Paging Dr. Andrew, Paging Dr. Andrew

Dearest Andrew,

Happy Halloween! As you can see, you were a doctor this year, and truly the cutest doctor ever!  Right now my little doctor is lying on me, making it hard to type.  You are so silly!  I love my little guy so much!  Although you are too young for trick or treating, I wanted you to have a cute little costume!  But don't worry, Mommy made sure to still get you a couple of treats for tonight! :) 

I love my little doctor man! 

Love,

Mommy

My 16 Month Old Talking Toddler

Dearest Andrew,
Another month has come and gone just like that!  I can’t believe how fast you are growing, the months just fly by!  If this month had a theme, it would be talking!  You are talk, talk, talking!!!  I don’t think I have written down every word you have said, but I have tried to.  I got a calendar and am trying to remember to write everything down.  Here is what you have said this month:

• “Hiiii!” – you said it just like Mommy said it.  Very cute!
• Baby – you pointed to a picture of a baby and said “baby”. 
• Outside – you LOVE to go outside! 
• Bye – you waved bye and said bye for the first time.
• Shoe – you said this while Mommy was putting on your shoes.
• Uh-oh – you dropped something and said uh-oh using it correctly.  You also say this when dropping things on purpose.   Mommy always tells you that’s not uh-oh, that’s “on-purpose-oh”.  Hehe. 
• Go away – you said this after Mommy said this to the tiny little bumps you have on your forehead.  I kept trying to get you to say it again, but Daddy said maybe I shouldn’t teach you that one. 

Here is a list of a few other things you did this month:

• You also used the word baby to talk about a stuffed animal you were holding.  You kissed your “baby” and said baby.   
• When Mommy gets you up from your nap I say, “Pacifier down” and you put your pacifier(s) down and reach up for Mommy to pick you up.  You are really starting to understand a lot of things!
• We went out to eat and gave you a few fries and a little ketchup and taught you how to dip your fries.  You caught on right away and really enjoyed it!  You even like to dip your Gerber Little Crunchies into ketchup.  Hehe.
• We bought you your first piece of 2T clothing.  It is your winter coat.  It’s a bit big on you, but it’s cute!  I couldn’t believe we had to buy it in 2T!  You are still in 12-18 months clothing for the most part and can even wear t-shirts that are 12 months.  I bet you will be in your 18-24 month pants before I know it!
• The biggest thing you did this month was something Mommy should have had you do a LONG time ago!  We kept you on formula for breakfast until this month.  I took you off your formula/bottle and you didn’t even care.  You went straight to all milk in a sippy cup with no problem!  You continue to amaze me with how cooperative you are!
• You like to step on the bathroom scale and according to it, you weigh 26lbs. 

Well, I guess that is all for this month.  I will continue to try and write down what you are saying and doing.  It’s a lot to keep up with, but I love it! I love you bug, thanks for making Mommy’s life so very wonderful!

Love,

Mommy

PS - This picture is from the day after you turned 16 months.  You were at the pumpkin patch with your cousins.  You sure had a lot of fun! :)

Cute Kids Need Cute Shoes

Dearest Andrew,

This post goes out to your Mimi.  Your Mimi loves shoes!!!  She bought you the cute Vans in the picture.  This is your fall (and hopefully winter) line-up of shoes.  We have your Converse, Sperry Topsiders, Stride Rite, and Vans.  You have some slick shoes little guy!  We found out while we were in Kansas City (before Mommy got sick, but that's a story for another time) that you indeed have a wide foot, so we need to buy you shoes that come in wide widths.  Fortunately  we were able to buy your shoes on sale at an outlet mall and even though your foot is a bit wide, you can still fit the ultra-cool Vans and Converse.  I know this post will probably never mean anything to you (you will probably be like, "Seriously Mom, you blogged about shoes???), but trust me honey, it's a girl thing.  Mommy and Mimi love shoes, especially on a cool kiddo such as you. 

Alright, I guess that is all for now!  I love you very, very much!

Love,
Mommy

A Little Like Mommy

Dearest Andrew,

Well, forget everything else that Mommy said was the "cutest thing" because here is the real deal.  I can't watch this without a big grin on my face.  Here you are "talking" on the phone.  Although I was told you learned this from your cousin Zane, that talking gene came from Mommy without a doubt! :)

Love,
Mommy

Running, Kissing, and Being 15 Months Old

Dearest Andrew,

My, my, how time has flown!  Mommy doesn’t have as much time to write on here anymore.  Why you may ask?  Maybe because someone is a full-blown toddler!  Hehe!  You are one active little boy! You fill my day with such joy.  It’s hard to write down every little thing that you do these days.  It was easier when you know, you were still, but I LOVE the way you are!  You are enjoying life to the fullest and I am too!  I can’t thank God enough for you and allowing me to stay home with you! Last month I did a list and that seemed to work well, so I will do something similar this time.  Here are the top ten moments of the past month.  They are not in chronological order, but in order of Mommy’s “Awwww!” factor!  Hehe!

10. My Son Knows Good Music When He Hears It!  Here is a post from Facebook dated August 26, 2012.  “We were at Baja Jacks eating dinner tonight and there was an assortment of secular music playing with no reaction from Andrew. Right before we left, "Hold Me" by Jamie Grace came on and Andrew starting smiling and clapping along. He knows good music when he hears it. :)”  Oh yeah, that’s mama’s boy! 

9. Freedom! Jennifer and I spent the day together just running around town and I had my best little buddy with me.  She had to go to Lowe’s (Lowe's???  Really??? Hehe)  to get something and I decided to let you walk with me.  The aisles were big, there was no one around, so I let you walk on your own.  Oh did you ever have a blast!!! It was so fun to watch you have a tiny bit of freedom, that I bet to you, felt like a ton!

8. More and More Like Your Daddy…  So, I got you a bath toy that is a boat with fish, a fisherman, and all kinds of cute accessories.  You really enjoy playing with it during bath time.  When the bath is over I will say, “Are you ready to get out?”  You then take your boat and start, you’re never going to believe this, putting your toys in the boat!!!  That’s right, my toddler son is cleaning up after himself.  Now, you don’t do this with your other toys, but still!  It is sooo, you guessed it, CUTE!!!  I think you enjoy that as much as you do your bath.  Sigh…I definitely have a Joe Jr. on my hands.  :)

7. Ardmore and Cousins  We went down to Ardmore in August to celebrate Papa and Grandad’s birthdays.  Papa (and Mimi and Pop for that matter) turned 60 this year and Grandad turned 85.  Gi Gi had a big dinner for them and your Uncle Michael and Aunt Aimee came, and Uncle Stevie came with your cousins.  You haven’t got to see them too much, and really haven’t been around kids that much at all.  But ohhhhh, what fun you had!  You enjoyed every second playing with your cousins!  Your face was lit up the entire weekend.  I am so glad you have them in your life!

6. Discovering the Joy of Pizza!  While in Ardmore, you got to have your first real taste of Pizza.  You have had it before, but just teeny bites.  We went to one of the best pizza places ever called Ten Star and I think you ate an entire slice of pizza!  It wasn’t very big, but still!  It was fun to watch you eating “big people food” and even more fun to watch you enjoy it so much!

5. More and More Like Your Daddy Part II  See previous blog.  :)  Andrew + Sippy Cup + Tray = Daddy 2.0.

4. That Crazy Bath Dance!  Oh, the bath dance!  I can’t tell you how much I love the bath dance!  It could cheer the gloomiest of people.  For months now, Mommy and Daddy sing to you when it’s time for your bath.  It’s silly, but it goes something like this, “Somebody likes their baaath!  Somebody likes their baaath!...”  Original, I know.  As you can see, a lot of hard work went into the lyrics, hehe, but when you hear that sing-songy tune, you get SO excited and start bending up and down with your knees and clapping.  It’s hilarious!  Do I have this on video?  You bet I do.  Will I share it with the general public?  Doubtful.  I sound like a complete loon on the video, but you love every minute of it!  You don’t care that your mommy is a loon!  Hehe :)

3. Learning the Ways of the Spoon  Mama, Grandma, and I think Mimi are all letting you experiment with using a spoon.  Although you don’t fully get it, you are sure trying and having a blast doing it.  It’s more play for you right now, but it won’t be long until you are feeding yourself.  It’s easiest to try it with Greek yogurt because it’s so thick and won’t fall off the spoon.  One more way that my little boy is growing up!  Sob!

2. My Little Running Man!  Well, it’s happened!  My little baby that used to lie so still in my arms, is not only walking, but is now running!!!  Double sob!  You are one fast little booger too!  It’s too cute (yes, Mommy says “cute” a lot, but that’s just what you are!) and I love watching you enjoy a bit more freedom.  We have to be even more careful now and watch you that much closer, but I love watching you learn new things and this one especially.  You are growing up right before my eyes. 

1. Kiss, Kiss, Kiss!  So, what could possibly top all of that?  Well, I have to say this has to be one of my top 5 favorite Andrew moments of all time.  I was leaving the other night and I was holding you and praying for you before I left.  I had my eyes closed and was holding you close when I felt a small wetness on my cheek.  Daddy was right there watching and said, “He just kissed you!”  (!!!!!!!!!!!!) ß That is what Mommy felt.  I was SO excited!  My heart just melted away!  This was the very first time you kissed someone and it was ME!!!  Sigh, it was such a wonderful experience.  You are just the sweetest little man ever! 

Well, I guess that about wraps up the past month in the life of Andrew.  It has been yet another great month!  I have enjoyed every second of every day since you came into my life.  Life isn’t always perfect, but it’s so much better with you around!  I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mommy

Andrew & the Sippy Cup

Dearest Andrew,

You are such a funny kid. Seriously. Take your sippy cup for example. If I put it on your tray, but not in the cup holder, you pick it up and put it there. Every time!!! Where did this come from??? You are only 14 months old for crying out loud! Hehe! It really is this cutest thing! This must be your father coming out in you. Although Mommy likes things clean and organized, I am nothing like Daddy. Sigh, it appears I will have two neat freaks on my hands. Although, you aren't too tidy with your toys. There's a bit of Mommy in you somewhere! Hehe. Oh well, perhaps we'll have the cleanest house on block. I think I can handle that.

I sure love my little organized man!

Love,

Mommy

My Little 14th Month Old (And Happy Birthday Aunt Jenn!)

Dearest Andrew,

Today you are 14 months old.  Wait…didn’t you just turn 13 months old, yesterday???  I’m pretty sure you did.  Sigh… Well, this has been a big month for you little man.  You have done so much, that I am going to put it in a list format instead of paragraph, otherwise we’ll be here forever!  Hehe!  Some of these things have already been mentioned in previous posts, but this has what has happened the past month in a nut shell.

• You have started pointing to things you want.  It is so cute and SO helpful!  When you want yogurt, you point to yogurt.  When you want a drink, you point to your drink.  No more guessing games for Mommy.  You are communicating with me!  I love this!
• You had your very first haircut!  Oh my, I was so (beyond!!!) nervous, but you look ADORABLE with your new haircut!  Grandma and Mimi were not too thrilled that we cut off all your curls, but it needed to be done.  As Mimi says, you no longer look like a baby.  You did right up until your hair was cut, but it instantly aged you.  Nonetheless, you are one handsome little dude.
• With your first haircut came your very first sucker.  The stylist asked if you wanted a sucker and I was like, “Uh, well…he’s never had one.”  Daddy and I agreed you could have one under a very watchful eye and if you started to crunch on it, it would have to go.  As soon as you put that sucker in your mouth (it was a cherry Dum Dum) you were in L-O-V-E!!!  You didn’t dare try to bite that thing, you couldn’t get enough of it!  You sucked that thing out of existence!  When I pulled it out of your mouth, it was no bigger than a pencil eraser.  You haven’t had one since (the idea of that sugar sitting on your teeth bugs me), but it was a rare treat you thoroughly enjoyed!
• You celebrated birthdays with Mommy and Daddy.  We had such a great time celebrating with just our little family.
• You got to draw for the first time, with help of course.  Mimi helped you make three signs for Mommy’s birthday that simply melted my heart.  It was so beautiful!  Then I helped you draw all over Daddy’s birthday card and I think his heart melted too.  Hehe!
• You said your 4^th and 5^th words.  First came “hello” where you put an object that looks similar to a phone up to your ear and say hello!  SOOO cute!    Your 5^th word was “light”.  You say this one ALL the time!  You point to lights and light fixtures that aren’t even turned on (even some lamps) and say “ight”.  Okay, that is SOOO cute too!  Hehe!
• You…started…dancing!!!  Oh help me Rhonda!  That has got to be the CUTEST thing I have ever seen.  I can’t even describe the cuteness factor here, it is off the charts!  Sigh…
• You started drinking from a straw and can now drink all by yourself!  What a milestone!  We switched to sippy cups with straws in them and you are doing such a great job with them.
• Your walking has improved so much, I can now walk with you while holding your hand.  This includes walking to the car.  This is super helpful because I usually have a few things I am carrying to the car.  You are slow, but you are very steady on your feet.  On your own though, you are one fast little guy!  I swear any day now, you are going to take off running!

Okay, well I think that is it…I think.  I may think of something else, but like I said, it was a big month for you!  You are growing up so very fast!  I always post a picture of you on the day you turned another month older and today I took pictures of you holding a sign for Mommy's best friend Jennifer's birthday.  As you can see, you are very good at sitting still (NOT!).  Hehe!  Fortunately, Super Grover was willing to step in and save the day!  He was able to sit very still!  I guess he is a super hero after all.  Anyway, we call her Aunt Jenn (well, you don't, not yet anyway), even though she is technically not your aunt.  However, Jenn and I are very close and it feels like she is my sister.  I love her so much and I can tell you do too.  

Okay, well here’s looking forward to a great 14^th month!  I love you Andrew!

Love,

Mommy