20 Months

Eeek - 20 months!  How is it possible my baby is quickly approaching being a two year old!  Honestly it blows my mind!  You are certainly becoming your own independent person full of opinions and wants, I only wish I could understand what you wanted!  The communication barrier at times is frustrating for us both!  You have quite the temper, but also are still the sweetest little boy.  I so love being your "ma!" and spending all my days with you, there is truly nothing better!!

Facts/Accomplishments:

When you first see me or daddy you run up to us, say "hi" reach up to give us a hug and then pat us on the back while we hug.  I love it.

Your daddy has taught you to yell for me whenever you can't see me.  All day long I hear "Ma!"  It's my favorite when we go to the store and you are with your daddy and I can hear you yelling for me from an aisle away.

If you are dancing, everyone must join in!  You'll give us a look and then shout mamama or dadadada until we start dancing!

You have started making the most whiny grunting noise ever.  It makes me a little crazy.

We bought a huge mirror for the living room and hadn't hung it up yet when one day I found you standing in front of it buck naked checking yourself out.  You were pretty pleased with yourself.

Whenever you eat something you like you accompany it by saying "mmmmmmmm"

You are officially getting into everything you shouldn't be!  Your current fascinations include dvds, kleenex boxes, the trash can, faucets, and worst of all, the lid to the toilet.  (keeping up with you is making me tired!)

You have become quite the hitter.  It's a problem.  Let's fix it, okay?

The security alarm in the house beeps twice when a door opens and you imitate it every time. "beep beep".

Your walking is pretty good at the point and you're starting to run.  You will run around in circles for the longest time!

You are pretty much always shirtless at home.  If you happen to have a shirt on you will run up to me pulling at the sleeves indicating I should take it off for you.

When you look at a book you always make an "O" shape with your mouth.

Likes:

You love to play outside and now can say "go ouside?"  Your favorite outside activity is playing in the dirt and throwing rocks.

You love having your bare back/belly/chest rubbed at bedtime.  You'll lay down next to me and if I don't immediately start you'll place my hand on your back, then if I start on top of your shirt you'll roll over to you back and pull your shirt up. 

You are obsessed with babies.  Anytime you see a car seat you insist on checking it out.  I cannot keep you away from the babies and most the time you try to touch their faces (sorry other moms!)

On a daily basis you will go into our master closet and shut the door for some alone time.  You love it in there.

Watermelon has become one of your favorite summer foods.

You love ketchup and sweet and sour sauce.  Every time you dip your food you say "dip dip dip"

You are addicted to YouTube videos - your latest obsession is kinder egg videos.  I don't understand it, all it is, is a persons hands opening up plastic or chocolate eggs that have toys/stickers/candy inside.  You love them.

You love sweeping the floors!  Yay for me!!

You are a total animal lover.  

Your absolute favorite activity is harassing/chasing/hitting/terrorizing the dogs.  Poor little pups are so good to put up with you!  

Dislikes:

The grocery cart.  It's a rare occasion that I can actually get you to sit in the seat part of the cart.

Getting your diaper changed has once again become a struggle.  Ugh.

You suddenly have started hating bedtime and put of a fight every single night.  It doesn't matter how many naps you've had, how long they were, what time you took them, or what time I try to put you to bed, it's always a struggle.  It's making me crazy!!

 

Couldn't be happier to have you as mine!

19 Months

Oh sweet boy, you give us a run for our money!  I dare say you have hit the terrible twos a few months early!!  Despite that little temper of yours, it all melts away when you laugh, or give one of your amazing hugs, or make one of your silly faces.  You my sweet trouble maker are my absolute favorite!  You make me so so tired and so so ridiculously happy!  

Facts/Accomplishments:

You are walking all over the place!  It's impossible to get you to sit still for anything!!  

You got your first little freckle on your arm.  I'm waiting to see if you turn into a freckle face like your mama.

You got your first of I'm sure many scraped up knees when you took a tumble down the driveway.  

The other night you were obsessed with looking at your belly button, problem is that sucker is hard to see.  You kept sitting on the ground and then scooting backwards to get a good look.  It never quite worked out for you, but it was so darn adorable watching you!

Every time I ask you if you want something you respond by clutching your hands together, putting them under your chin and saying "yeeeah"  It's my favorite.

You trick daddy at night time.  You always go in for the kiss and then when you get close turn and offer him your cheek.  Every single night.  

You are still a scratcher, but now when you do it you also say "ooowww"  Yes sweetheart, it's owey, please stop ;)

Likes:

You love soda.  It's my fault.  Every time I have a drink you point to it and says "D's!" to which I respond, "no mommy's" then you giggle and again exclaim "D's!"

You love pushing things, this includes the grocery cart, stroller, toys, walker, and anything else you can get your hands on!

You LOVE to play outside and would probably stay out there all day long if we'd let you!

Vanilla ice cream cones are your absolute favorite "food"

You love balloons!

You are quite the animal lover.  It's so fun to go on walks with you and you discover all the dogs, cats, and birds along the way.  

Dislikes:

You've gotten a few trims in the past, but got your first real haircut, and hated every second of it!

You refuse to look at the camera.  It's almost impossible to get a photo with you looking unless I trick you into it.

Bedtime has become quite the ordeal.  Every night it's a fight to get you to go to bed.

As I mentioned above you have a terrible little temper and hate hearing the word no!

Shoes are certainly not your favorite, but you are slowly learning that they are okay when playing outside.

You just may be the worlds worst eater.  Every time I think I've figured out something you like you decide to stop eating it.  

 

 

 

 

Love you for always, no matter what.

(Not dylan related, but does anyone know why some of my photos will post side by side and some won't??  They all show correctly in my draft, but then change when I post.  Frustrates me.)

18 Months!!

18 months, a year and a half!  I honestly can't remember what life was like or all about before you.  I'm sure it involved a lot more sleeping, but other than that my pre-mom life is pretty much a blur.  These last six months have gone even faster than your first six months of life, it hardly seems fair.  I occasionally wish I could freeze time for just a little bit.  You continue to grow and learn and amaze us every day.  You are so smart and full of life and rambunctious and sweet and a little naughty too!  I love being your mommy.  I love our lazy days of playing together and our sweet moments of cuddling.  I love laughing with you and consoling you when you're sad.  I love watching you learn new things and the absolute joy you feel as you accomplish something new (we're so proud too buddy)!  You are my absolute favorite and I'm so happy that you're mine!

Stats:

Weight - 20.5 pounds (still tiny!)

Length - 31.5 inches - 25th percentile

Head - 49 centimeters - 81st percentile (he may be tiny but his brain is huge!) ;)

Facts/Accomplishments:

You love blowing kisses, specifically at bedtime or when someone is saying bye-bye to you

I have resorted to bribing you with candy to get you into your car seat

Lately you've decided that morning wake-up time is anywhere between 5:00-6:00 (boo!)

You took your first steps on April 14th and then refused to do it again until May 3rd and even still you will only occasionally walk between mom and dad if you're in the mood - you are one stubborn little boy!

TMI Warning:  You poop every time I take a shower, doesn't matter what time of day I decide to shower, that's when you decide to poop.  I'm totally unsure of the correlation.

You love eating cardboard books.  I stopped trying to deter you, it doesn't work.  All your books have big chunks taken out of them.

You may have a little OCD - every time we come in the front door you insist on first touching the light fixture, then the power box, and then ringing the doorbell.  Every time. In that order.

You are constantly tapping/drumming your fingers when you are sleepy or sad.

Every time a phone rings in real life or on tv you put your hand up to your ear and pretend to talk.  If a cell phone is near by you will grab it to talk as well.

We can always find out what you want because whenever we narrow down what it is you're after you start giggling (it's adorable!)

If you take more than the tiniest nibble of anything you will spit it back out.  It makes meal time last forever!

You know TONS of animal sounds, however, you don't know the dog sound, whenever asked what the dog says you're response is always "dog!"

Likes:

Your favorite toy has become the baby gate.  You love having me open it and then slamming it closed.

Going on walks around the house and neighborhood is one of your favorite activities.  You won't walk alone, but you love to walk while holding daddy's hand.

You love getting your legs and feet washed.  Every time you're in the bath you point to your knees and exclaim "this!" until I wash them.

You would pick dandelions all day long if I let you!

You are becoming quite the trouble maker and mess maker!  The other day while I switched the laundry you poured both your juice and milk all over the rug and then were gleefully splashing around in it!

Dislikes:

Falling down.  The other day while practicing standing you took a tumble and me and daddy tried to make it better by clapping and encouraging you and you gave us the dirtiest look!  You were so disgusted that we'd clap for you falling!

Brushing your teeth.  You think it's quite fun to brush mom's teeth, but when it comes to your own you think it's the pits.  

You are capable of throwing monster fits when you don't get your way!

Love, love, love you buddy.

There's No Place Like Home

I can hardly believe that Pat and I started the process of looking for a new home an entire year ago!  We weren't actively searching the entire time, but it has still been a long long process.  I am happy to say we have moved into our new home and are so thrilled about it!!  Building a home is fun, and exhausting, and scary, because well, if you don't like something you have no one to blame but yourself!  Luckily we picked well and love it!  It all happened to correspond with Mother's Day weekend, so I like to say I got a house for Mother's Day - not sure how they're going to be able to top it next year!

Casa de Holloway

 

The kitchen is probably my favorite room in the house

But my very favorite part is the views - this is from the front porch

View from my bathtub :)

Once we get settled we'd love to have you visit!

Oh, and as if a house wasn't enough for Mother's Day, I also got these pretty flowers and a two and a half hour nap!  Spoiled lady for sure!

Looking pretty rough from moving all weekend, but thankful for this little boy who makes me a mommy!