Then and Now

It's been a year since Taylor's first Halloween and already so many things have changed! Last Sunday we went to the Elgin Pumpkin Patch to pick out our pumpkins with my family and Andrew's family. Taylor went on his first hayride-which he loved! We sat up front and he watched the tractor the whole time...such a boy. Besides saying, "big pumpkin" the whole time we were there, he found an old beat-up Jeep that he absolutely loved and wanted to push around the entire farm. Mom and dad figured out what to get him for Christmas! Here's a trip back down memory lane from then to now. They grow up WAY to fast!!

Weekend Chores

It's only natural that Taylor would be interested in household chores like washing the dishes, vacuuming, and raking the yard, he has been watching us do them for 20 months now! Recently, that day has come when all Taylor wants to do is "big" people chores. Of course we call them CHORES because we hate to have to do them, but to Taylor it's something "new" and "exciting" to do and he can do it all by himself. He loves to stand on a chair in the kitchen and wash the dishes. Not sure how much washing is going on, but the enthusiasm is there. He also loves to watch us cook! He'll stand on his chair and watch Andrew prepare a whole meal. This past weekend, the enthusiasm has moved onto vacuuming. He can't push the big heavy part of the vacuum yet, but he loves to use the tools and try his best at attempting to clean the carpet. Here are some videos of our HARD WORKING little toddler! Should we be thinking allowance already?

The See-Saw Life of Toddlerhood

Teething in young children is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it shows that they're getting ready for "real people" food. It's a curse because the lack of sleep (waking at 3am), overall meltdowns over EVERYTHING, low-grade fevers, swollen red gums, and sometimes even loose stools can be a bit overwhelming for any sane parent. Over the last 2 weeks, Taylor has had a total of 3 new teeth break through. Of course the typical "Taylor Teething" signs have all been there (the ones listed above) but it's not until after the fact, that a toddler like Taylor, "might" allow you a peek into their month. Usually, we happen to get a glance of a new tooth when Taylor is laughing so hard that his month stays open for longer than 5 seconds or when he's crying for longer than 10 seconds. Either way we finally saw 2 new top teeth and 1 new bottom front tooth. As of today, I think our total count is 13 teeth so far. Only 7 more to go until Taylor has all of his baby teeth. Then maybe Andrew and I can regain our parental sanity. Oh yeah, nevermind...potty training is just around the corner!

We've Been Busy...

Since the summer ended (at least for teachers that is) and I've been back at work it's been a little crazy readjusting our schedule again. Taylor goes to Mrs. Heather 3 times a week to play with her daughter Marie who is two weeks older than Taylor. Andrew is lucky enough to be able to stay home and have "daddy days" on Monday and Tuesday. All and all, I think we are back on track and off to another great school year! Taylor has had a couple of firsts over the last few weeks like: 1st fridge drawing to be hung up, 1st chalk drawing on the driveway, and 1st fresh tomato picking! Thanks Heather for keeping Taylor busy...he loves it! Taylor has also been out with Daddy and Uncle Tony to play frisbe golf for the first time, and last Saturday he had his first pancake at the Lakeside Grill that was "bigger" than his head. We've also had family visiting on the weekends. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Geegee for my first backyard slide-video coming soon! And thanks cousin Megan a.k.a "May-May" and aunt Vikki a.k.a "Bikki" for stopping by and taking me to the park to swing:-)

Trying to Fill Daddy's Shoes

Taylor has been playing with our shoes since I can remember. He loves to go get your shoes for you, place them in front of you, and watch you slide your feet into them. He also loves putting shoes away, including his own (hope this trait sticks around through the years). Lately, he has been playing around with learning to "walk" in mommy's and daddy's big shoes. Before he would just be able to get one foot inside the "big" shoe. Then he was able to get both feet into the "big" shoes. Now, not only can he put both feet in our shoes, he can actually walk in them which is socute and the funniest thing we've seen lately so I'm going to share it via video! ENJOY:

Summer Fun!

Someone once said that the best thing about being a teacher is June, July, and August. Well they're right! This was the first summer that Andrew and I could actually take Taylor places that he would enjoy and have fun experiencing (no longer a baby boy, but a growing active toddler). And boy we must have been busy because the summer has flown by! Besides being hotter than you know where...we've tried to stay cool and somewhat consider Taylor a "water baby". Before summer began Taylor was still a bit nervous when bath water ran over his face. Not anymore!! He actually doesn't mind it so much anymore, and if you let him he would play with the outside hose and some cups ALL afternoon long.

Here's a photo montage of our summer.

June: Old MacDonald Petting Zoo outside of Houston. The big yellow tunnel was just so much more fun than all those silly animals. Thanks grandma Gegee, aunt Vikki, and cousins Megan and Garrett for coming with us!

Golfing with Daddy!

Austin's Children's Museum with our playdate friends.

Playing in the fountains at the pool.

July: Parade ready! Happy 4th

San Antonio Zoo & Mommy's Birthday with our playdate friends.

Driving the boat...nothing more to say!

Houston Aquarium with cousins Megan & Garrett-a must see if you're in the Houston area!

MyTime Gym Class-nothing else was as fun as the slide. We need to get one of those for the backyard.

Playing with the hose...an after lunch or after dinner must.

The Evolution of Pooh

The classic Pooh Bear has been a staple at our house since Taylor was born. A friend of mine gave me a baby shower gift that included a small stuffed animal of Pooh. Since the day he was brought home from the hospital that little Pooh Bear was in his crib. Not because I even thought that he cared about it at that time, but because it was so soft and cute (plus it was one of the only stuffed animals that we had that wasn't made with small choking hazards...ribbons, buttons).

Around six months that little Pooh Bear became Taylor's Lovey. We took that thing everywhere!!! In the car, Mrs. Heather's house, Houston, Galveston, on the boat, EVERYWHERE!

Everyone in our family knows just how much Pooh means to Taylor. A must at naptime and an immediate soothing mechanism if anything goes wrong. Pooh has been so important to Taylor that I actually bought another one just in case something happened to the original (our backup Pooh-so far we haven't had to use it yet).

So far the original Pooh has seen a lot:

His nose (strings) bitten off-teething

Left on Heather's driveway in the pouring rain

Washer

Dryer

Run over by the stroller

Ears worn off from Taylor rubbing them

Hair clumped together from pure LOVE

Can you spot the changes?

Another Pooh item in our house is the Pooh book, "Yellow and Yummy". Ever since six weeks of age that has been Taylor's bedtime book. We definitely wore that book out! He always seemed so engaged in it until about 12 months when he decided that he could choose the books at bedtime. So for about 6 months "Yellow and Yummy" has taken a back seat to "What's Up Duck", "Jamberry", "No No, Yes Yes", and a series of Elephant, Tiger, and Ladybug books.

Until this week...the Yellow and Yummy book has returned as one of Taylor's favorites!!! We read it at least 5 times a day. And it's so cute because he plops himself down in my lap now and wants to sit and listen to a book (a teacher's delight).

The amazing thing is it's a book about colors and Taylor can now repeat the name of the colors once I've read them, and he will point things out in the story if I ask where they are. For instance, "where is the green frog", or "where are the orange pumpkins". He loves to say the word "honey"! I think I'm writing about this in a blog because this was his very "first" book and now he understands it (tears, tears). WOW, how he has grown! It used to be the teacher in me pointing everything out in the story...but now he does it on his own-way cool and a proud mommy moment:-)

Before the haircut-look at those curls:-)