most awesome Tiny Hatter Birthday Party wrap up!

http://www.larkcrafts.com/craft-your-life/tiny-hatter-birthday-party/

One Year Old!

Dear Chuy,

You're ONE YEAR OLD!!!

Well, actually, you're one year and a couple weeks, we've been busy swimming and having fun, so, not a lot of time left to blog about it... Anywhoo...


Your mommy has been having a bit of trouble accepting that her precious little tiny baby boy is no longer a baby. You're a toddler now. You walk all around the house like a crazy man, you go to big boy escuela now where you have to do grown up things like wear shoes and drink from a sippy cup. It's so exciting to see how much you are changing and growing, but my tender mommy heart misses her tiny little newborn baby sometimes (though, I will say, I don't miss getting up every two hours in the night to feed you)...


We had a killer, white hot, over the top, kind of ridiculous, super awesome 1st Birthday Party for you and Clover over at Auntie Vic and Uncle Dave's house. What started as a 'tiny hat' theme ballooned into a full on Alice In Wonderland Mad Hatter tea party!


Here's a pic of you and Clo in your fancy pants outfits...

You weren't too fond of your flouncy Mad Hatter goodness - can't say I blame you - it was super hot outside and you're wearing a wool jacket...


Here's Mommy, Daddy, and Baby Hatter...

Oh yes, there were still tiny hats involved and Daddy has an awesome white rabbit tee too!

One of your Auntie Vic's friends made the most beautiful tiny hat cakes for you and Clover...

We decided to strip you both down to your diapers (though Clover is still wearing her Mary Jane's... cause she's a lady...) and let you go crazy on your tiny cakes...

Here you are blowing out your very first birthday candle...

I was so incredibly proud of the moment when we sang happy birthday to you and Clo - it brought a tear to my eye.


Then, you and Clo got down to business...

I did manage to get a bite of your cake - it was the most delicious cake I think I've ever tasted. It's almost a shame that you guys were set on 'total cake destruction' mode, only a couple bites actually ended up in your mouths.

On your actual birthday, we opened presents at home. Here's a pic with you and a small portion of your birthday loot. You are one spoiled little mister - you got soooooo many presents from all your friends and family.

We took you out shopping and then had pancakes for dinner - mommy favorite (and hopefully yours too)!

Of course, we also had to have a B-Day celebration at escuela too - here's a pic of you with your buddy AJ...

Mmmm... cupcake...

Your B-Day party was also your last day at your baby escuela. You see, there's another location of the same escuela that's only a mile from our house, so, I moved you. It hurt to leave all of your teachers and friends, we both miss them terribly, but it is so nice that it only takes 15 minutes to pick you up now - instead of an hour.

Happy happy birthday, my sweet little boy. I can't believe we've made it a whole year. I can't believe how much you've grown. I can't believe that you're walking and soon you'll be talking up a storm.

It is so incredibly crazy how fast this year has flown by. I can't even imagine my life without you - I love you so very very much and I can't wait to see what you'll be up to in year number 2!

Love,

Mommy

Eleven Months Old!

Dear Chuy,

What? You're 11 months old already? How did that happen?

Better question... when did you stop looking like a little baby and start looking like a little boy?

Huh? When?

Your Mother's tender heart would like to know because she just can't take it. Where'd my baby go?

You've been spending more and more time doing your 'baby work'. What's funny is that I know you could totally walk on your own if you wanted to - you just choose to use the furniture and the walls and this here cart for balance. Daddy and I have both seen you just let go and stand on your own, however... maybe by your 1st birthday?

Here you are helping Daddy do the dishes. You are so completely your Father's son - you LOVE watching Daddy do the dishes - you cry when I take you away to go and play...

For Mother's Day, we took you to the Children's Museum. We all had a blast - you especially loved looking at the fishies... then we all had pancakes for dinner... cause that's what Mommies like!

My sweet boy made this for me at escuela - it's paper that's full of seeds, so I can plant it and watch it grow!

Your Auntie Regina came for a visit last weekend - we had much fun! I can't believe you're actually smiling in this picture - too bad I look like a wreck, but you and Auntie Gigi look great!

Through the magic of science and technology, I am now able to post videos to your blog. Yay! Thanks to Auntie Gigi's fancy schmancy camera. This video is of you playing with a spoon at Casa Maria. You are such a silly rabbit.

I can't believe that in 20 days you're going to be 1 year old. Can't believe it! This has truly been the best year ever and I just can't wait to see what you'll be up to in year 2.

Love,

Mommy

10 Months Old!

Dear Chuy,





Last week, you turned 10 months old. Less than two months until your 1st Birthday. Can you believe it? Where did the time go? This was seriously the quickest 10 months of my entire life.





You're on the verge of a major major major baby milestone... walking... walking? walking!



We got you a little clackity clack alligator push cart and you love it.

You always look so determined and serious when you push your cart down the hallway. I've made up a song about you and your 'baby work' - remind me sometime, I'll sing it for you...

You've also taken to cruising around all the furniture - mostly to get to kitties who, thanks to your mobility and lack of volume control, want little to do with your company at the moment.

Tis a shame too, because you have much love for these beasts... your Father and I don't quite understand what you see in them, but you don't have to clean their litter box, so, perhaps that has something to do with it.

Another new 10-month-old situation? Eating.

You've decided that baby food fed by spoon is for babies, not big strong 10-month-olds with 'baby work' to be done.

You now prefer your food on a plate, bite sized, not too hot, and make it snappy!

Thankfully, your plate has a suction cup on the bottom of it, even though said suction cup was no match for your brute strength last night... but hopefully you'll figure out not to throw your plate across the room at some point... right?

Easter was a couple weeks ago and you and your classmates at escuela had a fine time 'hunting' for eggs.

Here's a little Chuy fun fact for you - Mr. Baby Pants doesn't like grass... in fact, he hates it.

When we sat you down, not only did you start crying, but you also pulled the exposed parts of your legs up and away from the evil green menace...

Needless to say, you hunted your Easter eggs from a cute airplane mat.

I think we need to continue with our grass aversion therapy...

Easter Sunday, we had our family and friends over for a good ol fashioned Easter dinner - complete with pot roast, au gratin potatoes, and green bean casserole- it was good times.

Here's a pic of you and your cousin, Logan - you guys look like double trouble...

Clover and her family joined us on Easter as well - we had good times.

No baby-types wanted to wear these ears, but we tried our best to get a picture of all three of you anyways...

All in all, we had a great month - as usual - watching you grow taller, watching your hair start to get curly, just simply being amazed at the fact that you exist and you're our son... it's still so crazy to me.

Happy 10-month birthday, my sweet precious boy - I am so looking forward to what you'll be up to in month 11!

Hmmm... perhaps smiling at the camera will be on your list of tricks?

I sure hope so.

Love,

Mommy