Seventeen Months

As you can see by the serious lack of blogging, I am back in school! Although I sometimes feel like I'm barely treading water at school, things are so much easier this year. It's amazing how a full night's sleep and not having to pump/nurse constantly will make everything better! Andrew is also so much more independent this year - he plays very well on his own (sometimes) which allows me to cook dinner (mostly) without holding a little one.

Andrew,
Wow! Seventeen months! How is it that another half-year has already almost past? It is amazing how much you have grown in the past month. I doubt you're really that much bigger, but you just seem more and more like a kid each day. I have some pictures from a couple weeks ago (I'll post them below) and you look so much older than 1 and a half! You are also so much fun! You dance, you bounce up and down when we say jump, you like to listen to songs and sometimes "sing" along. You will play ring around the rosie and sometimes "fall" down at the end. You are still fearless, and have started climbing on the kitchen chairs. They roll, and it about gives me a heart attack every time you climb up. You have also tried to use the chair to climb on the kitchen table. I know it won't be long! You easily climb the couch now, and it seems like we are constantly trying to find a "safe" place to put things - safe meaning out of your reach! You still love remotes and have now become interested in Daddy's X-box remote - ugh! You are even into the kitchen drawers. We had to rearrange the silverware drawer because you kept reaching in and unloading all of the forks!



Your personality has really blossomed lately! You are silly and love to laugh and smile. You have  big grin that can make anyone smile. You are still shy around new or unfamiliar people and will pull what we call your "ostrich rountine". You fold yourself in half and stick your head to the ground, like you're doing a headstand. It's almost like you're trying to stick your head in the sand to hide from the new person. It's pretty hilarious! You also seem very strong-willed, especially when it comes to things you want or want to do. Lately when we tell you no, you put your hands to your head like you are in pain and squint your eyes like you are hurting and whine. You keep peeking out from your hands to see our reactions. It's pretty hilarious! It seems like you're saying "look at how sad that makes me! Don't tell me no!" If we take something away that you wanted, you will pull the same routine, although you will also cry. Although it's never fun to see you cry, you seem to be good at the dramatics! I can tell we are going to be in trouble when you get older!

You have become OBSESSED with books this month. While you have always loved to read, it is now your favorite thing to do by far. You will constantly look at books on your own and are always bringing books over for us to read to you. I have to say, it makes my heart so proud when you bring me a book and plop down in my lap, ready to listen. You sit through most stories and will often want to start over and read the same book over and over and over. Your favorite is David Goes to School, which is funny because my students at school love that book as well!

You are still talking/babbling all the time, but we still aren't understanding 99% of it. I'm sure one day soon you'll just start talking in sentences, but it's difficult sometimes to wonder what you're trying to tell us. You talk to us all the time and many times you seem like you're really trying to communicate something, but we just don't know what it is yet. You are still a picky eater, and it seems like you get pickier by the day! The only things that we can always get you to eat are fruit and (sometimes) chicken. There are even days when you refuse to eat that! Sometimes it seems like you eat one good meal a day and then pick and choose the rest of the day. You also like to snack! We have to be careful about always closing the pantry or you will just pull out a box of cereal or bag of chips and help yourself!

This has been a big month! I have been back and school and you got sick. You had a cold and then came down with a fever during the middle of the week. We were scheduled to take family photos with a professional photographer that weekend, and right after the fever broke you started getting these spots on your face. We ended up having to cancel the photos because a day later you were covered in spots, mostly around your face, legs, hands, and feet. You had hand, foot, and mouth disease, and you looked miserable. Luckily you handled it well, like you handle most things! We are so lucky that you're such a laid back little guy!

Andrew I am so excited about what's to come! You are so much fun - it makes my day to come home to your smiling face! I can't wait to experience all the joy of these next few months through your eyes!

Here is some 17 month cuteness:

Cutie eating breakfast!

"My mom and dad are soooo mean!!!"

Yes, Andrew is trying to play Call of Duty. I'll go ahead and prepare my speech for Mom-of-the-Year right now...

Spaghetti...

Mom, really? Another picture?!?!

Daddy lovin' on Andrew...

Like father, like son...

Trying to put on shoes and socks by himself!

My sweet boy, looking so grown up!