18 Months

Somehow our little baby is not such a baby anymore!  He is really growing up and becoming his own little person.  Toddlerhood has brought so much fun as we watch Jake begin to express all that he has been taking in over the last year and a half.  His vocabulary AMAZES me!  He is a huge fan of books and abcs and has been saying letters like crazy.  He is a hoot!  Don't get me wrong, we have also entered tantrum mode...this won't last, right?  He knows what he wants and he is testing us regularly.  On a recent rough day I was thinking about the different phases that have come and passed and with each there is much joy and many challenges at the same time.  I am learning how to be a mom as I go.  The love comes easy, but the tough love is a learning process!

Chalk Time

Jake recently had his first experience with sidewalk chalk.  I was expecting a beautiful day, but the sun didn't come out until later so, we decided to draw on the front porch!  Jake was a chalk-mess from head to toe, but the fun was well worth the mess!

OUR LITTLE CHALK MASTER

OUR CREATION

JAKE IS PRETTY PROUD OF HIS WORK

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

Book Exchange

Jake was recently invited to join in a book exchange!  He received this note in the mail (hid the part with addresses) and off we went to invite others to exchange books as well!  Jake sure loves books so I am looking forward to seeing what arrives for us to read!

We sent our book to a little boy and here is the one we chose...

I received this book at one of my baby showers and it is, by far, my favorite book ever.  I have been reading it to Jake since early on.  I recommend it no mater what age your child may be!

After the Rain

Jacob has, for some reason or other, had a hard time settling down for a nap on the days he attends MMO.  I thought today would be a great opportunity for lunch at the park after I picked him up, just to get a little extra energy out.  He was thrilled, but what was intended to be a nice easy outing quickly turned into a mess!  The playground was full of puddles of water leftover from the rain we received overnight.  I must have slept hard to have missed it.  After constantly steering Jake away from the muddy, messy puddles, I gave in and decided how much fun he must think it would be to stomp away at those puddles.  He had a blast!  Afterwards, we used that extra pair of clothes that any mom with some sense carries in her bag and headed home.

SUPER WHY!

Nana kindly pointed out to me that in my last post I forgot to mention a very important word that Jake has been saying for quite awhile now!  That words is BIBLE!  In addition, he has been saying BABY allot too.  We were just at the doctor's office the other day and he was sure to point out to me every baby in the room.  When did he stop being the baby?

So, as much as I hate to admit it, I do find myself plopping my handful of a toddler infront of the tv at times.  PBS Kids is my channel of choice.  There is a show on this channel called Super Why.  I thought it was much too old for Jake because the characters read a story and fix things in the story to make it better.  They do this by sounding out letters and making words.  The other day, I saw Jake watching and he was saying "pah, pah, pah, pee"!  I looked at the tv and they were teaching the letter "p".  So, I am giving some credit to this show in helping my little guy learn to make new sounds so he can expand that ever so wild vocabulary.  Until next time...

Super Why to the Rescue!!!

16 & 17 Months

My goodness...where does the time go!  It is honestly difficult to sit down and create a monthly update by age!  Guess I need to catch up at some point so, here it goes...

Jake had his 15 month checkup at 16 months because a cold virus hit our house and stayed!  The three of us passed it back and forth for way too long.  Jake was pretty average all around with the exception of his height...yep, he's tall!  It is so funny to me.  His 18 month pants are exactly the right length - meaning, they won't fit next week.  I don't know where he got this gene!

Jake is the sweetest little guy; sharing hugs and kisses constantly.  He is also wild at the same time; tossing anything he can get his hands on and "talking" at the top of his lungs.  He is a ham to say the least.  Jake does not meet a stranger.  If he is ever shy it only lasts seconds and that is rare.  He still loves for everyone to clap for him.  I am curious why he needs so much approval and to have everyone proud of him - and then I realize he MAY just like to see that he can control the room. HA!

Jake Can...
crawl up the stairs
walk up the stairs with help
get off the couch and bed by himself
reach a doorknob (YIKES!)
stomp his feet, clap hands, and turn around when asked to
"roll the cake" in patty cake and "turn the wheels" in the wheels on the bus
dance (especially to Thomas the Train)
when he watches tv or hears us talk he often tries to sound out parts of the words we say


Jake's Vocabulary...
up, dog, fish, boo, cookie, daddy, mama, nana, bebe, duck/truck "uk", wow, ostrage "ost-ige", please, eyes, and probably a handful more that I cannot think of of the top of my head...  This is one of the neatest phases to me.  I find it so interesting to watch him learn and pick things up.

17 MONTHS

16 MONTHS

Christmas 2011

We had a Merry Christmas and hope your family did as well!  Last year Jake was just 4.5 months old so this year was a different parade!  He was really able to enjoy our Christmas traditions this year...

We make our way up to the NC mountains the weekend following Thanksgiving and cut down a tree each year.  It is so beautiful and we love to catch up with the Harrell family while we pick our perfect tree.  This year we just bought one since we have a toddler running around thought I must say he was really good with the tree!  Here are a few photos from out trip...

Christmas Eve, our tradition is to read The Night Before Christmas before bed.  Somehow we pulled that off last year, but this year - not so much.  We were worn out!  So, we will have to revisit that tradition in 2012. 

Christmas Day was such fun, but busy as well!  We started the morning with the surprises Santa left Jake under our tree (just the three of us).  Then, we headed to Budroe and Bebe's for gifts and lunch and then back to our house for dinner and gifts with my side of the family.  Christmas Eve morning we celebrated with my mom at her house and that was a relaxing treat as well!

A few holiday moments...

Our tree on Christmas morning!  I wish it wasn't so dark, but it was early!
Some of Jake's gifts included a workbench, a tunnel, a choo choo, books, a bath boat, and more!

Bethy & I relaxing by the tree...
actually, making sure Jake & Allie don't have a wrestling match over  the Fisher Price farm!

Jake trying out his new broom!

Allie & Jake enjoying their chairs from Great Aunt Barb!

Budroe, Neal, & Bob conducting some serious baking!

Mr. Potato Head aka Mr. Sneaky!

We hope that everyone had a great season and a Happy New Year.  May 2012 be a year of blessings!