book sign

While strapping Tyler into his carseat this morning he kept kicking the book that was resting in the back pocket of the front seat. I asked Tyler if he wanted his book and could he say the word. And to my delight he did the sign for book without me demonstrating it. It is so rewarding to see the fruits of our consistent effort to show him new signs in combination with saying the words!

banana bunch

I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it. I took Tyler to daycare and as I chatted with Miss Deb, Tyler climbed the stairs and popped himself down at the kids picnic table in her kitchen (nothing new). But then I hear Debbie say "Oh Tyler did you really want that banana that badly?" He pulled the bunch off the counter ripping one off and then pulled the rest of the peel off and chomped down leaving the evidence on the floor. He is so determined and wants to be so independent!

word copy

Tyler is getting really great at mimicing sounds and words we say. Earlier in the week he was climbing in and out of a basket. I kept repeating, "Tyler is IN the basket. Now, Tyler is OUT of the basket..." He followed suit with a clear "OUT," but I've not heard him actually use the word in context yet.

Then today as he was playing with his cousins, Alex asked him to say "Pear Bear," which is Perrin's nickname. Tyler consistently repeated "PaBa, PaBa." When asked to say Andrew it was still "PaBa!"

daddy is my hero

Tyler is SO into Daddy lately. Can't blame him! It's so cute to watch them bond. Just this morning Tyler kept saying "Dada" over and over again as Alex got him dressed. Awww.

chit chat

I called my mom to chat and someone else took over! He walked around holding the phone to his ear and listening to her talk to him. He didn't say much but a few "HIs" and some jibber jabber and OOPS, hung up on her a few times too.

glimpse into theater

Today I picked Tyler up from Owings Mills after spending the day at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott for a CASE Board meeting. It's tech week for Alex's play and Tyler got to check out the set and the actors in costume. Boy he had a great time! He instantly made many friends who admired his nonstop smile and giggles.

Tyler loved the music, the big open space to run, run and run, as well as a big sun that was part of the set. Daddy even took him for a spin on a rolling chair. What a fun night!

first boo boo

We visited Daddy's theater today and then stopped at one of our favorite shops nearby. Tyler was so excited about the puzzle he picked out that he kept running out of the store before I had paid for it. So when it was finally time to go I let him carry the bag to the car. He stumbled and got his first skinned knee. But he shook it off after only a few tears.

caulk

Today when I picked Tyler up daycare, all the kids were outside coloring the walkways with sidewalk chalk. Boy was he happy! He even used a new word, "caulk" for chalk. Tyler cried when it was time to go and I ended up having to pry a piece of chalk out of each hand (and Tyler has his dad's super human strength so it wasn't easy!) When we got home we colored our own sidewalk with chalk. And he pointed out each plane that passed overhead.

run, run

Tyler rarely walks. He RUNS! Everywhere!

kid table

Tyler decided that he was too big for the highchair at daycare. He wants to sit at the kid-size picnic table in Miss Deb's kitchen with all the other kids. He just climbs in and is ready for a meal!

planes, trains and automobiles

Tyler is such a rough-and-tumble little boy. He loves to push his cars around and bang them together. His most often used words? Car and Truck. And each time he hears a plane overhead he stops in his tracks and points to the sky turning until his finger lines up with the plane's location.

17 months

What a handsome little gentleman Tyler is growing into? At 17 months Tyler is VERY confident. He knows what he wants and doesn't hesitate to tell you just what that is. Yet he is so loving and loves to giggle. Still to this day the question I hear ALL the time is, "Is he always so happy?"

stop to smell the roses

Well not roses, but I put out some beautiful yellow flowers on the front steps. As we passed by Tyler's instinct was to grab the petals. I showed him how we smell flowers rather than squeezing them and he immediately bent over the blooms and blew out of his nose. He's just so adorable!

illa

One of Tyler's two all-time favorite books is Goodnight Gorilla, which he got from his Granny (the other is I Love You Through and Through). While reading the book to him tonight he repeated "illa" after my saying "goodnight gorilla." Now I want to hear him do it again!

picture pointer

I mentioned last week that Tyler was able to point to a picture of Alex and call out his name. This evening he looked at the same picture and pointed to me and called out "Mama!" Then I pointed to Alex and asked Tyler who it was; he called out "Dah!"

socks

Tyler always pulls his socks off when it is time to get into his PJs. But this morning he tried to put his socks ON while getting dressed for the day. It was so cute to watch him fumble trying to get the material over his bubbly toes.

head kisses

Tyler has his own funny version of kisses. He's really got the leaning in part down. But he doesn't realize that he's supposed to be using his mouth. So if you say, "Tyler can I have a kiss?" he just leans his head over and leans his forehead against your head.

picking up daisy

Tyler just decided that when it's time to go to the playroom Daisy must come too. However, sometimes Daisy would rather take her time with her own dinner. So Tyler has taken it upon himself to try to carry Daisy to where he thinks she should be. Poor Daisy. At least she is a good sport and side steps him quickly. Where you going Daisy?

chilly

It's still chilly! Tyler can't wait until the weather is a little more mild so he doesn't have to layer so much. But he sure has made good use of his vest this season!

signing eat

Tonight Tyler used a new sign. And an important one: EAT!

car rides

Tyler loves car rides. He just chills out back there and watches the world pass by. A few times I've even caught him flirting with those in neighboring cars stopped at the light. And other times all I hear are ZZZZZZs.

missing daddy

Alex had been out of town for training for his new job with Hobsons. During dinner Tyler looked over at a framed photo that sits on the ledge in between our dining room and kitchen. The photo is of Alex and me from our dating days. Observing it closely Tyler smiled, pointed at it and said "Dah!" He repeated it several times and pointed to Alex each time smiling all the while. How sweet!