17 months

We had a great month full of outside time (evident by most all of the pictures below), family time, celebrating Easter, and ended the month with a trip to the beach (post to follow)!!  This little guy became so big this month!  He's talking up a storm and learning to really communicate what he wants.  This can be good and bad, but we are trying to work through the bad times.  He just wants to fully communicate so bad!! The good that comes from this is knowing what he wants and his affection towards us.  All day he blows us kisses, gives kisses, and snuggles as he plays.  He also does what we call his "role-call" every time we go somewhere.  He calls out everyone's name to ensure we are all there and no one is left out! He has the sweetest, kindest heart just like his daddy!  He could spend all day everyday outside and is not afraid to try much.  Luckily he has a bit of a caution-adventurous side, so that helps with some of his craziness!!  He is also becoming quite the runner and can't seem to get enough of playing in the water!!  I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot of time exploring pools and splash pads this summer!  He also loves to help us in the yard, whether it be raking the flower beds, pushing his mower, or watering the flowers.  Anything to be like mommy & daddy.  He is so proud of himself when he waters the flowers; he'll give them a drink and then pat the soil in approval!  I know that the Lord has big plans for this little guy; we just pray that he would recognize that at a young age and that we will do all that we can to nurture the gifts the Lord has given him.  

Doing a little yard work (on the sidewalk)

Watering time!!

Fun at the splash pad

Playing Peek-a-boo at the park with Memaw

Memaw and Jude

Acting like a big boy with all of the 4 years olds at his friend Evan's party - he even got to try the zip line!

Sweet boy enjoying our new covered porch 

Looking at books at the library 

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating our risen Lord on Easter weekend.  We started by going to Eggsperience at our church full of egg hunts, petting zoos, games, bounce houses, etc.  He had so much fun and crashed as soon as we got home!!

Petting the bunnies

 Running with daddy

Found the good stash!!  I cracked up when I turned around and saw this!

Bubble room!!!

Opening his Easter basket on Easter morning 

My cute little man all dressed up

Running from light to light outside of church - the things that interest him!

Sweet times with is cousin Mia

It's quite the challenge to get a family pic these days; always on the move

Hunting for eggs - he would only pick up the ones that would make noise when he would shake it.  If not, he would throw it back down!

Checking out their loot! 

Stats:

-As of a few weeks ago he weighted 22.5 pounds

-His favorite foods right now are turkey, veggie patties (spinach, broccoli, and zucchini) , ALL fruit, applesauce, yogurt, black beans, quesadillas, and still his prunes.  He doing so well feeding himself using his utensils, and is not throwing his plate and bowl off his tray as much! He is also officially done nursing as of the last week of this month.  We had a good run, mommy is a bit sad though! 

-Favorite toys are still balls.  There is really nothing that will beat this out or keep his attention like balls do.  He does enjoy his blocks/legos, books, puzzles, vacuum, and cars but balls still rule the day! 

-He has started roaring like a lion all the time and thinks its hilarious (I think his constant allergies help him get a really good roar)!  Speaking of hilarious, he also thinks burping and tooting are hilarious (oh the joys of raising a boy!).  

-Loves to play peek-a-boo, hide-n-seek, play in tents, and go through tunnels we make with blankets.  Anything to play the "boo" game!

-This boy is chatty, chatty, chatty.  Although he says many words, neither of us can make out his chatty talk!  New words for this month: trash (ash), again (gin), cold (coo), up, baseball (ba-ball), Grancy (gancy), Pops (pop), Pepaw (pa-pa), Memaw (maw-maw), moon (oon, while pointing in the sky).
-When he is trying to tell us what he wants and we guess right he goes ah-ha!!!  He gets so excited knowing he is actually communicating! 

-He still loves to sing anytime that he can.  His favorite song is Jesus Loves Me.  We have sang this to him every single time we put him down to sleep since he was just a few weeks old.  He came home from church a few weeks ago though knowing the hand signs.  Its the cutest!!

-Likes to play the night night game.  Lays his head to the side and says ni-ni, then seconds later WAKE UP!!

-Has learned to twist things - bottle caps, screws, etc.  I love to watch him study as he does it to try to learn how it works.  Sometimes though he'll get frustrated with it and just try to force it on by pushing it. 

-Still has 4 front teeth on top, 2 top molars, 4 front teeth on the bottom, and 2 bottom molars.  

-Wears size 3 diapers

-Wears mostly 9-12 month pants and 12-18 month tops.  

-Still takes 2 naps most days, but can do fine with only one longer one.  

-His tongue is starting to be in more than it is out!!!  He all of a sudden made a lot of progress this month!