16 Months

Everyday is a new adventure over here. 

-He now can reach over the tops of the counters and frequently does.

-Words: hi! (said many times a day), mom, dad, play, ball, phone (sounds very similar to ball), catch it, throw it, all done, buh-bye, 'side, cracker, no (doe)
-He nods his head instead of saying yes. 
-Everything he says lately ends in "play?"
-When we go outside he does one of three things- heads for one of our cars to climb inside, goes towards any dirt patch to play, or heads towards the tractor.
-He's not shy but takes a little bit to warm up sometimes.
-He loves to play "I'm gonna get you" and runs to either the couch giggling away, or to the stairs to stop on the bottom step.
-He's climbing on everything
-He's trying to walk up the steps instead of crawling up.  He'll wait for me, then put his hands up so I can hold them while he walks up
-He runs to the door and cries everytime Aaron leaves
-He's copying everything we do
-I took out my camera yesterday, and he made this cheese face- that was the first time he's ever done that
-Loves to play catch, I'm trying to teach him that he shouldn't throw all his toys, only balls.  It's not going too well.
-He loves to play his piano, and "conduct"
-He's very good at playing by himself as long as I'm within view
-Anytime he wants something he'll say "uhh-uhh".  I'm working on getting him to say "help"
-He sleeps with his teddybear.  Two nights ago I walked in his room to check on him and he was sitting up in bed and asked me his version of "where is it?", he was looking for his teddy.
-He's stingy with hugs and kisses but occasionally will give them without prompting
-He loves fruit.
-He usually sleeps from about 7:30-7:30.  He takes one nap a day, usually in the morning.  I'm trying to change that to the afternoon

He's just a joy and we love him more everyday.  This stage is so much fun.

I Learned Today

That you can substitute beef broth for chicken broth in chicken tortilla soup and no one will even notice. 

(Pictures from yesterday when Kelli baby-sat Walker for Aaron and I)



August

And now I think I'm caught up on pictures for the summer! :)

July

June in Pictures

Moments

Sometimes you can close your eyes and be back in the moments that have changed your life. 
Some of these moments are hard, some are happy.  I was going to write about both in this post, but the hard ones didn't seem to have a place here.  So here are some of my favorite happy moments that changed me.

Watching Aaron's face as I told him- I'm thinking that I love you.  And seeing his eyes shine and his smile start as he responded, I love you too.  Feeling the smile on face- and the feeling of being so blessed to have that.  To have that one person that you know is it for you, and the wonder that he feels the same way.

Watching the man of my dreams get down on one knee outside his truck.  I can see the stars shining, feel the cold vibrating through me and the joy...  the joy :)

Watching the minister sweat through our wedding ceremony.  Trying to wipe my nose without being obvious about it.  Getting choked up in the middle of repeating my vows.  Walking back down the aisle with my husband.  Getting a hug and a kiss from her son in the receiving line.

Making it through the labor and delivery process and seeing my baby boy for the first time.  That tiny child that belonged to me.  Seeing my husband's tears through my own and feeling that overwhelming love.  I told people afterwards that you know you will love your child before they are born, but what you don't realize is that when this little person arrives you instantly will lay your life down for them. 

I've been thinking about that last one a lot lately.  We are going to be able to experience another moment like that in February when Walker becomes a big brother.