Rangers Game Fun

We spent Sunday after church at the Rangers game. It was Barrett's first game of the season. (He went to a couple games last season, but he was so little!)

Barrett loved being outside and playing with his friends. And eating. Kid loves his food! But my favorite part of the whole day was when Barrett was standing on my lap, facing the baseball game, and he turned around and gave me the best, sweetest, biggest kiss. Then he smiled, turned back around, and started clapping along with the crowd. Usually I have to ask for kisses, but this one was all on his own. It was just the sweetest moment.

Little Helper

Barrett has been quite the helper lately.

He helps pick up his toys.

He "cleans" counters and floors with anything he can find (including his lovey).

He throws his trash away (and his sippy cup when he's finished with his milk.).

He follows me around the house when I vaccuum.

And today he decided to "help" Daddy mow the lawn.

18 Months

How did we get here? As I'm writing this I'm watching Barrett try to go to sleep in his crib.  He keeps sitting up to look at the fan, moves his lovey and tiger, lays back down, sits up again.  I don't take for granted that I know he's eventually just going to fall asleep ... because I remember the period of time when I thought my child would never be a sleeper.  I loathed the fights at bedtime and naptime, and now it's so easy!  And really, the sweetest part of my day.  We read a few stories, Mommy gets kisses, and then he lays (or plays) in his bed until he falls asleep.

He has recently shown an interest in us reading books to him during the day ... not just when it's time to wind down before sleep time.  He's always loved exploring books on his own, but recently he will grab a book, say "read," and sit in my lap for me to read the story.  He studies every part of every page.  And he gets so excited when there is a character that he recognizes staring back at him.  I love this time because, in addition to all the benefits of reading out loud he is getting, it's our cuddle time.

He has also become FAST! We have to pick up the pace when keeping up with him.  Uncle Brandon says that he could win an Olympic medal in power walking.  He hasn't quite figure out how to run ... but little boy can MOVE!

We have also joined a Gymboree play class once a week.   The class is currently working on the concepts of "over" and "under."  The teacher has obstacles set up on the apparatuses around the gym, and Barrett and I go over and under each one.  We also have song time, bubbles time, and parachute time where the whole group participates together.  Barrett seems to take a step back during these times and watch the other babies, but I'm sure he'll get the hang of it.  Sometimes he has so much fun, and sometimes he's just a little overwhelmed.

Carrying a Ball at Play Class

More Play Class Fun

We've also hit the stage of repeating words.  He can pretty much repeat anything we throw at him.  Lately we've been practicing his ABCs.  He repeats each letter as we go through the alphabet, and I think he has a special love for the letter "Q."  That letter always gets the biggest reaction.  He can also repeat (word by word) "I. Love. You," "I. Love. (Insert Name Here)," and "Jesus. Loves. MEEEE."

"I.  Love.  Dada"

Barrett has been able to recognize his grandparents pretty soon after he started recognizing Mommy and Daddy.  But recently he's been able to recognize AND name his aunts, uncles, and cousins.  (And if you know how many aunts and uncles this kid has, you'd be impressed too!)  We spend a lot of time looking up pictures and naming everyone so he can keep them all straight.

We've also found Barrett's first friends ... his cousins.  All 3 kids love each other so much.  We went to a wedding recently, and when Hannah and Moses got out of the car, all 3 kids started running towards each other.  Matt and I and Uncle Brandon and Aunt Shannon just stood there and watched.  And laughed.  I love watching those kids love my baby.  It's so much fun!  It also makes me so extremely excited about baby Jordan coming this summer.  Barrett will be the "big" cousin and be able to show her the ropes.

Why Did Mommy Make Us Stop Playing?  To Take a Picture?!?! What?

Family All Dressed Up ... For a Wedding in the SAME Place Where Mommy and Daddy Got Married

At our 18 month appointment, the doctor told us that Barrett is in the 92% for height and the 95% for weight.  My response was "no kidding."  Ok ... I didn't actually say that out loud.  But he's pretty big! And HEAVY!  The doctor also told us that he thinks Barrett will be about 6'2'' or 6' 3'' when he grows up.  It's weird to think of my little boy as a grown up!

His latest obsession,  apparently ignoring my objections, is Angry Birds.  Not just birds.  Angry Birds.  He found the game on Daddy's phone, and life as we knew it will never be the same.  He started outsmarting us by asking if he could play "woof-woof" (his animal noises game).  Apparently he found the Angry Birds icon on the phone, and he knew that we would let him play "woof-woof."  So he opens the "woof-woof" game and immediately closes it and starts looking for Angry Birds.  When he is actually able to open the game (he has all his fingers on the screen at the same time and taps them all until something works) he starts yelling "Bird! Bird!"  Shortly followed by squeals of delight.
I'm embarrassed to admit how long it took be to catch on to this little trick of his.  But also, I wasn't at all expecting my year and a half year old to be manipulating me!  Smart little boy.

Below are just some pictures of us playing outside and being goofy with Daddy:

Current Barrett-isms

"nnnno " = no

"bwush" = brush

"bEdah" = bed

"momma " = mommy

"dada " = daddy

"dOOOOOOO" = down

"yeeawww"/ "ya" = yeah

"baw" = ball

"caw?" = car 

"tuk" - truck

"caulk" = clock

"cauck" = cracker

"cacher" = tiger lovie 

"ya-ya" = bear lovie (This was his answer every time we asked him if he wanted his lovie.  It just kind of evolved)

"eese eese" = cheese

"sauch" = apple sauce

"bocks" = blocks

"bwed-ah" = bread (or tortilla!  Haha)

"bulk" = milk (while signing)

"wa-wa" = water

"go-go" = go, car

"go-gu" = yogurt (not to be confused with "go-go"

"go-Go go-Go go-Go" = I want to watch Cars (the movie)

"go?" = where'd it go?

"ba ba ba ba" while waving = bye bye

"pease" = please (while rubbing his whole chest and tummy)

"souce" = Mickey Mouse

"manie" = Minnie Mouse

"ish" = Goofy

"uck" = Donald/Daisy Duck

"pup pup" = Pluto

"esss" = yes

"beauum" = boom

"shez" = shoes

"sock" or "SOCKey" = sock

"shew" = bless you
"wa wa" = water

"ish" = fish or Cheerios

"ish! ish! ish! ish! MEEMO!" = I want to watch Finding Nemo

"whooooaaa" = whoa

"oh-oh! oh-oh! oh-oh!" = uh-oh

"sass" = grass

"Papa" = Papa

"Nana" = Nana or banana 

"Popppa" = Poppy

"Moma" = Gamma

"Berit" = Barrett

"mooooo" "neeeeeigh" "baa" "ick" (oink) "ssss" "woof woff" "miow" (meow) = animal noises

He makes these noises after you ask him what each animal says.  

"red! red!" = read

"di-sooore" = dinosaur

"aco" = taco

Happy Easter!

Last Easter, I remember just trying to get Barrett to sit up so we could take some pictures.  This Easter was a whole different story!  We started off Easter Week by celebrating my birthday.

Mommy Making Me Pose for Birthday Pictures

 Big Hugs 

(This is his "I'm so happy I can't contain It" face)

After a morning of breakfast in bed, Easter clothes shopping, and then a sushi lunch, we decided to dye Easter Eggs.  I wasn't too sure how much Barrett would actually absorb from this, but he was VERY interested in it!
(It may or may not have been due to the Cars egg dying kit I bought.)

Watching Mommy Put on Stickers

 Helping It Stick

 Getting My Own Sticker

 Success!

Close Up

 Mommy Look at Me!

On Good Friday we went to an Easter Egg hunt with all of our church friends.  Barrett played on the playground with all of his friends from the nursery.  He had so much fun we had a hard time keeping up with him!  After a quick snack and the Easter Story, the Egg Hunt began.

 Sweet Friends and Neighbors

 Deciding What to Do ...

 .... Oh!  They Open!  

 And There are Sweet Treats Inside!

On Easter Sunday we spent a quiet day together as a family.  The last couple of weeks have been so busy with so many activities, we enjoyed the slow pace of the day.  First though, we had to get little one all dressed up!

Excuse Me?  What Are YOU Doing Here?

Ay Yi Yi ... Getting Dressed up is TOUGH

Easter Lunch Giggles with Daddy

 Easter Bunny Basket!

 More Eggs!  Yesss!

Cute-Tee in a  Cute-Tie

 Easter Smiles!

 And Easter Kisses!

(I don't even care that it's blurry ... I love it!)

The older Barrett gets, the more fun the holidays become.  Seeing and experiencing everything through his eyes definitely brings out the kid in me! 

 I look forward to sharing the Easter story with him in the years to come.  Seeing him react to little things like the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg Hunts tend to make my heart melt ... So I really can't imagine how it will feel to see him experience the story of Jesus for the very first time.  

Too Fast!!!!

I love this age! I love how Barrett is learning about the world around him. I love that I teach him a new word, and he learns it so quickly. I love that he squeals with delight when Mommy or Daddy chases him. I love that he yells "whoa!!!!" when something impresses him. I love that he can tell us "gan" when he wants us to do something again. And I ESPECIALLY love when he has a whole conversation without ever using any real words. He points, explains, gets excited ... And it's all in jibberish. Or maybe Chinese.

But then there are days when he can stand on a step stool to wash his hands, or to "help Mommy" make dinner that I realize just how fast my baby boy is turning into a little boy.

Spring Is Here!

Spring Is Here!  And so is RSV...It's been a looong week.  And Barrett spent most of the week at Gamma and Poppy's house for Spring Break!  Gamma told me that Barrett didn't seem to be acting like he felt like himself.  After I picked him up and brought him back home he started running a fever.  After some Advil, he seemed to bounce right back to his normal self.  After Matt got home from work we played, went out to eat, and played outside.  Since all 3 of us have had colds and sinus infections (multiple times) the past few weeks, we thought Barrett just had a little cold.  Again.  

Playing Outside with Mommy and Daddy

The next day, his fever got even higher.  So we went to the doctor and he tested positive for RSV.  Sweet little boy was just so pitiful!  And there wasn't a whole lot I could do to help him.  Just fever management and trying to help the congestion.  Other than that, we just had to wait it out.  As much as I hate my baby being sick, the worst of it was over the weekend.  So Daddy was home to help take care of our little guy.  Between the two of us we watched Mickey Mouse ("souce"), Finding Nemo ("ish), and Cars ("go-go") a million times.  The weekend was filled with Disney movies and cuddles!

St. Patrick's Day was the first day he started to act more like himself.  He actually wanted to play a little, go outside, and read books.  The past few days he didn't even want to get out of Mommy's or Daddy's laps, and you could feel the heaviness in his body telling us he needed to cuddle.  It was so good to see him wanting to play with his blocks and go outside!!  So we LEFT THE HOUSE!  And it felt good!  I think Barrett was really feeling cooped up also!

First stop ... Rosa's.  Why?  Barrett's appetite has been gone the past few days.  Besides a bite here an there, he hasn't really eaten anything that we tried to give him.  We thought that giving him something he doesn't eat all the time would make him excited about lunch time! 

Hello My Name is Barrett.  I'll Be Taking Your Order.

After a nap and another outing for dinner (like I said ... cooped up for days) we hit the park!

Playing with Mommy

Cute Boy!

Showing Daddy His New Skills

Tickles!

 Time To Go Home!

Current Barrett-isms

"nnnno " = no

"bwush" = brush

"bEdah" = bed

"momma " = mommy

"dada " = daddy

"dOOOOOOO" = down

"yeeawww"/ "ya" = yeah

"baw" = ball

"caw?" = car 

"tuk" - truck

"caulk" = clock

"cauck" = cracker

"cach" = tiger lovie (hey ~ he's trying)

"ya-ya" = bear lovie (This was his answer every time we asked him if he wanted his lovie.  It just kind of evolved)

"eese eese" = cheese

"sauch" = apple sauce

"bocks" = blocks

"bwed-ah" = bread (or tortilla!  Haha)

"bulk" = milk (while signing)

"wa-wa" = water

"go-go" = go, car

"go-gu" = yogurt (not to be confused with "go-go"

"go-Go go-Go go-Go" = I want to watch Cars (the movie)

"go?" = where'd it go?

"ba ba ba ba" while waving = bye bye

"pease" = please (while rubbing his whole chest and tummy)

"souce" = Mickey Mouse

"esss" = yes

"beauum" = boom

"shez" = shoes

"sock" or "SOCKey" = sock

"shew" = bless you

"ish" = fish or Cheerios

"ish! ish! ish! ish! MEEMO!" = I want to watch Finding Nemo

"whooooaaa" = whoa

"oh-oh! oh-oh! oh-oh!" = uh-oh

"sass" = grass

"Papa" = Papa

"Nana" = Nana or banana 

"Popppa" = Poppy

"Moma" = Gamma

"Berit" = Barrett

"mooooo" "neeeeeigh" "baa" "ick" (oink) "ssss" "woof woff" "miow" (meow) = animal noises

He makes these noises after you ask him what each animal says.  The other day Uncle David asked him each of these, and then asked him what a car says.  We all probably thought he would say something along the lines of "beep beep."  However, he stopped, thought about it for a second, looked Uncle David right in the eye, and with a big smile responded with "go-go!"  

Ish! Ish!

We have been sick for weeks with this never ending cold. Mommy finally caught it from the boys, and in between that and the cold/yucky weather we had last week ... we couldn't stay inside for another day! So we spent the morning at the aquarium to see the "ish! ish!" I love taking him when it's not crowded because he can just run around and explore. (I didn't get any pictures if his face BECAUSE of his exploring!)