Helmet Head

My little T is now 17 months and growing up so fast, I can hardly keep up! He is of course his big brother's shadow and wants to do everything just like him.  He is starting to say so many more words, usually he'll try a word once if you ask him, than he makes a silly face and starts his babble again! But he's trying and before we know it, we'll be wishing he was quiet again:) He loves animals just like Talan so animal sounds are high on the list of our life soundtrack these days. His favorites animals to play with, of which we have a massive bin of them thanks to Talan, seem to be giraffe(do they even have a sound?!), macaws, cow, reindeer, and hippo(he says "Bippo").  He climbed up the stair on Talan's loft bed the other day,  Jason and I were playing on the floor next to the bed and we look up at a baby with the proudest grin on his face! So there's no turning back in the climbing department, although he has yet to discover how to climb out of his crib, and for that I am thankful.  Talan figured that out at 13 months old which landed him in a toddler bed far too soon than I was ready for! For a baby he seems to be eating us out of house and home! He can eat nearly anything you present him, including ribs which for having still just 4 teeth is quite a challenge. He LOVES fruit, anything with lots of sauce and flavorings, and will try whatever we offer him.  He adores looking at birds, reading about birds, and making bird sounds! And now that Big T is back in school, we have more one-on-one time together and I look forward to beach trips and play dates just the two of us!

Here are some photos of the little man wearing his brother's bike helmet...

                                            

                                                 

Do not get between this boy and his corn

 If you are completely grossed out by seeing a child eating, then do not continue reading! 

However, I happen to love these shots of Tanner thoroughly enjoying his corn-on-the-cob and ribs! Who knew a baby with still ONLY 4 teeth could demolish this meal?!  Of course he finishes it off with a cupcake....don't judge:) The older one is grossed out by anything sweet so I'm happy at least one of my children finds happiness in sweet treats just like his Mommy!

Dearest Cousins....We will see you soon!

The day finally came yesterday when we had to say goodbye to Jason's sister and our 3 nephews, as they embarked on their journey starting a new life in Indiana.  I think Talan realized truly what it meant this time when we said goodbye to his cousins....he said that he woudn't be seeing his cousins for a long time.  He understood that they would be living more than an 1 hour drive away, but was excited about the idea of having to take a plane to play with them.  Watching our 5 boys grow up together has been so special, and their bond will surely last a lifetime even with thousands of miles between them. Thank goodness for Skype, facebook, and texting so we can keep in touch!  I've included some photos of all of our boys over the years...   

                                                                  

Thomas and Talan are 2 months apart. Here is Talan getting his first look at his cousin

Thomas and Talan at 4 and 6 months old

Holding his cousins hand

Playing together at Jason's apprenticeship turn-out dinner

The 3 boys at Talan's 1 st birthday party

My most favorite picture of the 3 of them!

                                                               Christmas Morning aftermath

Mitch and Talan wrestling

Fishing at Almaden Lake

He's quite a character

The progression of these photos gives you a very clear idea of my Little T's Jekyll and Hyde personality...

Most people who spend time with him comment on his quiet nature, "he just likes to observe everything around him", "he's so even-tempered", "he is so calm."  That is unless he is stuck at home with yours truly, the one who gave him a cozy place to grow for almost 9 months, who sits up all hours of the night comforting his restless nights, or who painfully worries about his asthma every time he gets a sniffle since it has turned in to so much worse for him too many times.  I'm his Mommy, so I get both the greatest of him, and the worst, and every little precious/comical/adorable/quirky/annoying/loveable part in between.  He is a character, and when he is stuck with me, his favorite is Jekyll and Hyde...one moment he is joyfully racing cars, acting silly, and just like that, he becomes a screeching, screaming terror.  Yup that's right, I have a screamer.  All of you non parental units out there who scoff and scorn at parents who's children scream in public places(that was me at one time by the way!), well beware.  You never know what kind of child you will get, EVER.  Talan never, EVER screamed.

 It is all about your own child's personality.  And this little man certainly has one!  I love him more than words, but dear God, he can be loud.  We are working on it, and the frequency has decreased a bit now that he has become a little more verbal and can shake his head yes and no.  We have been doing brief time outs and those are making a difference also.  The frustration gets the best of him for sure, like most 1 year olds. Some bite, some bang their heads on walls, some make themselves throw up, others writhe around on the floor crying, and others never do any of this (the lucky ones).  My baby screams, but as I mentioned earlier, it is pretty much only at home.  Out and about he is darn near perfect.  I guess at home, I just bring out the best in him....how nice!                                    

The suttle change in his eyes, although he's smiling, indicates the change will soon be upon us...

If there were volume on this it would be ear piercing!

Let me see if she's still watching me so I can unleash more terror

His tantrums generally result in him having to hit or kick a wall like this

Exhausted from the tantrum