super cutie!

My baby...

One year ago...the day he was born

More recently...just before he turned one!!

The card reader on my computer doesn't want to work so I can't upload the pictures I took on his actual birthday. He just had his one year checkup and he is HALF AS TALL AS I AM! He's 30 inches tall, 19 pounds 14 ounces - that puts him in the 10% for weight. He's ahead for speech (he says 5 words) and he walks, stoops and recovers, and can turn around! He's my baby and I love him to pieces!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WYATT!!

My baby is 1 year old today. I can't believe the time has passed so fast. What a character he's grown into this past year! He's a fun, loving, exciting, outgoing, fearless little boy who can do so much. He's walking like a pro and can even turn around and go back the direction he came from. He can bend down and pick something up and get back up without holding on to anything. He still eats like a horse. Everything is funny to him and he's almost always laughing. He's still a little rough with Oliver sometimes but he's getting better about that, too. Oliver is still his favorite person and he'll do anything Oliver asks him to.

He knows a bunch of signs including naked, bath, eat, ball, banana, more and puppy. He says Mim and Dada and banana. He understands a lot more than that. If I ask him to give me something he will. When I ask him what he wants to eat he heads for the kitchen. When I say it's bathtime he heads for the tub.

He has a lot more hair than he did when he was born, he's longer and heavier, too! I weighed him yesterday at work and he was 20 pounds! He's only a bit shorter than Oliver so hopefully he didn't inherit my height. There are still only 8 teeth in his mouth, 4 on top and 4 on bottom but he's been drooling and chewing again lately so I think those "1 year" molars are on their way. He's still reddish blond with just thin wispy hair. There's not much of it but it suits him pretty well.

Climing is one of his favorite things to do. He loves the view from up there - up anywhere really. He can get onto Oliver's bed, chairs, the sofa, the loveseat, the futon, the bed. When we're outside he'll climb up the little slide and go right down with no hesitation.

He's almost always smiling and so good-natured. I'm so proud that he is our baby!!!!!!!

I love you, Wyatt. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Learning streak...

Wyatt signed "juice" tonight...for a total of 7 signs!

He also walked a little more tonight. He really wanted those chips and salsa.

another sign!!

Wyatt learned another sign..."bites" (which is actually "eat"). Apparently he learns the signs from Oliver. Yay, guys! What a good big brother, too. Now I know the secret and Wyatt's vocabulary is about to get much bigger...

Wyatt's signs...

I've been slack about posting this because he's been signing for quite a while but here they are. He signs naked, dog, more, ball and banana. He also says puppy and banana (in addition to Mim and Dada, which I think I posted before).

He has mastered the tower of rings and can build with Legos...the huge ones. He loves books. He's taking 4 or 5 steps at a time now. He tries to do everything Oliver does. He eats like a horse. He loves cups and bowls. He splashes and has fun in the bathtub. He blows kisses. He's still only snuggly when he's tired. He's still a paci addict. He likes the slides at the bouncy place. He likes to carry a toy in each hand, even while crawling around. He still almost always falls asleep in the car. He can drink from a sippy cup and a straw. He can climb onto the futon and the sofa all by himself. He can do a chin up on Oliver's bed rail. He doesn't sleep through the night in his own bed. Usually halfway through he wakes up and I bring him in with me. He doesn't like to be left alone and if I leave the room he follows me. If he can't follow he gets terribly upset. He seems to be teething again because he's chewing and drooling like crazy.

Ok so that turned out to be more than just signs but that's what is going on with Wyatt

biggest loser/start moving contest

I've been participating in a Biggest Loser contest at work. In order to qualify for prizes you have to lose 8% of your total weight. So far I've gained 3 pounds so I'm not doing so well on that front.

In the start moving contest you have to exercise for 2500 minutes before Oct 17th. So far I've logged 765 total points. You get one point for each minute, plus bonus points for anything over 30 minutes. Whew!

no updates for...i don't know...a long time

We've been busy! Bob has been remodeling the kitchen (with not much help from me and plenty of hindrance from the boys). He took down all the cabinets and they are in the back yard being painted. The walls are painted finally (I helped with one wall) and we are now trying to figure out where to rehang the cabinets and put the appliances (the fridge is on an extension cord right now) to make the kitchen more organized and less cluttered. I spent the last three days at work ...working 7 hours Sunday, 8 yesterday and 9 on Saturday. We had a big sale and it was super busy. The new boss we just got, the one I liked so much, has been transferred again. He's in Raleigh now and our new mgr is the old mgr of the Raleigh store. It will definitely take some getting used to.

The boys are being boys. Wyatt is getting closer and closer to walking. He just needs to realized it's easier to get around that way. I shaved Oliver's hair off. He seems to like it. he hasn't even complained about not being able to twirl it when he's going to sleep. That's a good thing!!

I have to go make breakfast for the little beasts now so I'll try to update more often...

walking...

Wyatt took two consecutive steps yesterday morning. I haven't taken the time to post about it until now because I'm a slacker. He was so proud...I was, too!!

Vacation is officially over...

We had three vacations this summer. The first one in WV that I posted about before. Then we went to the beach for two days with Pappy and Nanny and lots of cousins. We had lots of fun playing in the waves and sand. Oliver got used to jumping in the waves after a few dunks. After that he just wanted to get in the water. He built a few good sandcastles and collected a few shells, there weren't many there. The first day we were there we went to the aquarium in Wilmington and had lunch and shopped a little downtown. Then we headed up to the house where the boys went in the ocean for the first time. We saw some fish and a crab and sea gulls and pelicans. The boys had a great time with their cousins - even though they are all a good bit older than the boys. It was too bad we only got to spend two days!

This past sunday (the 5th) the boys and I headed down to my uncle's condo for a few days. We left poor Daddy at home to remodel the kitchen (which turned out to be a bigger project that expected). Gramma and Grampa were already there when we got there so we settled in and played a bit before heading out to the beach. This beach was a lot more shell-y than the other beach so Oliver spent a lot of time picking up shells and putting them in his bucket. He even found a sharks tooth! Gramma dug a "pool" up above the waves and both boys had a pretty good time playing in there. Wyatt did not like the waves but Oliver played in them a lot, trading off between me, Gramma and Grampa. We got home in time for naps and then headed to the pool. Oliver swam "all by himself" in the floatie ring and Wyatt hung out in his space shuttle floatie. Wyatt made the cutest face when he was splashing. He'd reach waaaay over the side and make a squinchy little grinning face and wave his fat little arm at the water. Oliver helped Gramma build a sand castle the second day but Wyatt spent two hours in the Moby wrap ASLEEP that time. Grampa tried to dig up a crab but we couldn't find him (the crab)! We spent a few hours at Broadway at the Beach (in Myrtle Beach, SC) where Oliver played around a fountain while we waited to see the dragon. Unfortunately the sound system was having trouble so the show ended after a few seconds. He got to see the dragon blow a few times, though. Oliver also rode a few rides (dunebuggies, a boat and the carousel where he rode Pinky Lou the pig) We went to a big candy store and got some M&Ms and Jelly beans then to the Disney store where Gramma and Grampa got Oliver some Cars toys. When we got home it was dinner and bed! The next morning we were just relaxing and packing up and cleaning up. Grampa took Oliver out to the pond to go fishing and he caught 3 fish! (with help, of course...but he reeled them in all by himself)..the first two were the same kind but I don't know what they were. The third one (that I missed because Wyatt wanted to go in) was a LARGE MOUTH BASS!!! Gramma got some pictures so hopefully I'll get them and post them soon. Both boys were pretty well behaved. Oliver got only one timeout and, other than crying whenever I left the room Wyatt was happy and playful. They both ate like horses, too. We had a great time and I hope we can go back again. Probably when the boys are older and Wyatt can appreciate it a little more.

When we got home Bob was still workin on the kitchen. Apparently the previous owner had moved a wall at some point but neglected to patch the wall and ceiling where the old wall was. Instead they just put up paneling to cover it. Bob tore all the paneling down and then realized this so he spent almost a whole day patching that. He also took down all the cabinets and he's painting them to match the accent wall, which is blue. The rest of the walls will be the same color as the living room...super light, almost white, gray with a hint of purple depending on the lighting. Anyway, right now the kitchen and living room are in chaos. Everything from the cabinets is on my couch, loveseat, tables, floor, pretty much anywhere except the path that Bob left so we could walk through. Hopefully we'll get this done soon but it will be SO worth it!!

i like this one even though it's blurry

Spider-Oliver

new jammies

look at my muscles!

throwing a web...

the wall crawler!

pictures from the zoo...

Oliver insisted on getting this turtle walking stick so he could use a cane like Pappy Lucian.

The whole giraffe family. There's a new place at the zoo where you can feed the babies.

more zoo pics

The results of the zoo...

my super boys

faster than a speeding bullet!

cute random Oliver pictures

snuggle nap

more random wyatt pictures

cute random wyatt pictures

superman in training

June 16, 2009

the bed and the tooth

Wyatt got another tooth...bottom right second over. He also slept in his bed all night last night. Bob and I got up about a million times to make sure he was still breathing because that NEVER happens!!

Happy monthabirthday Wyatt!

Wyatt turned 10 months old on the 11th!! Hooray little guy, you've made it this far and what an amazing little guy you are.

Here's what "What to Expect the First Year" says he should be doing

should be able to:

get into a sitting position from stomach (yep)
pick up an object with any part of thumb and forefinger (yep)
understand no but not always obey it (yes, the stinker)

will probably be able to:

clap or wave bye bye (yes to clapping, waving very seldom)
cruise (like a fiend!)
point or gesture to something to get needs met (yes, and it makes life so much easier!)

May possibly be able to:

pick up an object neatly with tips of thumb and forefinger (when he's paying attention)
stand alone momentarily (yes)
know "mim" and "dad" (yes)
say one word other than Mim or Dad (ummm, I don't think so)

may even be able to:

stand alone well (yes)
indicate wants in ways other than crying (yes)
roll a ball back to you (he can but he usually wants to chew on it first)
drink from a cup independently (yes, a sippy cup or a cup with a straw)
use gibberish (sometimes, in fact he's doing it right now)
say three or more words other than mim or dad (no, not even close)
respond to one step command without gestures (no, but he'll do it with a gesture)
walk well (no, still only 1 step)

I'd say he's doing pretty doggone well for a 10 month old. He's got 7 teeth now and working on that 8th one. He can crawl so fast! He's also climbing now, too. He can get up on the futon without much trouble and yesterday we visited a friend who has stairs in her house and he was up the stairs so quick! He still eats like crazy and he'll eat just about anything.

He's a happy little guy, always laughing and playing so nicely. He loves Oliver so much and always wants to do what he's doing. Sometimes that causes trouble for Oliver because he's becoming so much more independent and he doesn't want to share (he's a toddler, I guess I should expect that). They're getting better, though.

Wyatt did his first sign the other day. It was the sign for "naked"...I don't know if it's the real sign or not but Oliver always did it for naked and I've been doing it at bathtime with Wyatt. He finally caught on and did it back! He was so proud of himself!!

back from vacation...4 days ago

We had a super wonderful vacation in WV last week.

We set out late Sunday morning, taking our time getting up to Lewisburg. We got there in the early afternoon, just in time for lunch. We spent most of Sunday just relaxing and visiting.

We spent the first three days with Pappy Lucian and Mammaw. Day two, Monday, we got up and Bob helped Pappy unclog the gutter, which resulted in a very cold shower of leftover rainwater. Then Bob went to wash Mammaw's car and get it all nice and shiny while Oliver followed Pappy around looking at the flowers and trees and cows in the field out back. Later in the afternoon we went downtown to Honalee...a very cool toy store. We spent quite a bit of time there before Oliver finally picked out a toy (a red mini cooper with doors that open). Wyatt was asleep so I picked out a little grocery bag with jingly, crunchy veggies and fruits and milk inside.

Tuesday we got up and had our (by then) usual breakfast of eggs, biscuits, sausage and homemade applesauce. Then we went to Beartown and spent a hour or so wandering through the trees and rocks and caves. It was so peaceful and the weather was just perfect. It was cool, but not too cool...just right for short sleeves. After Beartown we were going to find somewhere to dip our feet in a stream but we somehow missed the public stream access and ended up in Monongahela State Forest which, while pretty, doesn't have a definable exit. We wandered up the mountain and then back down, driving past old campgrounds and even through a stream! It took us an hour but we finally got back to a real road. Luckily Bob knew where we were so we rushed back to Pappy's house for supper...we were half an hour late!! Wednesday we got up and went to Sherwood Lake to swim for a while since we had missed out on it the day before. We rubbed the boys down with SPF 75, got them in their swimmy clothes and dipped them in the water. The water was soooo cold!! Oliver wouldn't get out, though. He just wanted to play and play and play. We finally convinced him to come closer to the shore where the water was warmer so he could build a sand castle. We had some cups so Bob showed him how and he did pretty well. After a while it was really too colod so we went over to the boat dock and rented a paddle boat. Boy, those things are hard to move!! We spent about 45 minutes paddling around (well, I paddled,...Bob hung out) then we headed back to shore and shared some cold sodas and sweet treats. After that Angie had invited us to where her new house would be built for a hot dog roast! It was lots of fun. There was a play area set up for the kids (there were so many kids there!) and a fire where we cooked hot dogs and, later, s'mores. We had a good time hanging out with everyone and Oliver loved seeing his cousins. After we were done there we headed back to Mammaw and Pappys where we spent one more relaxing night and in the morning we packed up and headed for Cass and Green Bank.

It was a pretty good drive and we went to Cass first. When we got there we played on a little wooden train for a few minutes before heading into the Company Store. We bought a few things (a patch, of course, and a train for Oliver) and then headed out to find where the trains were. Well, as it turns out, you can't SEE the trains unless you get there for one of the two trips per day. It was well after the last trip so we didn't see a single train...what a disappointment!! Well we decided to head out to Green Bank and get some lunch on the way. They're only 3 miles apart so we figured for sure there'd be some kind of restaurant between. Boy were we wrong! There was nothing around Cass and nothing around Green Bank...it was deserted! There were a few houses but NO stores or restaurants or even a gas station. We ended up eating at the observatory which cost us a lot more than we wanted to spend. Anyway, after lunch we took the tour and saw the GBT up close...as close as you can get anyway. There were also some smaller telescopes as well and the tour guide told us when they were built and what they were used for. We got a patch in the gift shop here and a few post cards (that we didn't send...). When we were done we headed up to Clarksburg to see Chris. We got there later than expected so we had some dinner and then got a hotel room for the night. (Bob got us a nice discount because he knows how hotels work!!) When we walked into the room Oliver said "Wow!!" and called it his new bedroom the whole time we were there. It had an indoor pool so we took the boys to their first ever hotel pool. We were the only ones down there so we spent about half an hour swimming and playing around. Oliver didn't want to get out of the water but it was getting late and the boys were both so tired, not to mention me and Bob. There were two beds so Bob and Oliver slept in one and Wyatt and I slept in the other. That wasn't the original plan but I think we all slept pretty well that night.

In the morning it was raining...what a bummer because most of what we had planned to do was at parks. We ended up going to Valley Worlds of Fun and spent lots of time and lots of money! It was really fun and Oliver rode the rides and played lots of games! After that we headed over to Chris's house to meet up with him and have dinner. He had his (wonderfully well behaved) kids with him. Michael and Abby kept Oliver entertained and out of trouble through the whole meal. After that we went and played at Chris's house (which is pretty nice!) until it was bedtime. Chris and the kids had work and school and activities all day so we decided to head on back to Lewisburg that morning (Thursday) right after breakfast.

We stopped at Tamarack on the way back, which is a fun arts/crafts shopping place. They have all kinds of cool things that are made in WV...wood, glass, pottery, even stuff made out of coal!! We didn't buy anything but it was fun to look. We ate a quick lunch then drove a bit more and ended up at Angie's house where we hung out and played until lunchtime. The kids played really well together while we were there! We had lunch the Cheryl called and said they were home so we went on over there. Oliver had a great time playing with his cousins and Wyatt had a good time getting into things in the living room. Bob and I got to relax a little because the boys were occupied. We went ot bed kind of early because the boys were just exhausted and restless but when we got up there was plenty more fun to be had. Oliver probably played with every toy in the girls' room and Wyatt ended up in there eventually, too. Wyatt and I took a nice nap while Bob and Oliver went outside to play in the yard with the playground and in the woods. Uncle Shannon gave Oliver a fishing pole and he was so excited. I think he wanted to go fishing right then and there but of course we didn't get around to going this trip. We stayed until about lunchtime then went to Wendy's too wait for Birch to call. He finally did and we met up with him in downtown Lewisburg at a little fountain playarea. I got Oliver all suited up in his swim gear and sent him off to run through the fountain. He had a great time and didn't even seem to mind the water in his face (even though in the shower or bath he HATES getting his face wet). I didn't want Wyatt to get too wet but after a little while I took him over and stuck his hands in the water and he thought it was hilarious!! I kept sticking his feet and hands in for about 10 minutes and he just laughed and laughed the whole time. We had a little picnic of grapes, cheese, apple, orange, and animal crackers. It was refreshing and nice to eat in the little park under the sun. After a while Gretchen called and said she would meet us up at their new farm. We all packed up and headed out. When we got there Oliver was asleep so we put out a mat and let him sleep under a tree in the shade. Wyatt played with Indigo and Orion in the yard. Bob and Birch went to get the pizza shortly after Gretchen got there and once Bob left Oliver melted down. He cried and screamed and cried and cried. Nothing I did could get him to calm down so he cried until Bob got back. Once Bob got back he was ok, I have no idea what Bob did but he got him into cute boy mode again. We ate and then the kids played in the yard some more. Birch helped Indigo and Oliver hang from a tree branch, Gretchen showed us pickle clover, we had a tour of the new house which is such a pretty old farmhouse. When it started to get dark we decided to head home. We were going to spend the night but the boys were so tired and I thought it would be better to drive while they slept instead of trying to drive the next morning when they'd be awake and cranky. It worked out ok. Bob drove to Roanoke and then I drove the rest of the way back home. Boy was I tired when we got here!

Luckily Sunday Bob let me rest while he set up the new table and entertainment center. The boys were a bit grouchy from being so tired but we napped and took it easy the whole day and they seemed to do a bit better. So that was our vacation...not very much detail but we sure had fun!!

Since then Oliver has slept in his bed all night every night. Wyatt has gotten his 6th tooth (the bottom left second over tooth). We've finally finished our paperwork for the new car...grr! Bob got sick (poor baby). We've been busy doing nothing again...which is, I guess, what we do.

FIRST STEP?! AL;READY!?!?!?

Wyatt took his first step yesterday. He was standing by the sofa (not holding on) and I was a tiny bit farther than his comfort zone. He stuck his fat little foot out and stepped toward me, then lunged/fell forward grabbing onto my legs. Hooray for the little guy! He's been getting braver and braver lately with going from one object to the next.

He's only 9 months old ... this can't be happening yet!! I'M NOT READY!!

another tooth!

I noticed a fifth tooth on the top left side of Wyatt's mouth today. It must have just poked through because yesterday it was just a white bulge on his gums.

Everyone's doing well. We're super busy lately what with getting ready for our trip and work and the boys.

Oliver drew an "O" today all by himself. He was sitting in the back seat of the car drawing on his doodle pad (Magna doodle) and he was telling me he was drawing O's. Well I looked back and it was just scribbles so I took the pen and drew an "O" and told him that's what it looked like. He took the pen back and drew an O...it wasn't quite round but it was a circular-like shape. Great jobby, Oliver!!

Wyatt is standing by himself a lot more for longer times. I just know he's going to be walking soon. He is also eating, almost exclusively, table food. He eats sandwiches and pizza and bananas...taking tiny little Wyatt sized bites. It's so cute! He ate two waffles for breakfast today...the exact same amount as Oliver. I don't know where the kid puts it because he's so skinny.

I liked it!!

For my birthday (well, the day after) we went to Raleigh (well, near there) and had a delicious grilled lunch with Pappy and Nanny. After eating (stuffing myself silly) and hanging out for a while Bob and I left the kids and went to go see a movie. Yay! A date! We got to the movie just a few minutes late because the show we wanted to see was sold out. We ended up going to the next showing which was an hour and a half later. It was raining and kind of chilly so, since we were in shorts and t-shirts, we went down the strip of stores to see about getting a jacket. We ended up at Old Navy where we found some (matching) hoodies that were not too expensive and got those. I love getting matching stuff (we used to have matching watches and matching shoes). Anyway, we were pretty wet by that point because it was an outdoor mall so we decided to go into Red Robin for a little snack. We had the tower of onion rings (not exactly date food, I guess) and the mud pie. We scarfed it down really quickly and then went back to the theater and saw the new Star Trek movie. I really enjoyed it and I think Bob did, too. What we really enjoyed though was having a date and hanging out without the kids. I think we really needed that!

Wyatt's appointment

Wyatt had his 9 month checkup on Wednesday. He really did super! He's 18 pounds 14.5 ounces (25%), 28.5 inches (50%) and 18 inch head (50%). Of course with all the crawling and climbing and cruising and standing the doctor was pretty happy this his development. She did say he needs to learn to use a cup. I'm hoping she meant a sippy cup because what a mess it'd be without a lid! It was a quick appointment because they were backed up so that's really all there is to tell. He got one shot, the last of one of the Hepatitis's. He did ok with that but he made the horrible cry face - the one where there's no sound and he's not breathing. I can't stand that at all!!!! We went out for smoothies (Juice Shop) to make him feel better. I think it helped because pretty soon he was smiling and playing like normal.

Since then he's started clapping (yeah, I guess that's something babies do a lot earlier but it's not something we really do). He also got his top right tooth yesterday. So now he has two bottoms and two tops! The doc said it looks like his molars might be coming in. I can't say I'm suprised the way the boy chews on stuff but I thought they came in front to back. It'll be a little funny if he has a big gap between his front and back teeth.

Wyatt collage

Oliver collage