Seventeen!

Cohen,

Thank goodness its only 17 months and not years.  We aren't quite ready for that! 

You have really morphed into our little toddler and have let go of the baby/infant stage.  While we are sad to not have our 'baby' you are so much fun to be around.  ;-)

You 'talk' all the time, but we still can't understand what you are saying to us.  Conversations between us are pretty hillarious.  You do mimick and repeat words a lot, but nothing on your own yet:  You've said, bike, duck, Cici, Dadda, Mama, Bella, no (and no..and noo....), uh-oh, night-night, bye-bye, up, down.  When you hear the dogs bark you point and say no to them.  Maybe they'll listen to you because they surely don't listen to us!

Outside is your favorite space.  Cici and Grandpa have the best backyard filled with dirt, grass, roots for jumping, piles of dirt for digging and sticks for waving.  You would be happy to live outside and throw tantrums when we make you come in to eat or rest.  Now that the weather is finally getting warmer, we are brainstorming ideas for a backyard play area or at least a swing!

Climbing.  You are our little monkey, and a gym class is in order. Next month we are going to start taking you once a week to get your fix. You still need help to get on the furniture, but you want to be on the highest space.

You are still a good little eater, although you snack a lot.  We've got to be better about setting usual meal times - haha.  B: Oatmeal and Cici's cereal with OJ   S: pouch or orange and crackers  L: Applesauce, yogurt, sandwiches S: Usually cereal while watching Mickey Mouse after your nap! D: Whatever we eat, haha  You are independent and want to use your own spoon, your own cup, your own snack bowl.  When you don't like what we've given you or you are all done eating, you still swipe everything off the high chair onto the floor. ...

Since Babi lives here now, we get to play with her at least a few times a week.  You crawl all over here and LOVE to run in the hallways ;-) 

You sleep pretty well! You are an EARLY morning riser (before 6 am) like your mama, so if you could adjust that we'd all be happier ;-) Mornings are your favorite time and you are in bed by 8:30pm after a fun bath. Daddy does your night time routine and you know how to 'pray' by putting your hand together.

You grew two more teeth this month getting the grand total to 7.   The dentist says this is fine, that the longer it takes for your teeth to come in, the healthier they are.  This is great news to us because I have HORRIBLE luck with teeth.  So take your time!  We are ok with waiting for those tooth-ies!

We love your mickey-mouse-loving, dog-chasing, head-strong personality.  Next month we are going skiing ;-) which means your FOURTH plane ride in 18 months. Can you say 'baby traveler?'

Love you little stinker!!

15 months

Cohen,

You are 15 months old.  You will always be my baby, but man, you certainly have your toddler-sized skills down!  I am anxious what the "twos" will be like after experiencing the last few months!

Just saw your pediatrician:
You are 23.11 lbs (20%)
You are 32.5 inches (75%)
and you have a big head (70%) for all those brains ;-)
You are growing out of your 12-18 month clothes but the 18-24 are still a bit big.
You have your 4 teeth still, and just cut the upper left one (#5) a few days ago.

This is your signal for 'so big' or when we ask 'how old/big are you?'

You are a good eater, and love love your carbs and sweets.  No milk or banana for you - they give your entire body and diaper area a rash.  Some favorites are graham crackers, lucky charms (!), vanilla yogurt, chili, spaghetti, and french fries.  You get overwhelmed when we put more than a few things on your tray and will swipe it all off to clean up.  Also, you've started to become annoyed with your high chair and want to sit at the table with all the big people, but you just aren't steady enough for a booster seat yet.

No more bottle for you - Daddy has a night-time routine with you and you even reach for the crib on days you are really tired.  However, you are a morning person like your mom and get up before 6 every. stinkin. day.  We've tried adjusting bed time, but you have a LOUD internal alarm in the mornings...

You are Mr. Independent (NO idea where you get this from...) At meal time, you want to feed yourself or you won't eat.  You use a spoon with your oatmeal in the mornings and a fork when Mom's feeling up to cleaning afterwards.  More of the food makes it in your mouth than not, which is a surprise when you see how you eat...

You understand when we give you directions and usually follow them (see Mr. Independent above)  Favorites include, go get your books, trains and/or paci.  Or 'who's home??' and you run to the garage door.

You are walking, running, and climbing.  Daddy 'chases' you around the house and you just laugh and laugh.  Sometimes you chase us back...or the dogs...but they don't get a kick out of it like we do!

 Since you climb all the time (above) I took you to a gym class this month.  I'm thinking you need the real deal since you scaled the rock wall in no time with NO FEAR.  This no fear has resulted in several bad falls lately.  You have busted your chin, your nose, and your forehead all within the last two weeks.  Yikes!

Your love language has to be physical touch.  Everyone that comes in contact with you calls you a cuddle-er.  Despite being independent, you will always come back and give a hug before your next focus of play.  You want to sit on our laps when we read or when you watch your favorite show, Mickey Mouse.

Wrestling with Santa!

You don't use words much, but you babble like we understand every syllable.  You do sign a bit as well.  The sign for food is the same as drink right now, and you do that one pretty emphatically.  "All done" that started at the end of meal times is now your favorite thing to 'tell us' when its something you don't want to do (i.e. diaper change, ride in your car seat, get in the shopping cart)

I want cupcakes...why isn't anyone listening to me?

You love dogs and animals.  I think a zoo membership is in our future...

Amazon had some jumbo magnetic letters that arrived this month and you play with them at least 3 times a day.  You like to find things that they stick to (the dishwasher and the washing machine), or throw them.  We definitely find them around the house in random places!'

Your Grandpa is still your favorite person ever, although you have been more attached to Cici this past month.  You giggle when Daddy gets home from work, and love to mess with your cousin Ace when he comes to visit.

 Trying on his boots ;-) You go to his closet and get his boot jack for him when he asks you too!

 This is you looking at Grandpa...seriously...you are TOTALLY obsessed!

You love your day school and your teachers (who are now Mommy's friends, too!) but you love that morning nap time...so you've fallen asleep a few times before lunch at school.  I love when they send me pictures, but especially this one :-)

You've experienced two snow/ice storms in December.  Although you 'saw' snow last year you were only a few months old, so this was really your first experience.  Since you love being outside anyway, I think you were just frustrated that the snow suit was awkward to walk with. (notice the nose boo-boo)

Blessings,

The Colors!

I guess with the madness of marching band, I've never really noticed the leaves changing during the fall.  With walking Cohen to school, running through the neighborhood, and being home most of the day, I've gotten to really watch the color of the trees change!

Last weekend my dad, Patrick, and I took Cohen to a park to look around at the pretty leaves.

Why does he look so old here??

 

Patrick and Dad were playing around with settings on their cameras so I was the model while Cohen played in the leaves. Some of the pictures came out sooo good! 

 

Can you tell we took pictures on a Saturday?? GO POKES!!! I still can't believe we are in the top 10- does anyone else remember when we were scared every year if we would even BE in a bowl?

We are SOOO in trouble when this one is older...

The next Monday, Patrick was off of work (bank holidays are awesome by the way).  We took Cohen to the Tulsa zoo with my sister and little Ace.  He wasn't quite old enough to understand the animals, but he did like to look at them all.  Here is the iguana picture - they were eating.

Daddy and Cohen. I think they look more alike now!

What does the fox say????

Cohen's FAVORITE part of the zoo was the train.  This was his face for the entire 15 minute ride.  He LOVED it. 

 

Audrey and the little cutie. Ace didn't love the train quite as much...guess we will have to break him in some more!

Cohen at the petting zoo.  He was more interested in the grass and dirt, really.  Maybe in a couple more months he will make animal sounds? Audrey can get him to make a funny noise when we ask him what a sheep says (baaaabaaaa) but that's about it.

And blogger is being weird, so here is another few pictures from the leaves' park - I'm saying GO POKES (or hurry up and take the pic because Cohen is running down those stairs!!!!!)

Almost been 9 years of marriage!

The best family shot we could get that day LOL!  Blessings,