Happy 19 Months Luke!

Every month that passes, you show how "big" you are getting, and this moth was no exception. You are a month closer to two years old, and you let us know every day that you are really a little boy.

You really do enjoy your toys, and one of your favorites is the "gumball" machine below. You like to put all sorts of toys inside it, and then get them out (or get us to get them out!). You also really enjoy playing with your cars.

This year was your first opportunity to really hunt eggs at Easter. You loved it! It is right up your alley because you love to put things into containers, so putting the eggs in the basket was an easy and fun task for you! You also enjoyed eating the candy inside the eggs. :)

You continue to love to sing, and this month you've gotten even more vocal. When "Let it Go" comes on in the car, you literally yell "GO" at the appropriate times. You get SO excited and you are incredibly enthusiastic about singing. 

You started coloring this month. I don't know what it is about coloring, but seeing you do that really made me think about how big you are getting. Your speech continues to remind me how big you are getting as well. You say so many things, and you respond to us (even when we ask you to do things in Spanish sometimes!). 

You also learned how to climb into our chairs on onto our couch this month. You are SO proud once you get in the chair or on the couch. Once you get up there, you often want to stand, so it has been a little bit of a trying time as we remind you that you can't stand up in the chair or on the couch. You love sitting with your siblings, especially Ella (probably because she doesn't get in your face as much as Troy does). Troy wears on your nerves at times, I think partially because he really loves to give hugs and kisses, and you don't seem to care for that very much.

One of your absolute favorite things to do is to "wrestle" with Daddy, Ella, and Troy. In fact, you'll even try to initiate it if someone is sitting on the floor by going and jumping on them. You also like to try to play hide and seek, and you will also try to play duck-duck-goose. I got a video of you trying to play duck-duck-goose below.

Luke playing duck duck goose from Lisa Kennedy on Vimeo.

Signs you do: more, finished, thank you, hungry, thirsty, please, sleepy

Body parts you can identify: nose, ears, mouth, eyes (I'm sure you can probably identify more, but I didn't do a good job noting it)

Animal noises you make: cow, (I think you can do more, but I didn't take good note. . . .)

Favorite foods: Yogurt, chicken (especially chicken nuggets/strips), nutrigrain bars, donuts, mac and cheese, and foods you get to eat with a fork

Favorite activities/toys: Books, balls, little figurines (like Mickey Mouse), cars, buckle stuffed lion. You love to "put things in things" as well as throwing. You also love to play chase with the other kids. You like to chase after Reeses as well, but she's not to sure about that. : ) You also enjoy shutting doors and drawers. You also love to play peek-a-boo! You really love singing as well! One of your favorite things to do is to "wrestle" with your dad and siblings.

Words you say: I cannot keep up with the words you say anymore! You say so many things!

Luke @ 18 months
Troy @ 19 months
Ella @ 19 months

Happy 19 Months Troy!

It is hard to believe how quickly you are approaching 2 years old! You still seem so young (I think because you are young compared to your older sister), yet also like you are getting so big!

You are quite the talker. You talk really fast, and though we understand a lot of what you say, you often talk so fast we don’t know what you are saying. You do speak in sentences . . . often it is something like “I want a cheez-it!” or “I need a bite!” (and, yes, you actually say “cheez-it”). You continue to do a good job communicating with us even if it isn’t with words.

You still aren’t a fan of car rides, but you are more content when we let you watch a movie. You LOVE watching “Finding Nemo.” When you get in the car you often say “Mo, Mo” (for “nemo”). You also are not a fan of going out to eat. We *think* maybe that you don’t like all the busy activity going on around you, combined with the fact that you can’t get down and “go!”

You really enjoy playing with bubbles. In fact, when you used to be sad when we would drop you off at Bible class, the teachers could easily distract you with the bubbles!

You’ve started becoming more interested in coloring/drawing, but it doesn’t hold your attention for long. You are quite the goofball – you love to get everyone’s attention by doing silly things. You are very interested in “things” – you are a hands on kind of guy. When I took your 18 month pictures, you collected a bunch of rocks and put them on the box I brought for you to sit on. You are also getting pretty good at putting these toy pegs we have together.

You continue to love playing with the dogs. You’ll chase both of them around, but Ali is patient enough to let you lay by her when you are sleepy. It is so sweet!

You got your first big bump on your head this month. You took it like a trooper though!

 

Signs you do: more, finished, milk, hungry, thank you, please, thirsty, sleepy, bath

Words you say: No way I can even count or name them! You say so many things!

Animal noises you make: chicken, duck, cow, dog {although you prefer to say “quack, quack!” the first time we ask you about most animal noises}

Body parts you identify: nose, eyes, mouth, ears, hair, head, hands, belly, teeth, tongue

Favorite foods: You are still a finicky eater in that one day you like something and the next you don’t. Generally, your favorites are banana, beans, cheese, and crackers (although the type of cracker changes . . . }

Favorite activities: walking (and pretty much running!) and exploring everything, especially following Ella or chasing a dog; reading books; watching Blue’s Clues or Finding Nemo; taking baths; playing with balls (you love to throw any kind of ball); playing outside; playing with toys, especially talking on the phone or putting things over your head or playing with the kitchen stuff; trying get any electronics or drinks you can spot.

Troy @ 18 months

Ella @ 19 months

Happy 19 Months Ella!

Happy 19 Months Ella!

You are growing up so fast! I'm honestly having a hard time believing that you are 19 months old (and that baby brother is due in less than a month, but that's a different story!).  I am absolutely floored by how much you are learning every day. I'm amazed at the new ways you make me smile every day. I'm also amazed at the ways you can test my patience, but I know that testing my patience is helping me to grow as a parent, and I hope that I have the patience I need to handle the different situations you throw my way - especially when I consider that these situations are only going to get more complicated as you grow up. I love the challenge you bring to my life!

You really are very sweet, and you melt my heart often. We always give you a goodnight kiss (and a kiss when we lay you down for a nap), and if we don't give it to you quick enough, you'll say "kiss, kiss." It is so absolutely precious!

I've also been amazed at how you have learned to "pretend" this month. You'll use a spoon and bowl to "mix" or you'll feed your monkey or you'll put lipstick on me, daddy, Ali, or Reeses (thankfully, we have some patient dogs!).

We've had a Mr. Potato Head toy sitting around our house for a while, waiting for you to be old enough to have (although I think you could have used him a while ago, I just really thought about it!). You absolutely love playing with him - especially his glasses! You also have a book called "I Love You Stinky Face" and when we get to the part with the skunk, you pinch your noise. Too cute!

New words or words with a special meaning this month . . .

• "Maymen" aka "Amen": We've been really working on learning to be quiet when we pray and putting our hands together to be still. You figured out that when the phrase "In Jesus Name" is said that "Amen" follows, and you often shout out "maymen!" Sometimes, if the prayer is long, or perhaps there is a pause, you'll even voice your "maymen" early which we think is quite funny.
• "Stuck": After getting in your old Bumbo chair at our friends' house and getting "stuck" you learned the meaning of this word. It has become a favorite over the past few days - you'll say that you are stuck if you get your rocking chair pushed up against something or if you are buckled in your carseat  and want out of your high chair.
• "Rock": You may have been saying this at the end of last month - I'm not 100% sure - but you love to get in your rocking chair and say "rock, rock." You'll also sit in my lap (or even get in my chair on your own) and say "rock, rock." You also enjoy getting on your rocking horse and saying "rock, rock." You even put your monkey in your rocking chair and said to him "rock, rock."
• "Ice, Ice, Baby": Ok, technically you've been able to say "ice" and "baby" for a while, but your dad has taught you to say "Ice, Ice, Baby!" when you see someone with ice or you want some. It is pretty funny!
• "Bubbles": You love the bubbles in your bath, but you also love the bubbles game on our phones! You'll come over and ask to play by saying "bubbles, bubbles!"
• "Train": We live in a town full of trains, and there is a track right by my favorite store, Target (we joke it is Ella's second or third home), and you love to see the train go by there.

Signs you do:thank you, please, milk, bath, thirsty, hungry (eat), more, finished (I honestly haven't tried to teach you anymore lately - I really should!)


Words you say:I can't even attempt to name all the words you say!


Animal noises you can make:owl, cow, sheep, puppy/dog, horse, bee, cat, frog


Body parts you identify:head, hair, nose, ears, eyes (and now you can "close" your eyes by squinting them together), tongue, feet, toes, cheeks, belly, belly button, hands, teeth, knees, fingers

Favorite foods:peaches, banana, guacamole, tortilla, eggs, broccoli, noodles with meat and red sauce, chicken nuggets