A few extra things

Here are a few extra thing you do that I think are so cute! You have always loved the car. touching buttons, knobs, climbing over the seats. But lately you want to DRIVE. You climb in the drivers seat and ask me to put the keys in and turn it on so the radio plays. Once you have music you turn that steering wheel back and forth and every once in a while you move the shifter. You have seen Papa and Mama drive that way and you want to too! It is so fun to watch your understanding of objects, and concepts grow.

Last night you actually asked for a hair cut! We had been talking about cutting your blonde wispy hair for a few days. Last night before you would get in the tub you found Papa's clippers and brought them to him. Then you stood there and let him cut your hair! You were so patient and calm! The noise didn't frighten you, the clippers touching your head didn't bother you! You were such a big boy! Now you have a hair cut that makes you look so much older!

Sunday we went to a Fourth of July picnic. They had big inflatable rides, and cotton candy, snow-cones, cookies, and a live puppet show! You had such a great time. You watched intently the puppet show and clapped along with them, you (Papa and Mama) helped you slide down a huge tall inflatable slide and you ate junk food all afternoon! Then a band came on stage and the concert started! You ran right up front and danced and jumped to the music. We had a blast!

I am loving watching you grow up and seeing the new personality that comes out in you!

Love always,
Mama

18 mths

I can't belileve it is offically a year and a half. So much has happened! Recently you have been sick a lot since your started daycare. But inbetween illnesses you are giggling and exploritive! You babble more and more and I can tell when you are asking a question because you turn your hands up and shrug your shoulders. You love your Papa, he is tough on you but he also showers you with love and fun! I am you comfortor and your cheerleader one look from you and I melt!

Your Papa and Grandpa built a jungle gym for you in the back yard. It has a fort, a slide, a swing, and a sand box! You love climbing on it. The slide is a bit steep and you fly down it almost catching air! But you will grow into it!

We went swimming at Namma's you will not let us put any type of float device on you, but you love the water. You spent most of your time on the raft playing in the water on top of the raft and getting on and getting off the raft.

Your Auntie T came to visit you this month. You warmed up to her and the two of you played especially in the mornings. You swam together in the hot tub and played chase through the house.

I feel like the next coming months will bring so many changes. I can't wait to see what though changes will bring. I can see you becoming a little boy! I pray for you daily that you will be healthy, that we will be wise parents, that God provides for us and that you will come to trust in the Lord.

You are a joy and a challenge and your Papa and I love you!

Mama

DayCare

This is your second week in DayCare at MudPies and Music. I am so impressed how well you have adjusted to the schedule, even though you only go three days a week. You really seem to like being there. This Daycare has a "Nanny Cam" so I can check in on you throughout the day, which I LOVE!!! You play inside and outside on the playground, you do art and sing songs, and eat snacks and take a nap. Outside you like the slide and the tricycles. Inside you carry your "Tigger" around and play with the different toys and the other kids. I am so impressed at how you sit at the table in your own chair and wait patiently for snack or lunch, you take naps on a cot (not a crib) and you lay right down and go to sleep often sleeping through a noisy room.

You have not cried when Chris drops you off and whenever I talk about Daycare at home you perk up. Your babbling has increased, you are more obedient and your outburst have become less! I am so happy that you like daycare and it seems to be a good learning place for you. I still miss you like crazy and want to be with you all the time, but I am proud at how you are growing and capable of adjusting to new things. I hope this is a start to great social skills and a love of school and learning!

Know that we are doing the very best we can for you and that we love you so very very much!

Love,
Mama

17 mths

Chandler, you are 17 months this week. You are definitely growing mentally and emotionally. You are starting those legendary tantrums. You throw them the most for me because you already know your Papa will not allow you to carry on so. When you do not get your way you will list on the ground and wail, sometimes rolling on the floor like an alligator doing its death roll. If I try and hold you you kick and squirm so much that it is hard not to drop you. But the screaming is the worst. But just as bad as the tantrums are you are equally loving and fun! You love the little games and you laugh so freely!

You have started giving kisses. It started in the tub, when I would rinse your hair and the water would run into your face. You would stand up startled and come to me at the side of the tub and give me a kiss, I would wipe your face then it is back to playing with your boats! It is one of the most precious things you do. You and your Papa have a different way to show affection, you head butt. Papa will say "I love you" and you two will put your foreheads together...sometimes a little too hard (still learning body control).

This week you start daycare three days a week. I think it will be a great time for you to be social and to learn. I will post more about how you like daycare at the end of your first week.

Indra is interacting with you more and more. You love that dog and get excited to touch or feed her. She now allows you to hug her and hold her tail and pat her. You still play chase where you try and corner the dog and she still dodges you. I am glad to see that relationship developing!

It is always a joy to love you and watch you grow!

Love
Moma

Chandler 16mths

You turned 16 mths this week. Not a whole lot is different from 15 mths. You still LOVE the outdoors and exploring the car. You are sleeping great and going to bed a lot easier than before, which makes me a happy Mama! I think we are making progress at the talking thing. This week you said something that was very very close to 'Good job" and what I could have sworn was 'Up". These are words we have been saying to you since your birth.

In the mornings now you and I go and wake Papa up before I leave...He seems to be in a better mood when you wake him up than when I do! We all three play on the bed and you crawl over me and Chris to get to the dog who is only trying to find a corner of the bed where you can not reach her.

You have started running, but it is a non-rhythmic stumble/run and your hands are out in the air to steady you. When you get really excited you wave your arms like a baby bird and laugh.

This weekend was Mother's Day. We had a great weekend! Namma and Pap came to visit from Kentucky. We all went out to eat and you had your first Mac and Cheese. You were not sure how you feel about this food. You also made a huge mess at the restaurant when you turned on the soft serve ice cream machine and let it run!!!! (OK a little my fault for not paying attention).

Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's. You played on the back deck and watched all the birds, then we went on a pontoon boat ride. Your first boat ride. You protested wearing the life vest but then settled in sitting on Papa's lap driving the boat. We had an adventure when Papa grounded the boat and he and Grandpa had to get out into the water and push us off the rocks!!! Later that night we played in the hot tub! (water temp was turned down for you). You had a blast playing in the chest-high water and even dunked you face a little bit.

Over all a great weekend of 1st.

Know that you are loved so much by so many people and we are having a blast raising you!

I love you,
Mama

Simple Days

You are 15 1/2 months old. We are enjoying the simple things in life and soaking in the joy that this stage in our life brings. You are very active and intelligent, Maybe every mother thinks this, but you love to figure out what a tool does, or where a key fits, or how something is put together and it usually does not take you long to figure it out!

Your latest favorite past time is exploring the inside of cars. We turn you loose in the car with a set of keys and you go exploring all the buttons, latches, levers and of course where the keys fit! You know which key fits in my car, which key fits Papa's car and Grandma's car!

Chris is playing softball in a men's league and you and I go to watch his games every Monday night. We play in the grass by the field and watch Pap play. We have made friends with the 18 mth boy who is there watching his Paps. You two play in the dirt, take balls away from each other and then give them back and share snacks!

This week we bought you a bunk bed! It is bright blue and has a futon couch that pulls out into a bed on the bottom of the bunk. You are not quite ready to leave your crib yet, but soon. When you really want out of your crib you have started throwing a leg over the rail and can get 3/4 of your body over the railing! Soon you will be tumbling to the floor and we will have to switch you to the futon. I think it will be years of fun!

Life is simple, yet busy! and we are enjoying all the blessings God is bringing our way.

I love you,
Mama

Easter 2010

I was really looking forward to your second Easter because it would be the first one where you could participate int eh family fun! Usually we head up to Kentucky to spend it with Chris' family. After church we all meet up at someone's house and the kids get their Easter baskets and have an Easter egg hunt. But the festivities will have to wait until next year because this year you got sick! Saturday before Easter you got a bad cough and ran a high fever, so we stayed home. But we celebrated with just our family and it was still fun!

Amazingly the Easter bunny still found you and Sunday morning we opened your basket. You ate your first candy bar (bite sized). "Three Musketeers" followed by "Twixx" and "Milky Way". Even though you were feeling badly you still were able to eat chocolate! Later int he day we went out in the back yard and found eggs, filled with more chocolate, that the Easter bunny left for you. You had a great time and so did your Pap and I!!!