"I am 16 Going on 17" (months!)

Happy 17 months, baby boy! Your Daddy and I couldn't be more proud of you! Here are some of your recent accomplishments:

*You are now walking EVERYWHERE and can make sudden changes in your walk without losing your balance. When you are following another kid you break out into a fast walk-almost-run and then usually collapse as your feet can't keep up! You are also now climbing into and on items such as your wagon, Elmo airplane and Rody. This is how we usually find you:



*You no longer do a cute little wave with your fingers facing you....now you have moved into a full arm waving motion! I try to get you to do the other wave sometimes and you look at me as if I'm crazy!




*You ate your first peanut butter and jelly sandwich this week (July 26)---3/4 of the sandwich! You also had your first hot dog on July 31 (you ate 1/4 of it). You are VERY independent when it comes to eating. I simply give you big pieces that you can pick up and bite yourself. I made a vow to not make you your own meals anymore. In the past I would make something special for you since I know you aren't fond of meat or fish, but starting NOW you will eat what we eat! You still LOVE your fruits and veggies!

*You continue to amaze us with how much you understand. Today we were at Home Depot and walked down the faucet aisle. You rubbed your hands together the entire time as if you were washing your hands! Earlier in the month when Erin and Jimmy were over Grandma Anita's house, I said to Erin, "Don't go out the front door, go out the garage" and you leaned over and pointed in the direction of the garage!!

*Verbally, you have said "doggie" once (when looking at Rudy) and continually say "mama" and "dada"--sometimes wanting our attention, and sometimes just to hear yourself speak! You are doing A LOT of jargoning---that has been a big change this month. You have a lot to say, we just don't know WHAT you're saying!! This week at the farm you said "baa" for every farm animal noise. A few months ago it was "bark".

Mikey, you are our special little boy and always will be! Daddy and I talk about you every night after you go to bed. We say how much we love you and how adorable you are. We love you more than words can say!!

xo
Mommy & Daddy

Erik & Joseph

Today Mikey and I paid a visit to Eva's House, a home daycare in Newton. I am toying around with the idea of having Mikey go to Eva's House one day a week to have the opportunity to play with other children on a longer basis (and away from me!) than our Mommy & Me music and gym classes. Michael may be increasing his work schedule to five days a week in order to complete administrative duties for the new practice. I am planning on working the full day that Mikey would be at Eva's. Although I know the experience would be great for Mikey, part of me is feeling sooooo guilty about leaving him!

Anyway, back to today. I know "Eva's House" from twin boys (Erik and Joseph) whom I used to treat through Early Intervention. I first saw them at their home and then treated them at daycare once their Mom went back to work. I met the twins when they were first home from the hospital (around 5 months old) since they were preemies. I worked with them for two and half years (until I had Mikey). They come from an amazing family and I formed a friendship with their Mom, Aline. Aline passed away in September 2009 after a two year battle with stomach cancer. It was a special day for me to see her boys and to introduce them (again) to Mikey. (They met him when he was an infant last summer.) The boys are just wonderful and I know Aline is looking down on them and beaming with pride. Joseph looks exactly like Aline, which is a nice reminder that she still lives on. One of the biggest lessons I learned from this family is that every moment is precious and life is too short. It is such an honor for me to know this family and I look forward to watching the boys grow up together!

I wonder what Great Grandpa Angelo was like when he was 16 months old....

because I'm guessing Mikey is following his footsteps.

Michael (and friend, Sean) took Mikey to the pool on Monday while I was at work. After swimming for awhile, Mikey decided he wanted to walk around the pool........and say hello to all the bikini clad sunbathers (roughly all college age!). According to Michael he walked (waddled) his way over to a girl, stood by her feet, waved, and then got a little closer to her and kept waving.

Today at My Gym, Mikey was hamming it up with the girl running the class. At the end during the goodbye song, Mikey got up, walked right to Melissa. She lifted him up a few times saying "hooray!" and Mikey was just beaming. When she put him down, he walked his way back to me and had a permanent smile on his face.

I have a feeling this is only the beginning............

My new favorite picture

Busy July!

Here we are past the halfway point in July and I'm feeling overwhelmed about a lot of things! How is it already July 21st?? How have I only done 1 posting this month?? And how am I going to catch up when we have had so much going on?!?!


We'll just start back at the beginning:




For the 4th of July we spent the weekend in Hawley, PA at Woodloch Springs with my grandparents and parents. We have grown up going to Woodloch and it just doesn't seem right spending the 4th any other way. Each year we go Mikey will have more and more to do. This time we did the nature walk, played in the pool and playground, watched the fireworks and of course, ATE LOTS OF FOOD!





(This picture of us was after dinner and before Mikey's first fireworks display. Mikey was getting tired by the time the show started at 9:30 and tensed up as they began. We saw most of the fireworks on the walk back to the car. Mikey handled it better than we had thought! No tears....just lots of nervous kisses!)

Michael was sweet enough to let Mikey and I return with my parents to NJ for a few days while he went back to Boston for the week. We missed him thoroughly but it was also nice to spend time at "home". We did something different every day with Grandma and Grandpa--went to the beach, went shopping for Mikey toys and clothes, and lots of playing around the house. Mikey even helped Grandma and Grandpa around the house. He helped Grandpa make coffee in the morning, he watered the plants with Grandma and volunteered to open and close the garage door for visitors!

(I always capture a picture of Mikey and Jimmy doing the exact same thing----in May I got them making the same face to eachother---this time they are banging on the coffee table in perfect unison.....with the same facial expression and eye placement, too!!)

(Here Grandma Anita spoiled Mikey and got him an ice cream sandwich on the boardwalk at the beach! Mommy is starting to have trouble recognizing Grandma---as she is much nicer now than when Mommy was little!!)

(Grandpa is giving Mikey an adapted "ride" on his train by pushing him with the broom stick! You may have to click on this picture to see it blown up. Mikey is beaming!!)

Daddy came back to pick us up on Friday night and then spent the weekend in NJ before heading back to Boston. That Saturday we spent the day with Auntie. Uncle Scott was under the weather---we missed you Scott!

As we returned to Boston, we started preparing for our next trip---back to Queensbury for a special visit with the Hales family who was visiting from Charlotte, NC (and to see Mimi and Grandpa, of course!). The last time we saw the Hales was at our wedding--almost 4 years ago! We had a great time swimming and catching up with everyone. April and Trevor: You have a beautiful family and we enjoyed our evening together! Now that you are living on the east coast, hopefully we'll be able to see you a little more often than every 4 years!

(Here's Mikey on Sunday swimming with Daddy and Grandpa! Every time he goes in the pool, Mikey is getting more and more comfortable!)

Even as July has been a busy month of travel, a certain someone has been especially BUSY. That would be our proficiently walking son, Michael Robert. We are officially parents of a toddler boy! There is NOTHING that this little boy isn't getting into! Even in a completely babyproofed environment, Mikey finds trouble! He is on the go.....wanting to touch everything that he can get his hands on. He loves buttons, phones, switches...you name it!

(This would be Mikey breaking into Grandma Anita's china cabinet. T-R-O-U-B-L-E!)

I think that just about sums things up. I hope everyone is having a happy summer!

Mikey and Jimmy

Quick update about Jimmy and Mikey's FUN playdate today. The "one birthday apart duo" had a blast together! First they feasted on a yummy lunch of grilled cheese sliders and veggies. Then they had a pool party outside (what else do you do when it's 97 degrees outside?!?!?). Jimmy loved the Winnie-the-Pooh push toy more than the pool and Mikey had fun crawling into one pool from the other. The boys played a game of ball and rough housed A LOT. They also enjoyed yummy ice pops, watermelon and cookies for snack! What a fun day! I'm not sure about Jimmy, but Mikey was pooped and was in bed at 7:30 sharp! He practically fell asleep in his highchair!!

As a sidenote---after Erin and Jimmy left, I was cleaning off the table. Mikey was playing on the floor (with his shoes...so I thought!) until I heard a chirping coming from the alarm system. Mikey found a panic button that activated the alarm to go off at my parent's house! All I did was turn my head to put something in the garbage and he goes and sets off the alarm!! Thank goodness we didn't have any police "visitors". Ahhh, the fun times of being in a non-child proofed environment!!

Hope everyone is having a good week!

:)

To our 16 month old son Mikey,

Where has the time gone? is a question Daddy and I ask all the time. Here are some highlights of you over the past month:

* You have your favorite books and toys each week. We have read "5 Silly Monkeys", "Welcome Summer" and "Welcome Fall" MULTIPLE times per day, EVERY day. You love to push your Winnie the Pooh train outside and all the buttons located on it! You carry your Yankee baseball bat around and bang the floor and furniture (you would bang the TV if we let you!). You love taking the balls out of your shopping cart by throwing them over your shoulder behind you. You also LOVE playing in the kitchen especially with the saute pan and wooden spoons, salad spinner, spatulas and the wisk!

* You now say "die-die" for "bye-bye" and wave backwards every time you say it. You say it when we go "bye bye" as well as whenever a car or truck drives past the apartment. You do not call us "mama" and "dada" (yet) but we hear you say those words all day long!

* You LOVE being outside and as a result you also love taking your naps! When you can, you take two naps per day averaging 1.5-2 hours each time! It really helps Mommy get A LOT done! You are very flexible on days when you don't have two naps and you still go down for bed easily. You go to sleep around 8:00 and wake up between 7-8 am. When you look tired we ask you if you want your lovey and you proceed to WALK to your room.

* The biggest accomplishment this month has been your WALKING! Every day you walk more and crawl less. You are a little more cautious outside but you are becoming very comfortable. This has also helped you tolerate touching the grass, too!

* You are consistently eating the same foods as last month but will now nibble on a chicken nugget (Mommy caved.....I just want you to get SOME protein in your little body!). You prefer the ketchup over the chicken.

Another fun and wonderful month lies ahead with trips planned to Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well as birthday parties and playdates! Hooray for summer!

xoxo
Mommy & Daddy