Merry Christmas Eve

Enjoy your Holiday Weekend!

Santa

Adam and I were really excited to take Crew to Riverwoods and see Santa. It was freezing outside but the line wasn't long and Crew didn't care one bit that it was cold. He ran around looking at all the lights. 

When it came time to see Santa I wasn't sure how it would go. Fortunately, Crew did really well. He sat on Santa's lap, even made eye contact with him when asked if he wanted a "car for Christmas", and then was ready to go. I was so happy he didn't cry!

Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses

Monday night my family came over and we decorated Gingerbread Houses. We all bought a kit--which is so much easier than making it by hand--and copied the picture on the box...for the most part. 

My sisters with her gingerbread house

Parker and Keziah with their gingerbread house. Parker added army men to their house for some added originality.

Trimming the Tree

My family all got together to Trim the Christmas Tree. My parents even got all new ornaments that are shatter proof so the grandchildren could join in. 

4 days until Christmas!

16 months

Although Crew is closer to 17 months than he is 16 months but here are his stats and updates

16 Month Stats

Weight = 26.5 lbs = 74.5%

Length = 34 inches = 95.21%

Head = 50.42 cm = 98.69%

If I had to describe Crew as a 16 month old in one word it would be "independent". He knows what he wants and does whatever he can to get his way. Yet, he is still so sweet with his hugs and kisses, and holding our hands. 

He likes to watch Mickey Mouse Club House and Little Einsteins. He loves when he sees me pick up the remote because he knows he gets to watch a show (which is not too often).

One of his favorite games to play is with Adam. He lays on Adam's stomach a tosses a ball up and down just like Adam does with a football. 

Pure Joy

He needs a hair cut really badly. Poor guy--I can put his hair in a pony tail. 

Crew loves books. He will grab a book, sit on my lap, and then we will read it together. He then grabs another book and we keep reading. He never tires of it

His face cracks me up in this photo

Crew likes to through his balls over obstacles. For example he like to throw his tennis ball over the stair banister or over the kitchen counter island. He then walks to the other side, finds the ball, and repeats.

When I take a picture of him he wants to see the picture on my camera right away. He will pose for about 1 second--which sometimes is long enough for a photo--and them will run up to me and pull my camera around to see the image.

He understand the sentences we say to him even though he doesn't say the words. I'll say go grab a ball, or lets get your shoes on, or go pick out a book. He totally understands me and does exactly what I have asked of him. It is amazing to me how much he understands.

Crew loves peanut butter. I waited a little longer than normal to feed him PB because I was nervous but all is well and he likes his PB spread thinly on a whole wheat ritz cracker

He gets scared when I turn on the central vacuum but then he will look at me and see that I am smiling and then it is all fun to see me vacuum

He makes the "more" sign in sign language. Surprising to me though because I hardly ever make the sign but occasionally he will use the sign at breakfast time.

"Car" is his newest word and he likes playing with them more too

He like to dance to music. It is more him twisting back and forth and bending his knees up and down--it is cute

When I am with Crew all he says is "daddy" or "daaa-eee". When he cries or wants food then he says "momm-ee"

He has started climbing on everything. He will pull out chairs to climb on them or go from the chair to the table. He is getting more brave about climbing which makes me more nervous.  He likes to climb on chairs, our ottoman, steps, and especially our fireplace mantle

When we say "go" he will take his arm and punch it forward while saying "go, go, go" like he is finishing the cougar fight song--we trained him early

He loves to drink out of water bottles or my glass instead of sippy--but them my water gets major floaties so I don't really like to share my water with him--can you blame me

Crew trying to drink out of my cup at the airport

When he eats he says "mmmm" about every other bite and like to feed himself. He I try to put a spoon full of food in his mouth he shakes his head no--but then he will give himeself a spoon full of food and eat it right up. Independent kid.

Cancun: Part 4

Like I said in previous post we spent most of our time at the beach or the pool--which is what you are supposed to do when in Cancun. So here are the rest of our pictures from the trip. 

Crew found a green balloon one afternoon and refused to let it go. Even though it was windy that day he managed to hold on to the balloon pretty much all day. 

Our niece Paisley was so cute... one afternoon when we caught her doing handstands on the beach shore

 

Waking up to sunshine and a smiling face was probably the best part of the day

I tried to get a picture of the three baby boy cousins...it was a difficult task. But they are so cute!

Crew trying to put goggles on

More of us chasing Crew as he heads straight for the water

Check out that hair!

My sweet boy

Spending time at the pool

We are glad to be home even though it is hard to leave 80 degree weather. But Christmas is around the corner and we are ready!