dear Monkey,

so, it's been a smidge over one year since you blessed us with your presence.  there are so many things you've learned in that short time.  at first, sure, you were just a bump on a log.  but now?  NOW??  we can't get you to stop moving!  it's pretty scary and wonderful all at the same time.  especially when you're being "little Hercules".  yes, i know you're strong but you don't have to prove it by picking Daddy's shovel up and almost hitting me in the head.  that's really not necessary. 

you've got the "toddler" thing down, for sure.  you walk around like a little mini Fred Sanford.  hence the other nickname, "little Sanford".  your cousin Kenny thinks we should now teach you to say, "it's the big one, elizabeth!".  but your cousin Kenny's a damn fool.  KIDDING!  but really, we're not teaching you that.  let's get Mama and Dada down before we go into multi-word sentences, shall we?

one thing i absolutely adore about you - you are super loving!  my favorite part of the weekends or days off, is when you're winding down.  you like to crawl into my lap with your sippy or bottle and just chill.   LOVE!  THIS!  it's all good for about 20 minutes and i soak it all in before you realize, "hey, i could be outside playing".

Aunt S1 says you always look like you're mad and you never laugh.  i disagree.  it's not a "mad" look.  i tend to believe it's a look of determination.  you have the wheels turning up there and they won't stop until you find "that thing", whatever it may be.  you're an explorer.  an engineer.  plus, she's just not funny.  =)

your new obsession is cars.  i took you to a birthday party this weekend and all you wanted to do was scoot around the floor, the ground, the concrete (whatever it was and no matter how many holes it was putting in your cute little jumper) and push the cars around.  it was the cutest thing.  your first addiction.  not unlike Daddy's.  i see many days in the garage, with your Daddy, in your future.  your other new obsession, and this goes back to the "being a toddler thing", is running away from Mommy.  not cool.

i'm hoping you will be "reading" soon.  you've shown an interest in books (and not just eating them any more) and we're trying to nourish that.  Nana is showing you dvd's so you can learn words.  i think if you had an attention span longer than two seconds, it just might work.  before you start reading, though, i will give you credit for learning to sign.  this is totes cool!  you now know the sign for "all done".  this is nice and much better than throwing your food on the floor when you're finished eating.  not good, however, when Mommy's trying to change your diaper and you throw up the "all done" like it's a gang sign or something.  never gonna work, 'cause dude... have you smelled your diapers?  they need to be changed.  but i appreciate the effort in using it in the right context.

Love, 
Mamamamamamama

Happy Birthday, Monkey!!

Today was Monkey's birthday!  look at him all growed up in his birthday boy shirt.  ready for a full day of fun!!

 

we started the day off with Daddy.  he took us to Denny's for a big birthday boy breakfast.  they even sang Happy Birthday to my little monkey boy.

 

after breakfast, we went to the Children's Museum for two whole hours!  he played with his new friends from the mommy group - all around his age.  it's so amazing watching Monkey at the museum.  he's figuring out so much!  he wants to know how it works and if he can't figure it out, he gives it me to show him.  of course, he takes it right out of my hand as soon as he sees it's working again.  after he was all played out, we had lunch with our new friends then headed out to see Daddy.  

after our Daddy visit, Monkey had a nap on the way home (he was pooped).  when we pulled up to the house he was still asleep so i sat in the driveway for a little while, checking email and catching up on facebook.  one of the mommies posted a visit to the park so away we go.

 

after the park, a bath was definitely in order.  he LOVES baths!  i hope it stays that way.  oh, and he loves his new "toy".  let's just hope he doesn't rip it off... because, trust me, i think he's trying to.  yikes!

learning skills

he's trying more and more to put things where they fit.  

he doesn't know the sign for "all done" but that doesn't mean he doesn't have his own way of letting us know when he's done.  usually, at the point of him throwing food to the dogs is when he's done eating.  he's got his own signs.  hey, at least he's not throwing up gang signs!

he loves Ringo.  he loves to pet Ringo.  or slap him... whatever.  and now he "snaps" to get Ringo's attention.  he saw me snapping to get Ringo and so now he tries it.  how cute is that??  

he also LOVES baths.  ohmigod, do not get him out of the tub when he's not ready!  total meltdown until you finally get him to his crib. 

he really likes his trampoline.  i'm not sure if it's the jumping or the fact he can crawl right into the bean bag from the trampoline.  either way, it's a winner.

weekend update/recap

let's just talk about Saturday. because Saturday we did the most. we played outside all day. helped Daddy with the lawn. ate some dirt. YUM! after nap, helped Daddy more outside. after we came in, there was bath time then nap. then Mommy forgot to feed me!!! how do you forget to feed your kid??? ask Mommy. *(for S1) you gotta be a special kind o' stupid to forget to feed your kid!

Mommy here: get off my case, kid. you ate some stars in the car!

saturday nite - we went to Senior Serve. Senior Serve is where you get hardly anything to eat and are expected to "tip" the seniors serving you. it was a fundraiser for Project Graduation and it was fun because my kid was an angel during the whole thing! i know i'm totally jinxing myself here, but i have to say it. he was GOOD! the whole time we were there! even starving! j/k! i fed him. eventually.

i can't even tell you how excited i was. it was his first night time outing, after bed time (excluding Christmas Eve and that didn't count really cuz he was getting sick). needless to say, first outing: a success.

you tell me... does this look like a cranky baby to you?


i think not.

Happy Valentine's!

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we leave tomorrow!

we are ready to go. i already miss my Monkey and we haven't even left yet. there were a few topics i wanted to go over this week but every time i thought of one, i didn't write it down and now i've forgotten.

i do remember one was to talk about how my little explorer is moving around a lot more now. he's figuring out the mechanics of sliding doors... clapping and dancing along with music (so cute when he does that)... saying mamamamama... and taking a lot more steps!

this weekend the Monkey will be breaking up his time between the grandma's. two nites with Mamalane and two nites with Nana. what can i say? i got a popular kid. packing for him was harder than packing for myself. good god, this kid needs a lot o' stuff!

i'm kinda just rambling at this point. i need to get some sleep. it's 10:00 now and our flight is at 6:40am!

weekend update/recap

friday - had dinner with Nana. we weren't in a real rush to get home, but i was starving, so she fed us. by the time we got home, there was a little playtime with Daddy then off to bed.

notice, i have nothing else to say unless it involves the kid. you don't wanna hear about my day at work. trust me.

saturday - we were stuck inside all day. nasty weather makes for a really long day with baby. so, we played chase and attempted more signing and i swear he said, "Mom"! we had a good time.

sunday - Monkey and i planned on going out to the WUWU, but it was way too cold to get him out of the house. i went alone. as much as everyone was happy to see me, they were equally upset they didn't get to see him. that was the whole point of going, after all.

since he wasn't there, i helped out. Pollie is getting her share of bananas so i better be tasting some banana nut bread in my near future. it's a passing tradition. the shelters won't accept any of the fruit so we all divvy it up. i made out like a bandit, this year - animal crackers, two loaves of bread, hot dog buns, two crates of bananas, other stuff to snack on for the year!

oh, and p.s. - he took more steps! he's on his way. just a matter o time before he's running away from mommy kisses. =(