14 Months

Hi Sweet Boy,

This month you've had lots of fun playing outside in the rain, splashing in puddles and finding worms.  The first time you found a worm, we moved it from the sidewalk to a patch of dirt in our yard.  Now, whenever you find one, you insist that it has to go in the same place . . . even if we find it blocks away from our house.  Once we put the worms in the dirt, you wave and tell them bye-bye. 

You also got to enjoy some snow one day last week.  You seemed puzzled and a little cautious at first, but soon you were helping Papa and Oce build a tiny snowman. 

  

Best buddies.  

 Bonding with Grammy.

 A feast of blueberries on Thanksgiving Day.

 Two little musicians.

 

Had to include this one . . .  :-(

My favorite story from this month . . .

You and I went Moon Hunting one night.  We found it, and then it disappeared again behind some clouds. You held up both hands to ask "Where did it go?" Then you waved and said, "bye-bye, bye-bye" over and over. We walked around the neighborhood keeping our eyes on the sky, and eventually we saw it again, which brought a huge smile to your face, just before you fell asleep in my arms. 

New skills -

You pulled out your little potty chair one morning and pointed to your pants, so I pulled them down, along with your diaper.  You sat down and peed in the potty.   Just like that.  It hasn't happened again since then, but I was pretty amazed. 

You've been really interested in matching.  You have a truck book, a truck puzzle and matchbox cars, and you like to find the ones that match (like the matchbox dump truck and the dump truck in the book).  

Also, you're really good at nodding yes and no in answer to questions.  When you nod yes, you make a kind of snorting "hmmmph" sound for emphasis.  For example, "Teo, do you want to go see Grammy?"  "Hmmmph!" (big nod).  Well, interestingly, this is exactly what Auntie Sarah's dog, Bella, does to say yes. . .  "Bella, do you want to go outside?"  "Hmmmph!" (big nod).  It's quite possible that Bella taught you to do this.  However you learned it, though, it certainly makes it easier to find out your opinion.

And you DO have an opinion about many things.  Songs, for instance.  Lately, when I start singing a song, you'll shake your head "no" and do the sign for "more" if it isn't the song you want to hear.  Today, while we were driving in the car, I could see you in the mirror shaking your head every time I started a song . . . "Row, row, row"  NO  "Twinkle, twink . . "  NO  "I'm a little teapot"  NO.  Holy cow, I know a lot of kids' songs, and it took me forever to stumble upon "My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean."

Well, kiddo, that's it for now.   We love you!

Mama

13 Months - Happy Halloween!

Ahoy, Little Pirate!

You are doing so many new things these days, it's hard to keep track of them!  You are talking more and more.  Truck (guk) is still your favorite word, but now you also say more (mo), bug, broccoli (broc), ball, and book.

Speaking of books . . . you LOVE them.  Books and music are two of your favorite things.  You've developed a cute little dance, rocking side to side with your knees locked.  Papa and I have been taking you to Family Music Time at the library every weekend.  At first the big group made you nervous, but now you clap and dance to the music. 

We went on our first family camping trip this month at Beverly Beach.  We spent a couple of hours playing in the sand.  You were so interested in the sand, kelp, rocks, kids, dogs, etc, that I don't think you really noticed the ocean itself. 

You are still a great little helper.  You get out your broom at least once a day and you look for any little scrap of paper to put in the trash.  Today when we were done playing with your train set, you put the pieces back in the box - your idea.  Really, this is too easy! 

Papa surprised you with a little red wagon.  Perfect for long autumn walks.

 With Auntie Sarah and Oceana.  Oce is obviously your hero.  You adore her and copy her every move, which sometimes pleases her and sometimes exasperates her. 

The Pumpkin Patch at Lone Pine Farms.

 

The pumpkin surfer I carved to surprise your papa.

Happy Halloween!

We love you, buddy!

Your First Birthday Party

On the day you were born, 

the Earth turned, the Moon pulled,

the Sun flared, and, then, with a push,

you slipped out of the dark quiet

where suddenly you could hear . . . 

. . . a circle of people singing 

with voices familiar and clear

"We are so glad you've come!"

-Debra Frasier

Dear Teo, 

For your first birthday party, we rented the swimming pool and a room at Tamarack Wellness Center.  We met in the room for snacks and presents and then headed to the pool.  Lots of friends joined us to celebrate. Auntie Sarah and Oceana helped with the setup and clean up, and Kelli G took these photos of your special day:

 Birthday boy!

 Make a wish! 

Zucchini mini cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

 Oceana helped bake the cupcakes (and eat them!).

 With papa.

 Julian (in awe of something), and his mama, April

 Oliver says, "Yeah!  I like parties!"

 Friends in the pool.

Kayla.

 Karena with Elsa and Adam

 Blair and Naomi

 Oceana with her buddy, Julie

 Watsu with Auntie Sarah

Elsa and Abigail

 Colton and his sister, Mady

Oceana: Goddess of the Sea

Peaceful after an hour in the pool.

 Our family.

12th Month - Your First Word!

 

Dear Teo, 

I'm going to post about your birthday itself soon, but I wanted to write a little about your 12th month, first.  You are a real walker, now, and that's not all . . . You sometimes run, which scares the heck out of me.  You can also OPEN THE FRONT DOOR!  

Once you get the door open, there are four places you generally go - to grammy's house, to the watering can and garden hose (you do water play just about every day), to the garden to pick cherry tomatoes which you like to squish the juice out of and then feed to me, or to the end of the driveway to look for trucks and buses going by on the street.  

Which leads me to the other awesome development this month - you are officially talking.  Your first word (besides mama, bapa and bye-bye) is TRUCK, pronounced "chrck" and said with awe and urgency.  There was road construction outside our house a couple of weeks ago, and you were fascinated.  Even now, when you wake up in the morning, you lead me outside first thing trying to spot a "chrck" or a "bu" (bus). 

Transportation seems to be the theme these days.  Your favorite things to play with are grammy's matchbox cars and your Thomas the Train stuff.  

Your other great interest is . . . cleaning!  Really.  You just go around cleaning things.  You like to pick up leaves off the driveway and throw them into the flower bed (usually with an enthusiastic "Yaaa!" sound, as though you are heroically vanquishing the foe of messiness).  When you are done eating, you like to wipe your high chair with a wash cloth.  I took you to a picnic today, and you diligently picked up napkins and threw them into the trash can (not my suggestion, at all.  I didn't even show you where the trash can was.).  Seriously, this love of cleaning must be genetic, and you didn't get it from my side!  :0)

I love you once, I love you twice,

I love you more than beans and rice,

I love you more then earth or sun,

Te amo, bebe, little one!

-Lisa Wheeler

A few photos from your 12th month: 

 

With Auntie Sarah (Ra-ra)

Driving the tractor at Thistledown Farm.

Dancin' in your underwear. 

Eating a "grammy cracker" with your Grammy.

Sink bath (why haven't I been bathing you this way all along?  So easy!).

Summer Vacation, Part II - Rancho La Lomita

After leaving Kansas City, we headed south to Hugo, Oklahoma, where your Opapa and his wife, Mary Louise live on their ranch.  What a beautiful place this is - peaceful, quiet except for the steady drone of the cicadas.  It was over 100 degrees each day, so we didn't spend a lot of time outside, but we did take walks when it cooled off in the evening, looking for fireflies and rarely seeing a car. 

You warmed up to Opapa and Mary Louise right away.   Opapa gave you some of his Native American artifacts, including some arrowheads, a ceremonial fan he made himself, and some sticks used for a children's ball game.  He let you pick out a fetish, and you chose this little bear. 

When he gave you these things, he mentioned that this is the Native American way.  We carry things with us for a while, and then we pass them on.  Opapa also gave you a book he put together with documents and photos of your ancestors, and a family tree.  I think as you grow, he will have a lot of wisdom to share with you.

Mary Louise shared her gift of cooking with us, serving a wonderful Thanksgiving style meal one night, and filling us up with rich delicious food at every meal.  She also gave me some cooking lessons.  She has a very kind and gentle spirit. 

You enjoyed the animals on the ranch, especially Opapa's dog, Blue.  You liked watching the two miniature donkeys, Osito and Little Joe, although when we set you on Osito, you seemed a little skeptical.  These guys were nothing compared to the two longhorn bulls, Boris and Igor . . . they were truly intimidating (unless you are Mary Louise, and then they are pets). 

You also got to meet your Uncle Dan and your Great Aunt and Uncle, Jane and Jimmy.  I think everyone really enjoyed getting to know you.  When it was time to leave, Opapa and Mary Louise joked that they wanted to just keep you there and buy you a pony.  Maybe the next time we make it out there to visit, they really will have a pony for you to ride!