Helpin' Daddy...Carry in Firewood

Can I just point out how sweet it is that

my husband will break his back to allow our boy to 'help?'

What a great Daddy!

If you click on this photo to enlarge it,

you can see Daniel's "concentration tongue" sticking out!

Just like his Daddy! lol

(ooarghuh! "grunting noises")

Our boy gave me a thumbs up at this point and it was

SO cute!

Unfortunately my camera missed it!

ALL DONE!

Helpin' Mama...

(you can see how he has already 'helped' on the wall beside him! lol)

see how he holds the cord in one hand? what a pro! :)

He thinks he's a lapdog...

Our big boy

Daniel and I went to his speech evaluation this past week. It went well. I was amazed to discover how very smart and talented my boy really is. :) Even though he barely speaks, he answered her many questions, built tall towers, blew bubbles, said the word "bubbles!" (which shocked this mama!), matched colors, and completed puzzles. He was checked by a dr., and aside from having some concerns over needing more oral stimulation, is perfectly healthy. All in all, he is super smart and although delayed in his speech, "he'll catch on soon enough," was the general consensus. The changes we need to make here? Let him grow up. Take away the pacifier and bottle (my only child to have these past the age of 18 mo), and make him say the words of the things he wants (rather than just giving them to him after he points.)

So when we left the office, I very gently told my boy that he is, in fact, a big boy now. And then I broke the news to him that we left his pacifier behind with the lady in the office. He cried, and it broke my heart. When we got to the car, I asked him which video he'd like to watch? He pointed and grunted and although I knew which one he wanted, I made him say the word before I would start it. and he did, his version of the word, but he did try to say it.

We decided to take away the pacifier and wean him off the bottle (which he gets at naps and bedtime.) Apparently, he's taken me seriously as I've whispered in his ear so many times over the past few days, what a big boy he really is now. And so, he has stopped taking naps. We are on day 3 of no naps, but bedtime? That is going fabulously. After two initial nights of crying, he seems to have forgotten all about his pacifier. Now weaning from the bottle, we'll see how that goes. But I have hope that it will be fine. That he will believe me when I tell him he is too big for it, and he will continue to grow faster than I am ready for. And I'm going to have to let him. And celebrate every milestone.

And the words? They're coming, slowly. He signs most words, and is struggling to say others. But I have no doubt the words will be along shortly. He's such a big boy now.

Family Visit

Garr's Grandpa Dan, Aunt Shirl, and cousin Cindy stopped by last Sunday morning on their way home from visiting his mom in VA. It has been years since we have seen Grandpa and Aunt Shirl. It was SO nice to catch up with them, even for a few minutes. We are hoping to make it up north for a visit this summer!! It is long overdue!

Our family with Grandpa -

Daniel wasn't so thrilled about getting his picture taken! lol

Aunt Shirl - Rocky was in love with her :)

Cindy!! ~ who promised to come back in the Spring and do family photos for me!

YAY! She is an awesome photographer ~ can't wait!
Garr Daniel and Grandpa Dan -
from the looks Grandpa is making some kind of smart remark :)

Garr and Grandpa

You can't have one without the other...

Daniel

Our boy is definitely two. Lots of independence, snuggling, and tantrums. :) Here are a few photos of our boy in January/February.

Our kids have always enjoyed books, and Daniel is no different. He gets very excited over books with trains or trucks in them especially.

Daniel is all about wearing his sister's winter hats around the house. Try to put one of his own on and it's a no-go. But if he's seen his sister wearing it, he loves to sport it --- but only inside. Why in the world would he wear a winter hat (or gloves!) outdoors?

All snuggled up watching Thomas, Barney, or Bob the Builder most likely.

A few of his favorite things... trains, trains, and trucks. Here his sister's have lined them up on the windowsill for him. I do believe he has the best seat in the house.

Emelyn lets her bunny, Honey, run around in her bedroom. I walked past the door one day and looked down to see DANIEL sitting INSIDE the bunny's cage! It was really too funny. I ran to get the camera but he got out before I made it back. (yes, he's our 4th child if you haven't noticed yet! lol) Later that evening, we were watching a movie with the girls. I noticed that Daniel wasn't in the room with us AND he was being awfully quiet. I decided to enjoy the moment and deal with the inevitable mess later. :) See below! The girls found him like this and starting hollering "We have a dalmation in the house!" too funny ... and yes it was washable marker. So Daniel was both a bunny and a dog that day. :)

(Can you tell he didn't want me to take his photo?...)

Meet Bob (or Ba-ub) as Daniel says it

When I was pregnant with Daniel, I took the girls to Build a Bear, and we made a bear for Daniel. They each made a wish on a little heart and tucked it inside the bear for their brother. This bear has been in Daniel's crib since he was born. It used to play a lullaby, but it had to be washed a time or two and so the lullaby no longer plays. But he loves it already. (and so does Rocky, as you can see by looking at it's chewed ear!) Anyways, it has been heartwarming to see Daniel loving this bear. He carries it around and pushes it in his sister's stroller (or in his Tonka dump truck!) The other day, I came into his room to see Daniel standing outside (but looking inside) his crib, yelling, "Ba-ub! Ba-ub!" Apparently he wanted to Bob to come out and play.