it's the little things...

Buns! A year and a half! You are my favorite son ever. I'm surprised I haven't suffocated you with snuggles. I'm not sure if it's because you let me more than your sister did at this age or because you're a boy or because you're the baby. Whatever. I'm taking full advantage. So other than super cuddly, what are you like at 18 months? You still have a really deep voice but you say words now! Some are pretty clear to others but some only I understand. Off the top of my head: Mommy, Daddy, doggie, plane, nudie, no, bye bye, cheese, all done, help, armie (for arm), book, Maggie (garbled), Daisy, Tessa, milk, mummy (for gummy), and Scarlett (it varies but kind of like "Carleh"). I know I'm forgetting some. You can tell me what sounds most animals make. You know what we're saying now and respond to commands. You know some body parts. You still love water and baths. You really love reading these days. You were a little slower t

Chicken, last week you turned 3 years old. How did that happen? It's been a pretty good year. Mommy is finally getting the hang of parenting two children so things are less stressful around here. What are you like? Well, you can do pretty much most things physically. Walk, run, climb stairs, climb up the "rock wall" of the playground equipment, climb onto all sorts of things, walk backwards, march, dance, jump, stand on one leg. You don't yet ride the tricycle, pump your legs while swinging, or have a good grasp on kicking balls. You continue to grow taller. We don't have your annual doctor's appointment until next week and I'll update things then. (Update: Weight=32 lb 11.2 oz or 70th%, Height= 38" or 65th%.) Your hair is perfectly highlighted blonde (natural, of course). It still curls up at the end. You had your second haircut recently but it's still super long. It gets all ratty and tangled underneath but we've figured out how to (mo

Happy 2014! Last year, I wrote this to recap the previous year and lay out the goals for 2013.  Those were: Find the perfect coconut cream pie recipe.  No progress.   Finish the bulk of Baby #2s baby book.   Done! Find the perfect mac and cheese recipe. Again, no progress. Weird since these should be easier. Add to the Life List.    Added 3--and completed 1--item(s) in January. Eat lunch with someone one day a week.   M aybe about 1/3 of the time? Accomplish more on the house (kitchen and landscaping).   Kitchen mostly done and dining room done. All house trim painted (while we were on vacation--even better!).  Had foyer and front porch lights installed.  Front yard done for now plus work completed in 2 of the backyard beds.  Guest bath finished. Living room painted, started re-staining furniture, hung gallery wall, rearranged furniture. Ripped down the wallpaper in the kids' bath.  So basically blew this one out of the water. Throw really good birthday parties for the k