Mr. Big Stuff (18 month update)

If it wasn't official at 15 months, it's official at 18 months, my baby is NOT a baby anymore.  Wes is a full blown little boy!  Thank goodness he still adores his mommy and loves to snuggle, even if it is for 2 seconds at a time. :)  Wes is growing and changing so quickly.  He is learning constantly.  I can almost see the wheels turning in his brain.  And wow, we are learning a lot along with him.  Like how to discipline an 18 month old rather than giggle at how cute he is.  Anyway back to the point of this post.

At 18 months old, Wes loves:

• being outside-that child would be outside all day and everyday if he could.  He is currently learning how to walk on the stone paths at Grandma and Grandpa's rather than on Grandpa's flowers.
• Elmo-Anytime he sees my phone he asks for Elmo in his adorable way of saying Elmo
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse-he can hear Mickey's voice in the other room, get very excited and run in to see.  He waves at Mickey and loves to dance to the Hot Dog song.
• Dancing-he knows how to move to a good beat!
• throwing-balls, toys, food.  You name it, Wes will throw it.  This is where the learning how to discipline comes in. 
• his bed-he continues to sleep at least 12 hours at night and more if we let him.  Yay!!!
• bath time/water: he loves splashing, pouring, and yes, drinking the water.  Check out my little fish...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• yogurt-he eats yogurt almost every morning for breakfast and is getting pretty good at feeding himself
• dogs-if he hears or sees a dog he says "wuh wuh" and gets so excited.  We often go see our lovely neighbor who so kindly lets Wes see her dog.  He is still a little nervous around the dog and isn't a big fan of the dog licking him.
• M&Ms-like his mommy!

At 18 months old, Wes doesn't care for:

• vegetables-I blame his daddy!
• sitting in a high chair longer than 20 minutes
• getting his fingernails and toenails clipped-it seriously feels like I'm wrestling a bear when I cut his nails
• coming inside-like I said before he loves being outside
• getting his diaper changed-although apparently its just this way for mommy and daddy.  He's a perfect angel for Jami. :)
• holding hands in the parking lot-Mr. Independent doesn't want his mommy holding him back

At 18 months, I don't want to forget that Wes:

• says "daddy" and "mommy" so clearly and with a big smile on his face
• blows kisses and pats our backs when he goes to bed
• is stinkin' ornery!
• tries to sing (in an oh so sweet little voice)
• lets out a belly laugh when his daddy gets his tickle spots

At 18 months, Wes is right on track with major developmental milestones.  He's starting to talk more, but communicates very well.  Runs, crawls, climbs, and falls a lot like little boys do.  Has tasted dirt and sand.  Has continuously scraped knees. And understands so much!

learned how to dip in ketchup

showing grandpa how cool Elmo is

happy to have his paci to go to bed

the signs of a little boy

forget my spoon, this is way easier

handsome

enjoying being outside

No, I don't wanna get up!

momma and her 18 month old

enthralled with Mickey

Mr. Big Stuff

Wes, you continue to make your mommy and daddy smile and bring such joy into our lives!

And the moral of the story is...a little dirt never hurt anyone!

Days Like This

"Momma said there'll be days like this, there'll be days like this my momma said".  I'm pretty sure this song was referring to rough days.  Well, today was NOT one of those days.  Today was wonderful.  So, I'm taking some time to write about it so I can look back on it during one of those rough days. :)

The only thing I would change about today, would be to have Jonny here.  Unfortunately, he has been gone a few days at a conference in Chicago.  So, Wes and I got to enjoy some quality time together.

I put Wes to bed around 8:00 or 8:15 last night and preceded to lounge around, doing absolutely nothing except look, at Facebook and blogs, while watching 'Say YES to the dress'.  It was nice.  I don't get to watch that when Jonny's home.  I went to bed around 11:00 and didn't set my alarm for the morning. 

sent this pic to daddy

I wasn't getting up until Wes got up.  8:00 am came and went and not a peep from Wes.  I finally got up around 8:45 and put some cinnamon rolls in the oven and made a cup of coffee.  Wes finally woke up around 9:00!  So my awesome day started with a great night of sleep for me and Wes.  We enjoyed cinnamon rolls together.  He had yogurt and I had coffee.

 

We spent the rest of the morning doing a couple loads of laundry, playing together, watching Elmo on you tube and just being silly together.  He enjoyed a snack (craisins), while we read multiple books.  Currently he loves Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb, Jingle Babies, and Moo Baa Lalala.

This boy LOVES Elmo

you think he's close enough?!

He started to get a little cranky sleepy, so I decided to get lunch going.  We enjoyed one of our favs: Aldi's frozen pizza (like Totino's, but cheaper).  He loves pizza like his mommy! After lunch was cleaned up, we listened to some tunes on Pandora.  Little man was sleepy and just wanted to be held.  So he and I danced around the kitchen to some Mark Shultz 'Remember Me'.  He snuggled right in to me, I closed my eyes, and sang softly in his ear.  For a split second all I could see was he and I dancing together 20 some years in the future at his wedding.  It was a beautiful picture, exactly what I hope for him, but man did it bring the tears!  I will never forget that moment; dancing with my sweet boy in the kitchen.  And I know on his wedding day, when Wes is dancing with me, I will close my eyes and see me holding my 17 month old boy, dancing in the kitchen. 

Once I dried my tears, I put Wes down for his nap.  I then got to enjoy a nice hot shower and some time pick up the house a little.  3 and a half hours later, I had to go in and wake Wes up!  We snuggled on the couch for a while (another rarity) until he woke up a little more.

We enjoyed dinner with some co-workers before we headed to the Wichita Wild football game.  The Wild has partnered with Levy Special Education Center (where I work) and tonight was deemed "Levy Night" at the game.  Our principal's husband is a coach for the Wild and we have several paras that are players for the Wild.  Our students and families, as well as staff and families got to go to the game.  Some of our students got to go down on the field when the players were introduced.  It was great to see students getting out in the community with their families.  Wes of course loved it.  He was dancing and clapping the whole night.  He really loved the mascot, but was a little scared when he got to see him up close.

chocolate chip cookie smile

not so sure about the tiger now...

hmmm, not sure what to think.

We left after the halftime show and Wes crashed in the car since it was at least 30 minutes past his bedtime.  Put his pajamas on when we got home, sang a couple songs, prayed together and laid him in bed.  What a day!

And the moral of the story is...children spell love, T-I-M-E.