13 Months...

My mom begged me to do a 13 month post...so here it is! P has become quite the helper this past month. Every time we are cooking, cleaning, or fixing something around the house, he wants to be right in the mix. He loves when I make him eggs in the morning and let him help stir them. He also loves to push the shopping cart and the stroller, mop the floor, and load the dishwasher. P has also started to give us big, slobbery, wet, open mouth kisses on demand. And his new favorite word is "No". He is watching us say new words and is very interested in mimicking us. He also loves being outside no matter how cold it is. We just love watching our little guy grow!

Catch me if you can!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Birthday!

On P's birthday he got to ride in his big boy seat...

and on a tractor...

and he got to wade through pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.

A few days later, we had a football party!

P was a little timid with his cake at first, so grandpa had to help him...

but it didn't take long before he got the hang of it.

Happy Birthday P!

12 Months...

P came out crying...

(newborn)

But he has been smiling ever since!

(1 month)

(2 months)
(3 months)

(4 months)

(5 months)

(6 months)

(7 months)

(8 months)

(9 months)

(10 months)

(11 months)

(12 months)

Favorite Foods: fruit (bananas, pears, peaches, grapes, mangoes, apples, cherries, etc...he loves them all!), tomatoes, cheese, pasta,

Least Favorite Foods: none...he will try everything at least once

Nicknames: Buggie, bud, stinker, Pastie

Teeth: 8 and no signs of any more coming yet

Words: "mama" and "dada" are consistent, and "NO!" has become his new favorite

Walking: the day after he turned 11 months, he woke up as a full-fledged walker. One day he was crawling and taking a few steps, then the next he refused to crawl any more and walked everywhere. And at this point he can squat down, walk in circles, and kick balls all around the house.

Personality: P is a social butterfly. He loves being around other people, especially other children. He refuses to sit during church and would be perfectly happy if we just let him walk around smiling and flirting with everyone. He throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants. He loves to play games, especially hide and seek and "I'm gonna get you!"

Fun on the slide...

That's what she said.

How to eat off a plate...

It's official...

We have a walker.

State Fair!

A few weeks ago, P went to the State Fair with Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, and Megan.

He got to milk a cow...
and pick some apples...

and plant some carrots...

and ride a tractor...

and brush a sheep.

He had soooo much fun at the State Fair...

that he asked me to take him back the next week!

11 Months...

P's current favorite hobby: playing in the pots and pans drawer (or any cupboard in the house).
P has also enjoyed walking this month. He started by pushing around his toys, and recently has started taking steps on his own. So far 9 steps in a row is the max.

P's favorite foods: mangos, Kraft mac and cheese, string cheese, nilla wafers, pickles, eggo waffles, grapes, Cafe Rio black beans (pictured below)

P especially likes feeding himself, and refuses to allow anyone else to feed him. No more baby food for this one!

P still enjoys the swings and he LOVES being outside.

P has started to make some friends in the neighborhood...

and has finally learned to appreciate grass.

If you look closely at the picture below, you will see P's EIGHT beautiful teeth!

Today, when I arrived home from a super long day at work, I went downstairs to play with my boy. He was playing around as he usually does, but when I looked at him he was so big. He was playing differently and acting more like a toddler than an infant. I am not ready to have a toddler...why can't my baby stay a sweet little baby forever?

-Besides wanting to feed himself, P is still a great eater. He pretty much eats whatever we put on his plate.

-P has been having some sleeping problems recently...waking up between 3am and 5am ready to start his day. We have tried to put him to bed later (between 8-9pm) but then he would just wake up earlier. The only way we can get him to sleep until 6am is to put him down between 7-7:30pm.

-P is down to one nap a day...BOO!

-P has become quite the problem solver...specifically when it comes to reaching things that are out of his reach. He will use anything he can find as a stepping stool (including mom's face).

-P has been talking like crazy. It is obvious he is trying to say things, but so far "mama" and "dada" are still the only coherent words.

-P is FINALLY starting to allow us to read to him, which has been super fun...and so far he loves Harry Potter!

Baby are you down, down, down, down, down...

Thanks Dad!

Before:

After:
My dad used two weeks of his vacation time to come down and build us a bathroom. He did a pretty good job, didn't he? Dan and I helped a little bit, but mostly it was just dad. I'm not embarassed to say that this is the nicest room in the house. Thanks Dad!

Funny Face

Near Death Experiences...

As many of you know, I frequently have near death experiences. And, as I have previously posted, P had his first near death experience while in the womb (when I was nearly exposed to the infamous Fifth's Disease). And now, within a matter of a week, he has had two more. Last week P was playing in a kiddy pool at TT's house when suddenly he flipped in the deep water. I stood and watched him for a second, expecting him to be able to correct himself in the pool. Good think AJ was there to scoop him up and "save" his life. Then, less than a week later, we were at Temple Square in SLC, and "someone" thought it would be a good idea to hold P upside down near one of the fountains...and "accidentally" dipped his head under. P actually thought that was pretty fun, and wanted another go. Too bad his mom is so paranoid.