Jul 26, 2007

18 Months





Wow. One and a half years old!!! Time just keeps flying by and my little baby is really turning into a little boy. I think I've said that before but this time it holds so much more truth.
He has been such a blessing and source of joy in our lives. I think back to those first few months of night feedings, counting diapers, and reflux pain and just can't believe how far we have come.
Cort is such a happy, healthy, full of life little boy. He makes me laugh everyday. And everyday he makes me forget about my long to do list and pulls me into enjoying the moments. How is it that a little person who is barely putting two words together can teach a grown up so much?

I don't really even know where to start with all that he does right now. We'll start with the basics.

I don't even think about how much he eats anymore. That still amazes me. He eats so well
( for a toddler;)) ! Such a blessing and answer to prayer that he reflux is over and that is eating well. His favorite foods right now include grilled chicken and pork tenderloin, turkey wraps, cheese, pretty much all fruit(he's really into blackberries, raspberries, etc.), peas, broccoli, Ritz bitz cheese crackers, and milk. He is doing well with his spoon and fork as well, though he still prefers his fingers and needs little help scooping sometimes.

He is sleeping great right now. We seem to be well on our way to dropping the morning nap. For the past week or so he has been sleeping in in the morning until almost 8:00 or at least 7:30 and taking 2 hour afternoon naps. I almost don't know what to do with myself. I hope he keeps it up.

He continues to talk up a storm. He slowed down a little bit with new words for a while but seems to be picking them up again. I have no idea how many words he says now. He has put two words together on a few occasions but I have not heard him do it often. He has said "car bye, bye" while playing cars with my mom and "stop dog" to my parents dog. He will say right back and bike ride as well. He understands everything we say to him though he would sometimes like to have you believe he does not! ;)

One of my favorite things he responds to now is if I say " are you ready to go read some books?" ( a ritual of ours before nap and bed) he runs to his room and climbs up in his rocking chair chanting book, book, book. He has names for lots of his favorite books and I love that he requests them. I am reading him longer books now. I have a bunch of paperback scholastic books from teaching and loves reading them. His favorites at the moment include Finklehopper Frog, Chimps don't Wear Glasses, Barnyard Hullabaloo, and Is your Mama a Llama?. ( in cort titles - Frog, Car, Doo Doo( for the rooster), and Mama) One of his favorite things to do right now with books is have me name something on the page and then he points to it. He is also likes to "count." He points to objects and says something like..."ooh, eee, aaa, ooh, ee, ahh."

He is very into cars, planes, anything that moves. He often wakes up in the morning asking for cars. We play with them in every way possible. He is also very into trains. ( choo,choo's). He can spot an airplane in the air well before I can and doesn't stop pointing until he plane is very out of sight. He still loves frogs and asks me to draw them on his magnadoodle at least 10 times a day. He loves all his animal books. He enjoys making animal noises and two of my current favorites are "Doo, doo" for a rooster and oinking. He is also still very into his blocks and puzzles. He can do a lot of his big knob puzzles and is really good at this one with chunky cars and trucks. I recently got him this set of two piece puzzles where you match big and little objects and he matches them all really well.

He loves being outside and runs out the door any chance he gets. I love watching him explore the outdoors. He checks out trees, flowers, sticks. My favorite is turning over rocks to look for bugs. One day he pretty much did a sliding dive to try to catch a chipmunk!!! He is enjoying the water much more these days but is still a little unsure of it.

He is trying his best to run but doesn't quite get it yet. He is doing really well stepping up and down on things now. He can climb up on pretty much anything he wants too. He also tries really hard to jump and sometimes gets the tiniest bit of air.

He still love music and dancing. He really likes Happy if you know it and 3 little fishies. He claps every time he hears or sees something he likes.

One of the biggest changes this month? He says Mama!! Finally!! The little stinker held out until I left for Mexico!!

He is super sweet and gives the sweetest kisses and cuddles. His smile and laugh are infectious.
Can you tell how much I love him?

Jul 19, 2007

First Berries

I was excited to see that our blackberry bush was not affected by the frost like so much of the rest of our plants. Cort was excited too. He loves them. I can't really pick them while he is out there with me or he will eat all of the ones I pick before I am done.

Here he is having his first backyard blackberries.


Reunion and the Fourth

We got back from Mexico late on the 3rd so didn't really get to see Cort until the 4th.
We had fun playing at my parents. He handled us being back pretty well too. He was maybe a little clingy but not too bad. He showed us all the fun he had on my parent's porch while we were gone. ( to see some pics from when he stayed with Chris' parents click on the McGowan's link to the right - there are some pretty funny ones).



He loved his little Sombrero.





We had lunch with Chris' family and then returned home. I don't know where they come from, but somebody puts American flag in our yard in our neighborhood every 4th. Cort enjoyed playing with the flag last year and this year.





We decided to get Cort up for the fireworks since we did it last year and liked it so much. We went into wake him up and he wouldn't wake up at all!! Chris carried him outside anyway, and here are the results...

Still asleep


Waking up


Terrified


Needless, to say he hated it. Though I think it was more about wanting to be in his bed as he pretty much jumped out of my arms to get back in his crib and then slept until 9am the next morning. He was worn out.

Jul 16, 2007

Mexico- Finally!!!

Chris and I went to Mexico the last week in June/1st week in July for our 5 year anniversary. (which was on July 13). We left Cort with our parents. They split the week with each other and each had him for a few days. He did great and we had a great time. We stayed at an all inclusive place called the Occidental Grand Xcaret Resort.
The resort was great. It was beautiful and very well maintained. I really couldn't get over how clean everything was. We enjoyed 5 nights and 6 days of relaxing, reading, swimming, and having uninterrupted adult conversation. 6 days of no diaper changing, no cooking, no cleaning - it was great. We of course missed Cort but overall I think we all handled it pretty well. Below are tons of pictures.....

Our Room


View from our room


The Grounds


Mayan Ruins on the resort property



They put these Macaws out everyday in the lobby. Of course, Chris messed with them everyday with me pleading for him to stop so he wouldn't get his finger bitten.


The beach was small but great. Due all the rocks on the coast the beach was really a man made inlet but it was perfect for relaxing swimming. We saw lots of fun fish - the water was super clear. The fish would come right up to you and eat out of your hand.


The Beach at night




Our favorite spot


It was Mr. Iguana's favorite spot too! One little lizard tried to jump on my chair and this big one came charging it just in time. While appreciated the fact that this kept the little lizard from jumping on me - it was very fun to see this one coming straight at me at full speed.



The Pool - there were three pools and they were all huge. This is just part of one.

By the Pool


At a Restaurant


The Market - we got Cort a mini Sombrero

There was an Ecological Park attached to the resort and we got free admission to it for a day. There were lots of exhibits and such to see. They also had a nice beach. I don't have pictures of the coolest part because we had to put our stuff away to do it but we swam about 1/2 mile in an underground river. It was really cool. We were basically swimming around in a cave. The water was a bit cold but so clear. Below are some more pictures from the park.

The famous flying men







Agape Plants - what they make tequila from


This is much like what we swam in but with water( obviously)


The Butterfly Garden- this was awesome - there were butterflies just flying all around you



A Mexican Cemetery


The Night show at the park - the 1st half was sort of a trip though Mexican History and the 2nd part sort of a salute to all the different areas of Mexico - dress, dance,food, culture, etc.

Our last night there at the open air restaurant over the water

Jul 11, 2007

We're back

We're back from vacation and it was great. Before i post pictures and such from that I am goning to play June catch up!!

My birthday: My birthday was on the 22nd of June. Chris answered my request of having a low key birthday at home since Cort and I had just returned from a busy out of ton trip. We had a great dinner, a yummy chocolate cheesecake, and I got a new watch.




The night before my birthday( just a few hours after getting back in town) my girlfriends took me out to dinner. It was lots of fun just hanging out with the girls. I love my girls!!!


Another note about my birthday - my mom got me a cricut!!! If you don't scrapbook- you don't care but if you do - you want one of these( or will if you ever see it in action) My girlfriends also got me an extra cartridge for so now i have more fonts and fun things to do with it!!


Outside play with Cort: Just some pics of some outside play with Cort. We got this bike seat a month or so ago but kept forgetting to take pictures. Cort loves it!!! He also loves the hose in the backyard.











Fun play time at Ryan and Molly's: We have gotten to spend a lot of time recently with good friends, Ryan and Molly. Molly kept Cort for me for an appt. and we were over for dinner one night recently. Cort really enjoys playing at there house.



Cort slithering under their ottoman coffee table... silly boy




Playtime with friends before we leave for vacation: The day before we left for vacationI kept a friend's little girl and another friends came over with her daughter as well. The kids at a great time playing in the pool. I was glad for Cort to get some friend playtime before we were off for a whole a week.

Haley's turn


Sophie's turn


Cort's turn


Playing peek a boo behind he curtains!!