18 and 19 months!

Cohen,
We are combining your months this post because we had to wait for your very fancy pictures to come back...;-) Our friend at Dyan Kethley Photography is worth the wait...look for the pics at the end of the post!

Such a toddler!

At your 18 month appointment, you only had to get one shot and it was pretty painless, I guess.  You did so well showing off all your 'milestones' for the pediatrician.  You are our little ham and you love being the center of attention:

18 month stats:
Height: 33 1/2 inches (70%)
Weight: 26 lbs (50%)
You wear size 18-24 month clothing right now, and are in a size 4 disposable diaper. We use cloth diapers still 99% of the time and have had to add some doublers because you like to pee through them haha!

This really has been a fun age and the past two months you've really blossomed in your communication and personality.  Other fun things you do now....

You know where YOUR nose and ears and eyes and belly button are ;-) and you like to point out ours and body parts on your toys.  The easter bunny brought you a Mr. Potato head to help mix up noses and eyes!

You LOVE  To  READ.  Most days its at least 10 books before bedtime. Your favorites are "Goodnight Moon," "Things that go," "Truck book," "Animal Book," Sandra Boyton's anything books, and a couple of Christmas books (Mickey and one that has a picture of you in it!).

 You love the stairs and can go up and down while holding your hand standing upright.  We've only had one major smack on the head from falling down steps so far....and we'd like to keep it that way, mkay?  I'm afraid we have a climber and a risk-taker on our hands...

Had to move the wheelbarrow because you were climbing on top of it

You are an engineer and like to stack toilet paper rolls, dishes, toys, and anything you can get your hands on.  Everything has a function and you study it until you've got it figured out. 

You dance to any music anywhere.  And when we ask you to dance, you shake your hips.  Adorbs.

You are off the sippy-cup unless we are traveling (moved on to the cup with straws in it) and you eat with utensils out of your LEFT hand ;-) Your Deda is a lefty, so maybe you are following in his footsteps.  You still like cereal and Mickey after naps and you're a cranky pants after you wake up.

Big boy cup in Grandpa's chair watching TV

You understand directions  and will take things to the trash, or to whereever we ask them to be placed.  Just because you understand doesn't mean you always follow them...i.e. please stop throwing your food to the dogs, or don't pour water out of the bathtub.... ;-)

'helping' plant with your Babi and Deda over Easter

Your train set is your favorite toy.  I'm thinking that we will need a train table in the new house and that this may be a theme for a while. 

There is only one love in your life.  The dark monkey paci.  Seriously.  You play with his tail to lull you to sleep or to calm you down.  This one is going to be a tough habit to break...

You got your first molars, and are still missing that lower bottom tooth! Your doctor isn't worried and says your teeth and jaw look just perfect. (Molars came in around March 1-7th, 20114)

You've done lots of traveling this month: Colorado, Dallas, TX and to Wichita KS.  For the most part you are a pretty easy traveler as long as we time it right. 

First bike ride at Ms. Susan's house in Dallas

You have taken a few weeks of swim lessons and love the water.  Swimming under water doesn't seem to bother you, and your favorite part is jumping in off the side.  (Again, no-fear daredevil child...)

Communication:  You say A LOT which is really no surprise to any one around you.  All 4 of the adults in your life are talkers, so you were bound to have a large vocabulary from the get go.  This month you say: Yellow, Orney (orange), you clearly say yes and no, Amen, God, Nigh-Night, Daddy, Mama, Cici, Bella, Juice, Snack, Up, Bird, Cat, Dog, Babi, Emma, Car, uh-oh, oh-no, and an entire other assortment of words.  You mimick us and usually repeat one or two words during conversations.

Praying over dinner with Grandpa and Daddy

First virus with really high fever 105 (3/11) and again on (4/23)

You slap your thighs like we (Cici does) while chasing you around the house.

 And we saved the best for last...... Enjoy!
 

We love you little stinker ;)

Happy Birthday Patrick!

Happy Birthday ;-)

For those of you that know him, this post will come as no surprise.  My hubbie is a WORDS man.  No problem here with communication, and his love language is words of affirmation...so, instead of a wrapped gift this morning, Cohen and I thought we'd just SAY a FEW things ;-)


Happy Birthday to the best Daddy ever.  I love that you come home from work and take me outside.  My favorite things to do are blow bubbles, ride in the wheelbarrow, and throw dirt in the backyard with you.  I also like that you let me watch more Mickey Mouse than Mommy does...and that you sneak macaroni into my meals when Mommy is away.  I want to wear hats like you and I've started calling EVERYTHING Daddy in hopes that will make you suddenly appear during the day.  Happy Birthday daddy!

Happy Birthday Patrick, I'm so glad I get to have you by my side in the crazy life of ours. Thank you for supporting me in my mid-life crisis this year and for keeping the faith when I was weak on mine.  You are my biggest fan in my fitness journey and I'm so glad you've started on yours.  I love that you take care of our little family financially and spiritually - you are the best out-loud prayer there is ;-) I love our impromptu date nights, our crazy travel schedules, and our dream boards. 

So Happy Birthday - and I think we will fill our readers in on what your gift is this year...

 A microwave.... ;-) Want to share why you would ask for one of those?

Walk to Emmaus

De Colores ;-)

I'm back from my weekend retreat away, and was going to write a quick facebook post, but I think that I would have used too many words!

I was gone from Thursday night to Sunday night, and I have a follow-up gathering tomorrow.  It was INCREDIBLY difficult to be away from my family and Cohen without any access to them....however...it was also INCREDIBLE to get away and re-focus and refresh.

Some highlights from my three-day journey included:
1. Not knowing the time.  I really really enjoyed this - and although we knew when the sun was up or down, never really knowing how late we were in the chapel or what time we were taking morning showers was such a strange surprise.
2.  I had zero anxiety this trip.  I never worried.  I knew I would be fed (physically and spiritually), I would get rest, and I even got a few workouts in!  For those of you that know me well, one of my 'gifts' is being a worrier.  Haha. 
3.  I met some amazing women that are all a little piece of me now.  We will be reconnecting in an accountability group very soon.
4. Getting to come home and love on Cohen.  I received a picture of him during the weekend and bawled like a baby - In my world of iPhone pictures, face-time, and seeing him daily, the fact that NONE of those tools were available was extremely difficult.  I could just hug his little cheeks every moment of the last 12 hours (if he'd let me!)

I'm exhausted - mentally and physically.  I slept last night for 10 hours and I still feel like I could sleep all day.  However, I feel renewed and needed the reminders from the retreat to keep the faith, grow in grace and share God's love with all people.

And for those of you that have been on an Emmaus walk, I need ideas for how to incorporate those dang roosters, cluck-hens and babe-chicks in my home decor. Bwahahahahah!!!