1 year, 5 months, 22 days old
Monday was yet another snow day for us in Chatham. Barrett didn't have snow for the first 16 months of his life but lately we've had plenty to make up for it. Registering at 14 inches, my office and daycare closed down for the day and Joe got to go in at noon. It was a super awesome bonus day at home! I wasn't quite up for going out and playing in the snow so we had a pj day inside instead. With Easter, and a subsequent egg hunt, just around the corner we had to practice!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Project 365: Week 12
1 year, 5 months, 20 days old
03-18-13
Tacos are high up on Barrett's favorite meal list. He always makes a big mess.
03-19-13
We play catch every single day.
03-20-13
Little man woke up, after 12 hours, very happy.
03-21-13
Naked butt.
03-22-13
B is so generous with his kisses lately.
03-23-13
Bubs hasn't been the best on independent play but he's getting so much better as he ages.
03-24-13
The Dockters came over for lunch and a play date today.
03-18-13
Tacos are high up on Barrett's favorite meal list. He always makes a big mess.
03-19-13
We play catch every single day.
03-20-13
Little man woke up, after 12 hours, very happy.
03-21-13
Naked butt.
03-22-13
B is so generous with his kisses lately.
03-23-13
Bubs hasn't been the best on independent play but he's getting so much better as he ages.
03-24-13
The Dockters came over for lunch and a play date today.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Blankie
1 year, 5 months, 18 days old
We have a blankie boy.
For quite a while (10 months to 15 months), Barrett just needed a blanket to sleep with. Any blanket would do, as long as it was soft and he could wad it up and lay on it. A few months back, it became apparent that he was leaning towards a specific blanket. It is fleece but very thin. Unfortunately, it's almost mostly white which makes keeping it clean-ish looking almost impossible.
When he first started showing an extra attachment to this blanket, he was able to have it just about anytime he wanted. I wasn't really thinking about how we needed to restrict his use. Recently, now that he's very connected, we are trying to limit the blankie. He gets it for a little bit after waking up and then it stays in his bed. I started bringing it with on car rides but the small tantrums he throws when we can't bring it into school needed to end so now it doesn't come with us. The exception is trips to Pontiac.
We need to order a second one because I think it will be sticking around for a while……along with his 2 fingers but that's a whole other addiction.
We have a blankie boy.
For quite a while (10 months to 15 months), Barrett just needed a blanket to sleep with. Any blanket would do, as long as it was soft and he could wad it up and lay on it. A few months back, it became apparent that he was leaning towards a specific blanket. It is fleece but very thin. Unfortunately, it's almost mostly white which makes keeping it clean-ish looking almost impossible.
When he first started showing an extra attachment to this blanket, he was able to have it just about anytime he wanted. I wasn't really thinking about how we needed to restrict his use. Recently, now that he's very connected, we are trying to limit the blankie. He gets it for a little bit after waking up and then it stays in his bed. I started bringing it with on car rides but the small tantrums he throws when we can't bring it into school needed to end so now it doesn't come with us. The exception is trips to Pontiac.
We need to order a second one because I think it will be sticking around for a while……along with his 2 fingers but that's a whole other addiction.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Project 365: Week 11
1 year, 5 months, 13 days old
03-11-13
We're still in recovery mode over here.
03-12-13
Two boys checking out the Menards ad.
03-13-13
While Dad makes dinner, we bust out the stickers. You may notice that he just kept putting them on top of each other.
03-14-13
Still dealing with some red eyes from Barrett.
03-15-13
After a walk to the park, B and I hung out in the backyard. Looks like our summer will be spent climbing the stairs as that's all he wanted to do.
03-16-13
Fighting this bug means lots of sleeping for B. This weekend, he napped almost 5 hours total each day. This particular one was after an almost 3 hour morning nap!
03-17-13
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
03-11-13
We're still in recovery mode over here.
03-12-13
Two boys checking out the Menards ad.
03-13-13
While Dad makes dinner, we bust out the stickers. You may notice that he just kept putting them on top of each other.
03-14-13
Still dealing with some red eyes from Barrett.
03-15-13
After a walk to the park, B and I hung out in the backyard. Looks like our summer will be spent climbing the stairs as that's all he wanted to do.
03-16-13
Fighting this bug means lots of sleeping for B. This weekend, he napped almost 5 hours total each day. This particular one was after an almost 3 hour morning nap!
03-17-13
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
A boy and his Dad
1 year, 5 months, 11 days old
These two are my favorites.
If you read my 17 month post, I mentioned Llama Llama and Barrett wanting to scream at certain parts. Here is an example.
This is a bit off topic but I read an article this week that I loved and I wanted to pass it on. Original is HERE. An article in the Huffington Post by John Kinnear titled, "The 10 Words That I'll Miss Most."
It solidifies my need to get all of Barrett's words on video.
Copy and Pasted:
Before our kids learn our language, we get to experience the magic of learning theirs. For an amazing (and amazingly short) period of time, kids speak a language that only their parents can understand. Have you ever been around a parent and their kid, and the kid looks at the parent and says, "Samoopeeepoop clababa pano pano it," and the parent, completely un-phased, replies with something like "No dear, you've had enough graham-crackers, and dinner is in an hour"?
I'm going to miss that connection with my kid. I like that, for awhile, my wife and I were the only ones who could understand her. But now, my daughter is getting much better at talking. Her language skills are really pretty amazing. She's almost mastered subject, object and possessive pronouns. She's getting tenses down, and every once in awhile, she'll put together a sentence with multiple clauses and a semi-colon. For example: "I want to lay in bed with you and mommy, who you call Stevie-pie, but I peed in my pull up and need a new butt; can you change it?"
Yes, it should be lie and not lay, but cut her some slack. She's 2. So, before she starts quoting Faulkner and writes a fan-fiction sequel to The Sound and the Fury, I decided now would be a good time to write down some of the toddlerisms that are slowly fading away from her mind, like the end of Flowers for Algernon, only in reverse... which, now that I think about it, would be the beginning of Flowers for Algernon. I digress.
10 Words I'm Going to Miss
Adonamaa: I don't want a, I don't want to
as in, "Adonamaa go night night," or "ADONAMAA WEAR PANTIES!!!"
This one can change and take on additional syllables depending on how badly she doesn't want to do whatever action she is resisting. For instance, if it is putting away her toy train it could be: "ADONAMANAMMANNAMANNNANANANA PUT AWAY MY CHOO CHOO TRAAAAAIIIINN!!!" Yes, it can be frustrating sometimes, but when adonamaa goes away, so does all the cuteness from her rebellion. Then it's just plain old rebellion.
Kayeeoo: Carry me
This word is always said at my feet with outstretched arms, and is always said at least twice. "Kayeeoo... Kayeeoo Daddy." It comes from me asking her if she wanted me to carry her when she was slow and I was sick of waiting for her to catch up. I'd say "Want daddy to carry you?" So now she assumes that "carry" and "you" are one word that means "to carry." On instinct, I tried to teach her the correct way to say it the other day and my wife leapt across the room, screamed "NOOOOO," and then tackled me. She's resisting the change even more than I am.
Sawbubby: Strawberry
This one just left her vocabulary a few weeks ago. I'm pretty sure my wife cried when she heard our daughter say "Can I have a strawberry?" I would give anything to have a recording of my daughter saying "I has a sawbubby?" I would make a million copies. I would keep one in the Smithsonian. But alas, sawbubby is gone forever -- a lost word in a dying language. ::sob::
Fiveteen: Fifteen, as in, "Thirteen... fourteen... fiveteen..."
There was a point at which I would have been completely comfortable with this pronunciation of fifteen carrying on into High School. I don't care how much damage it does. I'd pay for the therapy. I want my daughter to call fifteen "fiveteen," dammit!
F*cking: Something
I'm not going to use it in a sentence, just understand that for the last 6-8 months, every time my daughter has meant to say "Something," she has said something very different. It has made having company over oh so much fun!
Shut Up: Stand up, as in, "Daddy, shut up."
"That's not very nice; don't tell me to shut up."
"Shut up Daddy!"
"Honey, don't tell me to shut up. That is not nice."
"SHUT UP DADDYYYYYYYY!!!"
It took me awhile to figure out what she was saying. Now, when people see me quietly stand up after my daughter tells me to shut up, they assume I'm just a broken shell of the man I once was, when really, we're just communicating!
Wanididid: I wanted to, and I did, as in, "I wanididid go potty daddy!!"
I love this one, because it only happens when she is so proud of herself that she doesn't have time to use multiple words. She just wants to tell me everything in one, awesome toddler word, and that is perfectly fine with me. "I wanididid count to fiveteen daddy!!!!" Yes you did, honey. Yes you did.
Rebudeder: Regular, in-between slow and fast
When we sing songs in the car -- actually, I should just say when we are in the car, because it is the same thing -- she declares whether we sing the song fast or slowwwwwww. Once she is tired of making us speed up or slow down "The Wheels on the Bus" fiveteen times she'll say, "OK, edeebody. Now sing rebudeder." And then we sing the song rebudeder.
Habagooday: Have a good day!
I saved this one for last, not only because it makes sense structurally, but because it is my favorite. My daughter and I have a bedtime ritual. We brush our teeth. She spits all over her face. I wipe her face. We read a book. We read another book. She then tells me she would like to read four more books. I say no. She pretends to cry. I pretend to acknowledge her pretend cry. Then she gets in bed. We sing 1-30 songs. I give her a kiss and a hug. I say goodnight. She says goodnight. I say "I love you." She says "I love you." And then I get up and leave the room.
Every night -- and I'm serious here -- every single night after I shut the door, she yells "Habagooday!" I don't know where she picked it up. I don't care that it is night and not day. It is something that is wholly hers and I want it to stay that way forever. So I open the door back up, poke my head in and say back "Habagooday, I love you." And she loves me too.
And Happy St. Paddy's Day! We are celebrating by being incredibly lazy and remembering 1 year ago exactly this week when Barrett tried his first bits of solids (avocado!) and was baptized. Time flies, guys!
These two are my favorites.
If you read my 17 month post, I mentioned Llama Llama and Barrett wanting to scream at certain parts. Here is an example.
This is a bit off topic but I read an article this week that I loved and I wanted to pass it on. Original is HERE. An article in the Huffington Post by John Kinnear titled, "The 10 Words That I'll Miss Most."
It solidifies my need to get all of Barrett's words on video.
Copy and Pasted:
Before our kids learn our language, we get to experience the magic of learning theirs. For an amazing (and amazingly short) period of time, kids speak a language that only their parents can understand. Have you ever been around a parent and their kid, and the kid looks at the parent and says, "Samoopeeepoop clababa pano pano it," and the parent, completely un-phased, replies with something like "No dear, you've had enough graham-crackers, and dinner is in an hour"?
I'm going to miss that connection with my kid. I like that, for awhile, my wife and I were the only ones who could understand her. But now, my daughter is getting much better at talking. Her language skills are really pretty amazing. She's almost mastered subject, object and possessive pronouns. She's getting tenses down, and every once in awhile, she'll put together a sentence with multiple clauses and a semi-colon. For example: "I want to lay in bed with you and mommy, who you call Stevie-pie, but I peed in my pull up and need a new butt; can you change it?"
Yes, it should be lie and not lay, but cut her some slack. She's 2. So, before she starts quoting Faulkner and writes a fan-fiction sequel to The Sound and the Fury, I decided now would be a good time to write down some of the toddlerisms that are slowly fading away from her mind, like the end of Flowers for Algernon, only in reverse... which, now that I think about it, would be the beginning of Flowers for Algernon. I digress.
10 Words I'm Going to Miss
Adonamaa: I don't want a, I don't want to
as in, "Adonamaa go night night," or "ADONAMAA WEAR PANTIES!!!"
This one can change and take on additional syllables depending on how badly she doesn't want to do whatever action she is resisting. For instance, if it is putting away her toy train it could be: "ADONAMANAMMANNAMANNNANANANA PUT AWAY MY CHOO CHOO TRAAAAAIIIINN!!!" Yes, it can be frustrating sometimes, but when adonamaa goes away, so does all the cuteness from her rebellion. Then it's just plain old rebellion.
Kayeeoo: Carry me
This word is always said at my feet with outstretched arms, and is always said at least twice. "Kayeeoo... Kayeeoo Daddy." It comes from me asking her if she wanted me to carry her when she was slow and I was sick of waiting for her to catch up. I'd say "Want daddy to carry you?" So now she assumes that "carry" and "you" are one word that means "to carry." On instinct, I tried to teach her the correct way to say it the other day and my wife leapt across the room, screamed "NOOOOO," and then tackled me. She's resisting the change even more than I am.
Sawbubby: Strawberry
This one just left her vocabulary a few weeks ago. I'm pretty sure my wife cried when she heard our daughter say "Can I have a strawberry?" I would give anything to have a recording of my daughter saying "I has a sawbubby?" I would make a million copies. I would keep one in the Smithsonian. But alas, sawbubby is gone forever -- a lost word in a dying language. ::sob::
Fiveteen: Fifteen, as in, "Thirteen... fourteen... fiveteen..."
There was a point at which I would have been completely comfortable with this pronunciation of fifteen carrying on into High School. I don't care how much damage it does. I'd pay for the therapy. I want my daughter to call fifteen "fiveteen," dammit!
F*cking: Something
I'm not going to use it in a sentence, just understand that for the last 6-8 months, every time my daughter has meant to say "Something," she has said something very different. It has made having company over oh so much fun!
Shut Up: Stand up, as in, "Daddy, shut up."
"That's not very nice; don't tell me to shut up."
"Shut up Daddy!"
"Honey, don't tell me to shut up. That is not nice."
"SHUT UP DADDYYYYYYYY!!!"
It took me awhile to figure out what she was saying. Now, when people see me quietly stand up after my daughter tells me to shut up, they assume I'm just a broken shell of the man I once was, when really, we're just communicating!
Wanididid: I wanted to, and I did, as in, "I wanididid go potty daddy!!"
I love this one, because it only happens when she is so proud of herself that she doesn't have time to use multiple words. She just wants to tell me everything in one, awesome toddler word, and that is perfectly fine with me. "I wanididid count to fiveteen daddy!!!!" Yes you did, honey. Yes you did.
Rebudeder: Regular, in-between slow and fast
When we sing songs in the car -- actually, I should just say when we are in the car, because it is the same thing -- she declares whether we sing the song fast or slowwwwwww. Once she is tired of making us speed up or slow down "The Wheels on the Bus" fiveteen times she'll say, "OK, edeebody. Now sing rebudeder." And then we sing the song rebudeder.
Habagooday: Have a good day!
I saved this one for last, not only because it makes sense structurally, but because it is my favorite. My daughter and I have a bedtime ritual. We brush our teeth. She spits all over her face. I wipe her face. We read a book. We read another book. She then tells me she would like to read four more books. I say no. She pretends to cry. I pretend to acknowledge her pretend cry. Then she gets in bed. We sing 1-30 songs. I give her a kiss and a hug. I say goodnight. She says goodnight. I say "I love you." She says "I love you." And then I get up and leave the room.
Every night -- and I'm serious here -- every single night after I shut the door, she yells "Habagooday!" I don't know where she picked it up. I don't care that it is night and not day. It is something that is wholly hers and I want it to stay that way forever. So I open the door back up, poke my head in and say back "Habagooday, I love you." And she loves me too.
And Happy St. Paddy's Day! We are celebrating by being incredibly lazy and remembering 1 year ago exactly this week when Barrett tried his first bits of solids (avocado!) and was baptized. Time flies, guys!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Peekaboo!
1 year, 5 months, 9 days old
These pictures make me smile so big. Barrett is very into hiding behind walls and jumping out at us. Of course, we have to say Peekaboo while he does it. It's hilarious to see his little eyes peek through.
These pictures make me smile so big. Barrett is very into hiding behind walls and jumping out at us. Of course, we have to say Peekaboo while he does it. It's hilarious to see his little eyes peek through.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
17 months old!
1 year, 5 months, 7 days old
I wrote most of this last week but didn't get to finish it and post.
There are certain milestones that have been favorites of mine. 6 months and 10 months are ages that stick out as being extra fun. This last month takes the cake though for most favorite so far. Barrett has been an absolute joy. I'm sure it helps that he was almost completely sickness free but everything he does is extra fun. He is learning everything and surprises us daily by the things he can do.
Sleep: I don't have anything exciting to add here. B has been waking a bit earlier lately (6:15am some days) but he still goes down at 6:30pm. During the week, it's usually apparent that he wants to sleep and will grab his blanket on his own and lay down on the floor. No arguing here! Bed time, it is! It will be interesting to see how the time change this weekend will change things. I'm ready for it because a perfect day would mean a 7am wake up and 7pm bed time. Bubs is still taking 2 naps on weekends as well. He has no problem only doing one if we have plans. I've been thinking lately how we are probably screwed in the sleep department whenever kid#2 comes around.
Food: Ugh, our great eater as a baby has flown the coop. I mentioned last month that Barrett is in a picky stage. Well now, he's just not eating (at least, that's what I feel like). He has his favorites that I know he'll eat and I'll try to incorporate that into a meal but if he doesn't eat, he doesn't eat. And one day he has a favorite, the next day, it's like you have fed him poison. (Example: pizza. Currently, in the poison category.) Breakfast is pretty easy usually. He switches off between scrambled eggs and oatmeal every day with a mixture of fruit and greek yogurt. Weekend breakfasts are special which usually mean pancakes, maybe some sausage or bacon. For dinner he eats (or doesn't eat) whatever we fix for us. It is mandatory that we all sit at the table together for dinners. Bubs still sits in his booster with the tray and I think we'll stick to that until he forces us to change because it's easier to keep him corralled that way. He does really good with utensils and prefers straw cups (and even moreso, real cups).
Size: I'm not sure where Buddy stands with height and weight but it appears to me that he is getting taller and skinnier and definitely losing his baby fat. He still has his little gut though. He just looks so much like a full on kid, recently. He's holding strong at some 18 month clothes but mostly 2T. I can tell that he is leveling off on all his growth. He's been in 18 months sizes for almost 6 months now so hopefully this means we won't be flying through his clothes anymore.
Talking: This month, B steadily added a few more words. Joe and I admit to using the word "Ready" probably more than we realize. Put your coat on….Ready? Done with bath time…..Ready? Unbuckle car seat….Ready? We use it a lot which translates to it being a dominate word of Barrett's. It's actually pretty cute. He uses it every time he stands up on the fireplace (which usually follows a jump off ::sigh::). An addition to this is that he's started to add "1-2" onto of his "Ready". I know they count all the time at school and I also try to count to 10 every morning on our way to daycare so I'd like to think that he's learning his numbers. He has "Yes" and "No" down pat and will use them correctly to answer our questions. This is insane to me. I realize it's completely average and normal but to partake in the learning is mind-blowing. Along with the numbers, he can say "ABC". He only says it as a repeat of me saying it but still cool. I try to sing the ABCs every morning as well so hopefully that will start to sink in. If you follow me on youtube, you may have seen the "I love you". This is probably a stretch to count as one of his words but the fact that he tries so hard to repeat us, makes me want to document it, regardless. Barrett also says "Awww" when he gives hugs, "brrrr" when we go outside. He also uses "All done".
As you can see in the video, he's not the best at following directions. He likes to be difficult.
Some general information on B this month: He is ALL boy. Seriously, kid is obsessed with sports. There is rarely a day that goes by that he doesn't play catch with his dad. He will use his golf club to whack at balls or use his bat to hit stuff off the tee. Throwing is a blessing and a curse. He wants nothing more than to play but that also translates into him thinking that everything is meant to be thrown. He does have a fantastic throwing arm though and can grip his football almost perfect (which makes his past-quarterback father very happy!). Along the All boy thing we've got going on, I need to document the accidents we've encountered this month. We know he's exactly like his father. I don't deny this and it appears his, shall we say…clumsiness, has been an inherited trait as well. He had a nice big bruise on his forehead from the coffee table one week and then a week later, a face plant into the door hinge that created another huge forehead gash. The kid likes to bash his head into things, I guess. It's sorta funny though because Joe does not do well with seeing him get hurt which I find so funny since I blame him for 50% of them.
Little man has developed into a bit of a…well…little man, this month. He likes to be responsible for things. He gets a huge kick out of throwing his diaper in the garbage after getting changed. He also loves to go and get things when we ask for them. I've mentioned, maybe 100 times now, that B loves his books. He loves getting read to and loves to just sit and flip pages. Big Red Barn was the easy favorite last month and this month is strongly "Llama Llama Red Pajama." It's a good thing I love it too because I read it at least twice a day. There is a part where the Baby Llama yells downstairs to his Mama and before I even turn the page, Barrett will yell as if he is the Baby Llama. There is nothing better. Because of this, I'll read it 100 times a day if he wanted.
We have to document Month 16 as the month that B finally became interested in TV. Only a very few shows will keep his attention for a full 20 minutes but it's way better than the 2 minutes it used to be. I try to make it a point to not turn the tv on during the week because I can already see that the switch has been flipped and he is sucked into the vortex if we let him watch too much. Maybe I'm brainwashing him but Disney Jr is about all that he's been exposed to. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Jake and the Neverland Pirates are the ultimate for him. The hotdog dance from MMC, without a doubt, brings out Barrett's best dance move, the fist pump. He channels his inner Jersey Shore.
We didn't travel much during this month but one thing I have to comment on is his knack for playing people to get what he wants. If we visit family, "Up" is used non-stop. He knows that everyone will hold him, especially if he asks, and he takes FULL advantage.
He had his first real taste of snow this month as well as some sickness. Teething is not a fun experience but his molars have just popped through so hopefully he will get some relief. His poor cheeks are so red from teething. No matter how much ointment we use, they are still there.
Reflections and playing peekaboo are big interests this month. It's the funniest thing to see him run around a corner and literally poke just his eye around to see if we are watching him. He gets that it's a game and wants to do it all the time. He is also a rockstar at giving kisses. No more open mouth ones either. If you ask for a kiss, he will give you one. He even bends his lips in a bit, thinking that he's puckering, when really he's making it harder to kiss him. It's hilarious. Lastly, I have to mention…the blankie. I plan to write a full post on this but we are in the thick of it. I fear trying to do bedtime without it. He is very attached.
Next up, a year and a half!!
I wrote most of this last week but didn't get to finish it and post.
There are certain milestones that have been favorites of mine. 6 months and 10 months are ages that stick out as being extra fun. This last month takes the cake though for most favorite so far. Barrett has been an absolute joy. I'm sure it helps that he was almost completely sickness free but everything he does is extra fun. He is learning everything and surprises us daily by the things he can do.
Sleep: I don't have anything exciting to add here. B has been waking a bit earlier lately (6:15am some days) but he still goes down at 6:30pm. During the week, it's usually apparent that he wants to sleep and will grab his blanket on his own and lay down on the floor. No arguing here! Bed time, it is! It will be interesting to see how the time change this weekend will change things. I'm ready for it because a perfect day would mean a 7am wake up and 7pm bed time. Bubs is still taking 2 naps on weekends as well. He has no problem only doing one if we have plans. I've been thinking lately how we are probably screwed in the sleep department whenever kid#2 comes around.
Food: Ugh, our great eater as a baby has flown the coop. I mentioned last month that Barrett is in a picky stage. Well now, he's just not eating (at least, that's what I feel like). He has his favorites that I know he'll eat and I'll try to incorporate that into a meal but if he doesn't eat, he doesn't eat. And one day he has a favorite, the next day, it's like you have fed him poison. (Example: pizza. Currently, in the poison category.) Breakfast is pretty easy usually. He switches off between scrambled eggs and oatmeal every day with a mixture of fruit and greek yogurt. Weekend breakfasts are special which usually mean pancakes, maybe some sausage or bacon. For dinner he eats (or doesn't eat) whatever we fix for us. It is mandatory that we all sit at the table together for dinners. Bubs still sits in his booster with the tray and I think we'll stick to that until he forces us to change because it's easier to keep him corralled that way. He does really good with utensils and prefers straw cups (and even moreso, real cups).
Size: I'm not sure where Buddy stands with height and weight but it appears to me that he is getting taller and skinnier and definitely losing his baby fat. He still has his little gut though. He just looks so much like a full on kid, recently. He's holding strong at some 18 month clothes but mostly 2T. I can tell that he is leveling off on all his growth. He's been in 18 months sizes for almost 6 months now so hopefully this means we won't be flying through his clothes anymore.
Talking: This month, B steadily added a few more words. Joe and I admit to using the word "Ready" probably more than we realize. Put your coat on….Ready? Done with bath time…..Ready? Unbuckle car seat….Ready? We use it a lot which translates to it being a dominate word of Barrett's. It's actually pretty cute. He uses it every time he stands up on the fireplace (which usually follows a jump off ::sigh::). An addition to this is that he's started to add "1-2" onto of his "Ready". I know they count all the time at school and I also try to count to 10 every morning on our way to daycare so I'd like to think that he's learning his numbers. He has "Yes" and "No" down pat and will use them correctly to answer our questions. This is insane to me. I realize it's completely average and normal but to partake in the learning is mind-blowing. Along with the numbers, he can say "ABC". He only says it as a repeat of me saying it but still cool. I try to sing the ABCs every morning as well so hopefully that will start to sink in. If you follow me on youtube, you may have seen the "I love you". This is probably a stretch to count as one of his words but the fact that he tries so hard to repeat us, makes me want to document it, regardless. Barrett also says "Awww" when he gives hugs, "brrrr" when we go outside. He also uses "All done".
As you can see in the video, he's not the best at following directions. He likes to be difficult.
Some general information on B this month: He is ALL boy. Seriously, kid is obsessed with sports. There is rarely a day that goes by that he doesn't play catch with his dad. He will use his golf club to whack at balls or use his bat to hit stuff off the tee. Throwing is a blessing and a curse. He wants nothing more than to play but that also translates into him thinking that everything is meant to be thrown. He does have a fantastic throwing arm though and can grip his football almost perfect (which makes his past-quarterback father very happy!). Along the All boy thing we've got going on, I need to document the accidents we've encountered this month. We know he's exactly like his father. I don't deny this and it appears his, shall we say…clumsiness, has been an inherited trait as well. He had a nice big bruise on his forehead from the coffee table one week and then a week later, a face plant into the door hinge that created another huge forehead gash. The kid likes to bash his head into things, I guess. It's sorta funny though because Joe does not do well with seeing him get hurt which I find so funny since I blame him for 50% of them.
Little man has developed into a bit of a…well…little man, this month. He likes to be responsible for things. He gets a huge kick out of throwing his diaper in the garbage after getting changed. He also loves to go and get things when we ask for them. I've mentioned, maybe 100 times now, that B loves his books. He loves getting read to and loves to just sit and flip pages. Big Red Barn was the easy favorite last month and this month is strongly "Llama Llama Red Pajama." It's a good thing I love it too because I read it at least twice a day. There is a part where the Baby Llama yells downstairs to his Mama and before I even turn the page, Barrett will yell as if he is the Baby Llama. There is nothing better. Because of this, I'll read it 100 times a day if he wanted.
We have to document Month 16 as the month that B finally became interested in TV. Only a very few shows will keep his attention for a full 20 minutes but it's way better than the 2 minutes it used to be. I try to make it a point to not turn the tv on during the week because I can already see that the switch has been flipped and he is sucked into the vortex if we let him watch too much. Maybe I'm brainwashing him but Disney Jr is about all that he's been exposed to. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Jake and the Neverland Pirates are the ultimate for him. The hotdog dance from MMC, without a doubt, brings out Barrett's best dance move, the fist pump. He channels his inner Jersey Shore.
We didn't travel much during this month but one thing I have to comment on is his knack for playing people to get what he wants. If we visit family, "Up" is used non-stop. He knows that everyone will hold him, especially if he asks, and he takes FULL advantage.
He had his first real taste of snow this month as well as some sickness. Teething is not a fun experience but his molars have just popped through so hopefully he will get some relief. His poor cheeks are so red from teething. No matter how much ointment we use, they are still there.
Reflections and playing peekaboo are big interests this month. It's the funniest thing to see him run around a corner and literally poke just his eye around to see if we are watching him. He gets that it's a game and wants to do it all the time. He is also a rockstar at giving kisses. No more open mouth ones either. If you ask for a kiss, he will give you one. He even bends his lips in a bit, thinking that he's puckering, when really he's making it harder to kiss him. It's hilarious. Lastly, I have to mention…the blankie. I plan to write a full post on this but we are in the thick of it. I fear trying to do bedtime without it. He is very attached.
Next up, a year and a half!!
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