E-I-E-I-O

18 Month Check-up

I know this is a little late but better late than never, right!?! The beginning of this month you had your eighteen month check-up. Going into this appt I had a sneaking suspicion you had another ear infection because you had been tugging on your ear off and on that day and the day before. So at the appt I gave them a heads up of my suspicions and as the doctor checked you out, guess what, an ear infection! He put you on antibiotics for 10 days but gave you the good stuff….bubble gum flavored! Every time we pulled the pink bottle out of the fridge to give you your dose you came running and would even ask for more. You’re done with your antibiotics now and have another check-up in a couple weeks just to make sure the infection is gone.

At this check-up you also got a couple more shots, polio and tetanus vaccines. They were not fun but you got through them and were fine once I picked you up. We looked at your growth chart and you are steadily gaining weight and getting taller which he said is just fine. You currently weigh 23 lbs 8 oz. 

Easter 2013

We had a blast this Easter! Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Brooke, and cousins Bohdan & Meridian came over from Billings. So we were on the go all weekend long!!

First up...coloring Easter eggs! This has been a family tradition of mine since I was a kid. I remember going to great grandma Wynette's house the day before Easter and sitting around the table with Uncle Keith & Ryan and our cousins and coloring Easter eggs. The table was always covered in newspaper and we would use old tea cups to dye the eggs in.

It's one of my favorite traditions so we did our very own Easter egg coloring party at our house with you on Friday. You did pretty good coloring the eggs and only had two spills! Though only one was yours but I'm not going to name any names who spilled the other one... 

The next day the Easter Bunny arrived at Grandpa Mike & Nana B's house. We had a yummy breakfast first and then it was off to find Easter eggs and anything else the Easter Bunny brought for you. You didn't quite know what to do but as soon as we showed you what was on the ground or wherever it was hidden, you would immediately run to the egg, pick it up, and throw it in your bucket. I had to catch a couple of the hard boiled eggs before you chucked them into the bucket otherwise they would get cracked. And we didn't want them getting cracked because we were making deviled eggs with them.

I think the Easter bunny might be outside

Ready...Set....Go!

Grandpa Dave helping with an Easter egg a little too high

Found another one

Checking out the toys

Golf lessons

All smiles with Grandpa Mike

All in all, Easter was a success. You had a ball playing with your cousins and seeing everyone in general. And my favorite part was just watching you experience all these fun traditions.

Happy Easter Liam!

Fairmont Hot Springs

We met Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Brooke, and cousins Bohdan & Meridian at Fairmont Hot Springs right before Easter weekend. They were on their way to spend Easter with us and would be driving right by Fairmont so we met them there for the night. It was a good stopping point for them and not to mention, a fun place for you kiddos! We all had a blast playing in the water both Thursday night and Friday morning. You were a little unsure of the pools at first but as soon as we got you in and got you more comfortable you had a lot of fun. Boh and Meri went down the BIG slide as soon as we got there but you and I hung out in the pool while they and daddy went down it. Friday was a little nicer and there weren't as many people so we decided to take you down the slide. Daddy and I both went up with you and then daddy took you down the slide. You didn't make a peep the whole way down; no laugh, cry, scream...nothing! We didn't know if you liked it or not and weren't going to take you again but you kept pointing at the slide so we took that as you wanted to go again. Daddy probably took you four or five more times after that. Just as we were about done swimming we discovered you could stand in the indoor pool where is was about 2 ft deep. Your head was just above water so it was perfect. You loved it and wanted to walk in the water ALL on your own. I tried to hold you but you'd push my hands away! So I just kept really close to you with my hands only about a foot away but NOT touching you!! But even then, you slipped and fell underneath the water. It was just for a second but I grabbed you as fast as I could and shot you back up above the water. You didn't cry but had a very shocked look on your face and it didn't scare you because you didn't want to get out. You just kept trying to walk on your own. We were bummed we discovered this at the end because we would've spent more time in the indoor pool. But we all had fun and will definitely be going back soon!

On our way to Fairmont

Getting used to the pool

Woohoo! Made it down the BIG slide!!

Jeremy & Boh's turn!

One and a Half

Liam,

You are eighteen months old now which is also the big ONE and a HALF! I know I'm a couple days late but it's only because we had a very busy weekend with it being Easter weekend and we also went to Fairmont Hot Springs.

You are turning into quite the little talker and are even starting to say a couple words at the same time. When you want juice or milk you say, "juice...juice" or "milk...milk", and one time you said, "mommy milk". If you want more of something you say, "more". If we ask you a question like if you're all done, you say, "yes". I love it that we can understand you more and can ask you something and have you reply what you want. I'm sure you're loving it too and aren't getting frustrated as much. Some other words you are saying is hi and bye, bubbles, and your new favorite word is NO. Yes you have learned the big bad NO. We knew it was inevitable and you would go through your NO phase...at least we hope it's just a phase. You are getting really good at throwing fits too and will say no when you don't want to do something and even do a high pitch scream if you get mad or someone takes something from you. So far it hasn't been to bad but the terrible two's are just around the corner. The time change has been really tough on you because now that it stays lighter in the evenings longer all you want to do is stay outside. It is really hard to get you come inside for dinner or even bed. Sometimes we are able to distract you with a bath but most of the time we just have to bring you inside and you throw a fit for a few minutes. Luckily it hasn't affected your sleeping habits too much! You sleep through the night still, it's just sometime it takes you a little longer to fall asleep than others. You get up at the same time no matter what time you go to bed so we always try to put you down at 7:30 or 8 pm and on the weekends sometimes not until 9 pm.

You've been pretty healthy this month except you had a minor stomach bug the very first week. It was your first week in the new room at daycare, the waddler room, and you weren't feeling very good one day. You couldn't hold your lunch down or your afternoon snack so the daycare called me at work and told me you weren't feeling very good and thought we should come get you. So I called daddy since he had just gotten off work and had him come get you. When he got there you were in the office on the floor on a blanket with a bucket between your legs. You were crying and the director was trying to comfort you but you had just thrown up again. As soon as you saw daddy you called out to him and reached for him. Daddy said you didn't look good at all and were a pale white. Needless to say you didn't make it home before you threw up again.  Most of it landed in your lap but you got daddy's new truck. His first mess to clean up! We put you to bed early that night with a big bottle of milk and the next day you were fine. So it must of been a 24-hr stomach bug or something that didn't agree with you. This is the first time you've thrown up and we've never felt so helpless. The look on your face was heartbreaking, you just looked so scared. So we were so thankful it only lasted one day. The rest of the month you had a couple colds here and there and a cough that just won't go away but nothing to be too concerned about. This Friday is your eighteen month check-up so we'll get an update on how you're doing then.

You've been in the new room at daycare, the waddler room, for little over a month now and you're doing really well in there. Every time we pick you up from daycare you're always smiling and running around playing. Sometimes you don't even notice us walking in and we actually have to get your attention. As soon as you see us though, you'll run straight to where your coat is hanging up so we can put it on you and go. And lately you won't leave without bringing your blanket home with you. Normally we just leave it there all week long and only bring it home on the weekends but you've gotten really attached to it and want to bring it with you in the mornings and on the way home. This seems to be the only times you really want it so we aren't too concerned. We just need to make sure we bring it back to daycare so you have a blanket for nap time. We thought you'd have a hard time adjusting to how they do naps in this room but they told us you're doing really well. You don't sleep in a crib anymore, instead everyone sleeps on mats spread out throughout the room. We asked them how they get you all to stay on the mats and go to sleep and they said with a lot of patience. You stay on the mat but sometimes take a while to fall asleep. So to make it easier we always make sure you have your favorite blanket. You also get to sit at a big boy table in regular chairs and you use utensils more and they work on saying please and thank you. They also work on more independence and like you to be able to access your own stuff; your coat, clothes, etc. You have your own bin with no lid on it so you can grab stuff as you please. You really seem to enjoy being in this room which makes us really happy because we know you're happy.

Happy eighteen month birthday sweet little boy! You truly are an amazing little boy and you bring so much joy to my life. Your smile and laugh are contagious and I can't help but smile back whether it be from just a smile or one of your many laughs. How did we get so lucky!?!

Love,
Momma