Babies get bigger

I meant to include this compilation in his birthday post, but didn't get a chance.

Click here to see it bigger

I'm pretty sure this is the last of the monthly shots.  I might try again at 18 months but it took me three separate tries, three helpers and two white onesies to get that last not-so-decent shot. But it is really neat to see the full 12 month growth. It also makes me want another baby like right now because apparently I don't have one anymore, he's all grown up. Tear.

But despite my struggles during that last photo shoot, my mini-me seemed to think taking baby pictures is fun because guess what Craig caught her doing later?

She made the camera out of duplos, got the mat to use as a blanket and even found a stuffed animal to sit next to "green baby" while she took her photo.

And just in case that wasn't enough photos for you, here are a few of the birthday outakes. 

The remains of summer

August felt like fall but then September got confused and it was hot again. I'm really a fan of fall and was more than ready to move to long sleeves and cool days but we still managed to have some fun those last few summer days.

We played with shaving cream and frozen paint cubes. Lucy really liked this. Jonah seemed confused.

Explored the local creek. It started as a "lets go toss rocks and wet our toes" but quickly turned into a swimming adventure. You'll notice Lucy in the background is shirtless - yep, we are just a tad redneck around here I guess but at least we didn't have camp chairs in the water like the people downstream. I do have standards ;-)

We redressed the kids for some playground time. 

Summer. I guess it's not terrible. 

Birthday Party Photo Dump

We did a mini-birthday photo shoot two weeks ago and he didn't like the smash cake very much at all. This cake he enjoyed a little more but still mostly played in it. He did love his presents though - he got some wooden stackers, a tonka truck, a wooden car ramp and some clothes. 

Lucy "helping" him open his presents. 

He's a bit confused. 

I'm supposed to eat this (chocolate cake with coconut "sprinkles" dyed with carrots (orange), spinach (green) and raspberries (purplish-pink))? 

It's touching me. 

How dare you take away my spatula!

In hindsight, wool diaper cover was probably not the best choice.

He makes this underbite, chin sticking out face all the time! It kinda reminds me of The Godfather and I think it's hilarious no matter how many times he does it.

Grandma and Grandpa come to play

Craig's parents came to visit last week. They were only here three days but in those three days, we packed in a lot of fun. It started before they even came when Lucy made them a sign. I wrote "Welcome Grandma and Grandpa" and she was supposed to decorate it while I was working in the kitchen and when I came to take a look, she had traced all the letters. Then she drew so many pictures of it you can hardly see the words anymore but she was very proud of it. She got to stay up late on Tuesday to go pick them up from the airport and from the report, it doesn't seem like she stopped talking the whole way home.

Day one was spent at the nature center. Jonah went on his first hike as a walker and really loved it. He probably walked for 5 minutes straight. We also got to pet a snake, see an owl and a couple deer in the woods, and explore the inside exhibits. Lucy loves this place (except the bear - we have to walk really quickly by that section!) but this was Jonah's first visit as a real participant. He had such a blast and just kept walking around pointing and babbling. Lucy's always a bit timid around big crowds of kids but being wrapped around my leg makes it easy to keep track of her. Jonah's the opposite. He's pushing the bigger kids of his way to see what he wants to see!

What does the fox say?

Second trip to visit the frog. She really likes this frog.

Day two was the big birthday celebration. We started with a trip to ToysRUs. Jonah fell asleep in the car but Lucy did a good job helping Grandma and Grandpa pick out presents. Lucy hadn't ever been to a toy store but thoroughly enjoyed the experience. She asked for a lot of things but was content when we said no  and was really excited about getting him things too (she did get a toy from them too, we aren't cruel!) Then we went out to lunch. Now, that really isn't blog worthy except for the fact that we rarely go out to eat and if we do, it's normally chik-fil-a but this was a real sit down restaurant. I wasn't sure how it would but they did so great! Lucy even ordered her meal from the waitress herself! I was so proud of both of them and it was really nice to be able to sit and enjoy a meal without having to do dishes afterwards! Notice all the exclamation points!

We had lots of fun around the house as well - reading and playing and more reading.

And of course, presents and cake - but those pictures will be up tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Dear Jonah,

This isn't great but it was the best - by far. I'll have to post the outtakes later because they are good, you know, in a bad photo way.

My little man is growing up. I'd feel a little sad except I love watching you learn how to communicate more and more and explore the world.

You have three words: mama, dada, and nana (banana). You have three clear signs: book, milk and more. Milk and more look pretty similar but they are slightly different and context clues are helpful. You also sign choo-choo and water when copying us but don't initiate them. And when you clearly want something but don't know what to do, you just resort to more. It normally works. If it doesn't, you try screaming and screeching.

You love to give kisses (slobbers) and love to hug Lucy even if that means you have to chase her around laughing while she tries to push you off of her.

You're getting even more independent. Your pretty good with your water glass and love to use a fork - although that often means stabbing something then taking it off the fork to put in your mouth with your fingers or picking it up with your fingers to put on your fork into your mouth. Efficiency isn't that important to you.

You love to climb. You want to be right where the action is. Your obsessed with our concrete stairs outside and love to carry around this 1x2 that's about 18 inches long. In one 3 day period this month, you cut your eyepide, split your lip open, gave yourself a goose egg and bruised your nose.

Cut eye lid and goose egg

A little hard to see from this angle but his whole upper lip is swollen. This is a couple hours after the bloody lip fall. Who knew lips could bleed so very very much!

You love books. Now you'll sit in the car and "read" books when we drive. Once we were all in the car and you kept screaming and when I turned back and saw you didn't have a book. Daddy said he gave you a toy but apparently toys are for babies and big boys like books in the car. Now we know.

It might look like he's smelling the flowers but he's actually looking in the mirror, he doesn't like to smell the flowers. 

He does like to play peek a boo with Paul, though.

You love to copy us and have started to help. When I hang laundry up, you'll stand next to the basket and hand me clothes. But only if I keep saying thank you. If I don't say thank you after a few pieces, you'll just walk away. You also like to help unload the dishwasher, whether the dishes are clean or not! And you love to follow me around and copy my sweeping and dusting.

You gonna help me out here. mom?

Helping Daddy scrape the log.

Spent the next week scrapping just like daddy.

You love "relaxing" in your little chair. I love it when you stay still for a minute. But somehow, you've managed to survive your first year. And I have too! Can't wait to see what adventures await us this next year.