Only 7 months later....

Easter Sunday, in Nana and Papa's backyard

A common thing with me and journaling (cyber-journaling included) is that there are WIDE gaps between entries. So... here we are 7 months since the last post. Of course much has changed since the Pumpkin Patch in October. But in my years of journaling, I have also learned that it is pointless to try to really rehash it all. Because what I usually do when I attempt that, is get to about month 4 and then think "Oh, I'll just come back and finish this later." And then 7 months later I have almost a year of adventures to recall. And so, I leave you (whoever "you" are) with bullet points of BP's development:

• Moved past army crawling to crawling like most kids (yep, we were 13 months or 14... a late bloomer.)
• Discovered the "push car" and figured out how to motorize all over the house.
•  Developed a love for hats!
• Picked up the following words: Mama, Dada, Gaga, Papaw, Boh, Noah "wah-wah," London "gna-gna," hot, hat, outside "aht-ta," light "dite," cup "up, " yuck "uck," off, ball, bear, giraffe "affe," bird "buhd," car "ca," squirrel "kuw," baby "baboo," bye-bye, snack "ack," dude "doooo," phone "boooohhh," gone "ga," Bible "babu," rock "ock," uh-oh... I'm sure I'm forgetting some! All have an upward inflection on the second syllable (as if he's asking a question.) It sounds especially funny and cute on the word "Uh-Oh"!
• Signs the following words: hi, all done, milk, thank you, please, help, eat, potty
• Finally began walking (without his push car) in April! (Finally!!!!)
• Sings parts of songs with Mommy. (e.g. "How much is that doggy in the window... WOOF WOOF" or Itsy Bitsy Spider)
• Plays tickle with mommy and daddy (he tries to do the tickling)
• Brushes teeth
• Makes a huge mess trying to feed himself!
• Loves to read the following books: Here's A Happy Pig, Moo Baa La-la-la, Goodnight Moon, Brown Bear Brown Bear
• Favorite toys: balls!!, balloons, rocks and dirt, cars or other things with wheels, stacking bowls, anything that he has to "figure out" - with buttons to push or things to open for instance (cell phones, cabinet doors, remote controls, etc.) 
• We have a pretty good routine - wake up at 7:30am, play in bed with Mommy and Daddy for a little bit, eat breakfast, play play play, eat lunch, read and nap, play play play, watch a short video while Mommy gets dinner ready, play with Daddy, eat dinner, play some more or bath time, brush teeth, read a book, go to sleep (7:30pm). Whew. Mommy and Daddy are tired!
• Has become a PICKY eater... NOOOOOO!!! He's gone from eating fish, artichokes, noodles, peas, whatever we put in front of him, to being stubborn about everything but fruit, goldfish ("ack"), plain or fruit yogurt, and toasted breads. Say it ain't so. Hopefully this is only a phase!
• We love the big slobbery kisses!
• Has FINALLY become a snuggler. But only at nap and bedtime. I think he knows that Mommy and Daddy will hold him longer if he nuzzles into our neck. (He's a smart one.)
• He holds our hands when it is time to pray. He claps at the end of the prayer. Yay Jesus. :)

sleepy time

Emotional extremes are prevalent from day to day. I can, in one moment, be in awe of his new "tricks" and wonder how he learned that. And then not much later, frustrated, ready to pull out my hair and give up the battle over eating healthy things - and it's just lunch?! And then in another moment, I am laughing out loud as he is doing his funny little attention getting stunts (like practicing his karate kicks. :)) Overall, I feel like my life is full. I feel the joys much longer than I feel the frustrations. I go to bed at night after I peek in on BP's sweet, peaceful sleeping self (either with his heiney in the air, or snuggled up with his favorites - bear, horsey and blankie.) Joy overflowing. And I awake everyday, sometimes earlier than BP, anxious and excited to go in and greet him with a good morning kiss!

 

Life is busy in the Taylor household. But life is GOOD! Hopefully now that I'm "caught up" I will be more motivated to update more frequently and in shorter form. Oh... and I've officially given up couponing for a while. Took too much time and caused too much frustration at this point. Maybe I'll try again sometime!

Playtime with my best bud, Nathaniel.

Blowing kisses... bye bye!