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!

hunter time

A hat trick of playdates? Yes, Tyler has had a full weekend! We were lucky enough to have another out-of-town friend visit. Katie and her son Hunter came all the way from South Carolina. The boys bonded over cars. So sterotypical.

ayla time

Another playdate? This time Kristen and her daughter Ayla came to hang out. Kristen and I enjoyed catching up and Tyler and Ayla loved spending time together. He was doing a great job of sharing his toys (might have had great practice the night before).

lollipop and oreo

Two new sugary sweets for Tyler. First we allowed him to try a lollipop from the hair shop under close supervision. Not even close to the disaster I thought it would end up to be. He tried to pop the entire thing in his mouth but after showing him how to hold it he was all set.




Tyler ate like a champ at dinner. Must have worked up an appetite with all that play. So I let him try the 2-pack of Oreos that came with his kid's meal at dinner. He LOVED them!

first haircut

It was finally time. Tyler's hair was close to his chin on the sides and hanging well below his collar in the back. We took him to Cartoon Cuts in the Columbia Mall. I was already a little nervous and the kid in the first seat screaming at the top of his lungs was not reassuring! But Tyler's hairdresser was FABULOUS. She worked with the speed and efficiency of Edward Scissorhands. Tyler watched Dora on the mini TV and leaned away from the hairdresser at times. When she used the electric trimmer above his ears Tyler swatted at her like a fly, but overall was very unaffected by the process. We got a certificate with the first hair clippings as a keepsake. What a pleasant experience for all involved (namely a nervous mommy)!

Before

cuspids

While playing with Tyler I noticed something new. I was tickling him and as he lay there with his mouth wide open, I noticed more teeth! He had been drooling nonstop several weeks earlier but I didn't make the connection. Turns out he was busy popping out three cuspid teeth with his lower left one ready to join soon.

howeses at our house

Stacie and Simon came over for dinner and a playdate. Tyler is still learning to SHARE! He sometimes strips Simon of his toys without blinking. But when asked he'll usually offer up a toy (with the few exceptions when he extends his arm as if to offer the toy and then quickly yanks it back)!

Tyler and Simon also had a funny exchange where they playfully slapped their hands together giggling nonstop.

blowing kisses

SO CUTE!!! Tyler has learned to put his palm to his mouth (wide open) and toss his hand in our direction to "blow us a kiss!"

men at work

Well, not men at work, but a little man. While Debbie was off for the holiday Tyler spent the morning with Daddy and the afternoon with mommy at work. Everyone got a big kick out of how big Tyler is growing and how fast he was scooting around. Tyler had a great time meeting new people, seeing old friends and helping Auntie Joy with mail processing!

easter basket

Tyler was really impressed with his Easter basket this year. He was so interested by the toys and snacks. He so eager to try a Reese's peanut butter cup that he didn't wait to unwrap it first. He just took a big bite of paper and all. Oops! We stuck to the raisins and puffs after that!

Later in the evening Mommy and Daddy dyed eggs. Tyler was able to join in using a wax crayon to create scribbles on some of the eggs before getting their color.

egg hunt

Tyler spent the evening before Easter with the Jones side of the family. He really enjoyed the egg hunting. Especially when he discovered the surprises inside!

chicks dig me

poor sick boy

Tyler came home from daycare on Monday without his usual spunk and energy. I should have known when he wanted to be carried on our evening walk and would barely touch his dinner. Sure enough he came home from daycare on Tuesday feeling sick. Stayed home Wednesday and Thursday. His low grade fever broke and he went back to daycare on Friday. He's still not himself, but he's finally shaking the yucks. What a trouper!

happy st. patty's day

The Campbells made sure to wear their green today!

to cut or not to cut

That is my mommy dilemma. Tyler's blonde curls at the nape of his neck hang over his collar. But it's his long hair on the sides of his head that is just a pain. They hang in front of his ears and look like 3-inch sideburns. I'm constantly tucking them behind his ears. Is it too early to cut his beautiful locks? And do I take him to a professional the first time since I've not cut boys hair EVER? Your thoughts? Leave me a comment.

more words

New words seem to sneak out of Tyler daily. He's added tink que (thank you), bye, car and kuck (truck).

lookout

It's a good thing that we have a little scout or two to keep an eye on the neighborhood!

a few of my favorite things

Tyler's most recent loves: bananas (he eats them like a starving gorilla), planes, cars, coloring, running and getting into ANY- and EVERYTHING!

my boys

Here they are getting ready for a walk. Aren't my boys the cutest?

16 months

1 and 1/3 years old. I remember how important those extra fractions could be when I was in school. I'd write my name on my lunch bag and then my age 5 and 3/4.

evening walks

Walking the dog as a family in the evening is one of my favorite things. Tyler loves to run through the grass, point at planes, feel the bark of trees and say hi to passersby. We ask him, "Can you point to the sky, Tyler?" And he points up to the sky, and then we ask him, "Can you point to the grass?" He stops, bends down and points and pokes at the blades of grass.

dot and mommy

Tyler is so communicative. He uses words like Hi, Doggie, uh oh. Mama became Mommy today for the first time and Dad still sounds like Dot. He says "Hi Dot!" nearly every morning. And he uses sign language. He knows milk, more, bath, and telephone. It seems his only limitation is how many signs mom and dad know. And we're maxing out, so we're going to head to the library later this week to brush up on our signing vocabulary.

tampon

I had my hands full getting ready for work and carrying Tyler downstairs to leave. I made the mistake of letting Tyler help me carry some of the items. And one particular item kept him giggling: a tampon. The green crinkly wrapper was very interesting! When I tried to trade a tin of mints for the tampon, he ended up with both. Poor mommy couldn't stop giggling herself.

auntie deb

Auntie Deb, who is a DHS star in DC, hopped the Metro out to join us and Oma for brunch and then some sister shopping time. Tyler loved having a new fan in his audience.

big on balloons

Boy these are fun! Tyler likes to hit them together to make noise!

ahhh

Tonight Tyler was enjoying his milk at dinner so much that he added a big AHHH after each sip. Adorable!

mister independent

Our baby is a baby no more. He is a little independent thinker with his own ideas of what he wants to do. FIERCELY independent! He still likes to have us close at hand for cuddles, but he wants to walk places on his own, not be carried; wants to feed himself; and wants to get dressed when he's ready. But despite these stubborn times he's still really giggly and easy going. What a fun little guy!

signs

Tyler really knows his sign language. He was facing Daddy when I asked, "Is it bath time?" Immediately he started rubbing his chest which is the sign for bath.

airplanes

Today was the first break from the bitter cold and the Campbell family took full advantage of it! It was such a gorgeous day that we walked our dog without needing to wear coats. We took our time and watched several planes approaching or departing from BWI. I don't think I've ever seen so many planes overhead. Tyler loved it! He pointed to each one, sometimes spotting them before us. As he watched them he pointed to them and tried to say "airplane," which didn't sound remotely close yet! And then we walked to the nearby playground and watched the other kids and ran around. Fun fun!