My grown-up boy at a year and a half

This month was a bit of a difficult one. You had a double ear infection that lasted for about 2 weeks and then a week of happiness followed by several days of fever and more sadness--turned out to be another ear infection (#4 that we know of). I have treasured the moments of puny-ness where you just sat for 30 minutes at a time cuddling with me on the couch...a "never before, never thereafter" experience. We have discovered that bubble gum medicine is one of your favorites though!

You have suddenly started to show more interest in language. You added a few new words to your vocabulary and have tried to copy me a bit more. You now say "happy," "puppy," "two," "three," "fish," as well as jabbering away all the time! When I start counting, you will often skip "one" but chime in with "two" even before I say it. It amazes me how much you understand already!

Speaking of that, you have started pointing to all sorts of things too. You love your buttons! You will point to the puppies on your pjs, the general vicinity of your belly button, and even occasionally your mouth when asked.

You also have added a lot of new food to your repertoire (see previous post)...also including raisins and split pea soup again. (funny story: you refused the split pea soup I tried to feed you yesterday, even spitting it back out. Then, your Daddy and I were eating the same soup half an hour later. You decided you wanted some. You happily ate bite after bite of Mama's soup! You are at the funny stage that is easily influenced by what we eat. I have decided I feel a bit like the cupbearer to the king; I must try your food in order for you to eat it. Do you really think it is poisoned???)

You have outgrown all your smaller clothes and are pretty much entirely in 18-24 month clothes (mostly 24mo. or 2T). However, after your 18 month check up, not a surprise due to your eating strike at least half this month, you weigh exactly the same as you did at 15 months-- 25 lbs. 4oz. (25-50%ile). You have grown 1/2 an inch and now are 33" tall (50-75%ile) with a smaller head than last visit(47 1/2 cm--25-50%ile).

You got your first "real" haircut this month. Meaning...you looked like a shorn sheep when they were done. It was long overdue!

You still sleep well and play in your crib semi-quietly before I get you. I say "semi" because your new favorite is to reach through the slats in your crib and push the buttons on the baby floor gym that is sitting next to it. You then will often stand up and dance to the music. When it ends, you get on your belly and push the button again so the whole process starts over. I have often watched quietly from the door and love to see this. You dance is like a penguin waddle!

You still adore you Daddy and run to the door, try to open it, and laugh hilariously when I tell you that he is home. You have gotten to where you recognize if his car is in the driveway or not. (after I accidentally misled you one time--oops)

You love to play outside--whether in your car or on the small play structure in the back.

You went to the K-2 Academy this month with your playgroup and even with your ear infections, you enjoyed running around.

You also went to McDonald's playground this month (also with playgroup) and amazed me by climbing up to the top and crossing all the hurdles!

You are more and more fun each day as you start to communicate, react, and interact. We love you, David!

Life underwater and above

We went to the Downtown Aquarium last week with our playgroup. David was not impressed by the fish (in fact, he barely even gave them a second look), but he loved the illuminated signs telling about all the fish! He spent a minute or so looking at the white tiger. We bundled up (brrr...although it did warm up a tiny bit by lunch time) and went outside for the train ride through the shark tunnel. We also went on the carousel (David was not a huge fan of his alligator he rode). He did, however, sit still for the ferris wheel. His mama was not so happy with the ride though. Caution: never sit on the uphill facing side if you are not fond of heights. It was also a little more apparent how high we were because we were going very fast (they opened up all the outdoor rides just for us and went extra long and fast) and we were looking down on the highway with all the cars and up at the skyscrapers.

A fun day of fishing-watching for me and sign-spying for David!

More than a few peas

I am marking this post in memory for all time just in case this changes again next week.

David is finally trying/eating new food! I am not sure if it was the week of no eating that has made him so hungry or if he is just going through a growth spurt, but not only is he trying new food, but he is also eating massive amounts of food. Is it possible for an 18 month old to eat you out of house and home?

This week...David had a lot of vegetables while I was finishing our mac and cheese dinner. He happily ate broccoli and cauliflower (two foods he has always spit back out until now). He then proceeded to down quite literally half my very full plate of macaroni and cheese with veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots etc...) and turkey ham (another food he would have spit out before). This all after a huge breakfast of oatmeal and applesauce and a muffin. Then a huge lunch of mini ravioli (he wanted the entire can---normally we are lucky if he eats 1/3 of it) and peas and carrots and pears for dessert. The next day, he finished off the same amount of food. Then, yesterday, we ended up at Sam's during lunch time so in an effort to not ruin the entire afternoon schedule, I bought him a hotdog (normally spit right out). He proceeded to eat 3/4 of the hot dog and bun (they are huge!) and about 1/2 my (at least 2 slice size) pizza (also a new food). What a fun date!!!

Today he ate a large grilled cheese sandwich for lunch and more veggies. Oh, and I forgot he ate many french fries the other night as we got him his free kids meal from BK (for his bday). Fries have ALWAYS been spit back out before now. What is going on with our little boy???

Mom, you're so old!

I am putting forth this list as a whimsical thing for David to look back on and see what life was like in the "old" days. :)

I remember when...
1. I used to sit and listen to records--like my favorite kid ones "Antsylvania" and "Marcy"
2. We did not have internet connection--in fact, none in college (not even an email address until after graduating) and still dial-up our first 2 years of marriage.
3. Life before owning a TV and VCR--we used to rent a VCR from the grocery store for years. (only got a DVD player about 5 years into marriage)
4. All movies I watched when little were Beta tapes (pre-VHS) that my Grandmother had.
5. We used to have to tune our TV by setting it to "U" (UHF) and then the channel.
6. Very few people had computers at home (we did because of G-Daddy's love for them) and the mainframe computers at his office were each a 7 foot tall structure etc...
7. The computer we had at home was a Dos prompt machine (what I used in high school too) and all computer games were 2 dimensional with lousy graphics.
8. We used to mix songs and make cassettes for each other (I did this for your Daddy too) No CDs or MP3s.
9. I saved all my files on 3 1/2" floppies (the 8" ones were mostly gone by high school). They could each hold 400 kB!
10. In 2nd or 3rd grade jelly bracelets and necklaces and shoes were all the rage! (friendship bracelets) The shoes came back again right after college days.
11. In middle school "jams" were the latest in fashion. And how about long t-shirts turned into dresses or tied in a t-shirt clip at the waist?
12. No one had cell phones. My first cell phone was after college when your Daddy got me one since my parents required it if I was traveling to visit him across the city alone.
13. The cell phone was basic (no phone, no internet, no texting, no music etc...) and we only had one to share between two of us until 2 years ago!
14. No one had caller ID.
15. Calling long distance was all done at exorbitant charge (no unlimited long distance) so rarely did we talk to far-away family.
16. For many years growing up, we still had/used the old rotary phone (now only the throwback vintage phones have this).
17. Fisher Price Little People were really "little" and wooden and cute.
18. Most toys did not have batteries.
19. You used to be allowed to wait with the traveler behind security at the airport (and security was much lighter)
20. You were allowed 2 free checked suitcases of any weight and reasonable size.
21. There was not a Walmart and a Starbucks on every corner.
22. The money bills were not "Funny Money" with big heads on them.
23. Gas was under $1/gallon.
24. The public library still had a card catalog at least in Middle school. My high school had one too. And my college too. (perhaps the college was a bit behind :) ) My college also used microfiche machines to look at old material.
25. Life before Netflix and other mail-out/online streaming video.
26. Of course, with no internet, no one had blogs either--they were called physical diaries. :) And no Facebook, Google, etc...
27. Everyone corresponded with "snail" mail...again, no internet and email.
28. Secular school sports etc... were often planned around Wednesday "church" evening (at least in the Bible belt)
29. Never on prime time (and often not on cable either) did you see an unmarried couple in bed--and no nudity at all. Still pretty unusual even after I graduated from college and it certainly wasn't until we had been married a couple of years that homosexuality in the media was EVER displayed!
30. Unfortunately, we got married too early for digital photography. All our first trips together were taken with a film camera...imagine the cost of developing my 10-15 rolls of film! Our first digital camera was a couple of years into our marriage and it was 2.8 megapixels.
31. Your father went to an all-male college until his last semester. I went to a school with curfew at 11 on weeknights, no shorts worn on campus (other than the gym) until after 4:00, no men allowed on the girl's dorm halls etc... (and my school was not that strict)
32. Homeschooling was illegal. (which it might be again, but...) I was homeschooled off and on back when no one did it (illegal in MI when we lived there), and all homeschoolers wore elasticized sweat pants 3" too short. I think I turned out pretty normal! :)
33. Most of NW Houston (where we live now) was treed and undeveloped. Willowbrook Mall was in the middle of nowhere!
34. Life before microwaves--can you imagine?!
35. Oh, yes, the old slide projector shows! I knew your Dad was the right one for me when I went to your grandparents house the first time and I was treated to a slide projector show...the same thing so many of my past boyfriends had been subject too at our house! (the only difference was that the Weyler slides were often more interesting as they were from the job in Antarctica etc...)
36. We were taught in school that there were nine planets--including Pluto.

I am sure I have forgotten some things...anyone want to chirp up?

a few interesting watches

We recently watched Gifted Hands, the true story of the extremely talented neurosurgeon Ben Carson. What makes this story even neater is that he is a Christian. The most recent release movie of his life (starring Cuba Gooding Jr.) was very well done/acted, but be forewarned, it is a bit of a tear-jerker. I may have been more emotional than normal, but it was a very touching, at times heart-wrenching, story. There are bits and pieces portraying his faith...never outspoken, but present and moving as well. Don't count on the extras to "Wow" you though... in typical hollywood fashion, they focused on the man's accomplishments rising from nothing to something and almost entirely ignored the fact that it is the Lord who has placed him where he is. Overall, a neat story nonetheless~ and my sister says the book is great!

And for a slightly older release--several months ago, ie.-- try Faith Like Potatos. It too is a true story depicting the life of Angus Buchan. He is a Zambian farmer who runs from God and in course of life makes an about-face. While the movie is well-done and sweet (also not without its tear-jerking moments), that is about all it is. The power comes in watching the extras with the interviews of the real Angus Buchan. It is there that you realize his immense passion and zeal for the Lord and at the same time, his incredible humility. I loved this one!

I checked these both out of the local library, but I believe they are both available via redbox etc...