Learnin' up a storm

Last weekend, Grandma Jones was able to come and hang out. The weather didn't suit to going outside, so we decided to head to the Main Street Children's Museum here in town. Shepard learns like 28 words a day it seems like. His receptive language is through the roof. He can correctly identify all kinds of items in books, like: cow, horse, cloud, flower, TV, mouse, banana, apple, cat, pig, bunny, sheep, clock, lamp, teddy bear, etc. He is really enjoying books these days and will sit in his rocking chair and pretend to read them. He's also vocalizing sounds that are starting to sound more and more like singing. We've been teaching him "Row, row, row your boat," and he's quite good at the "row-row-row" part. He loves to hand us things and say his version of "Thank you." It kind of sounds like dah-dah. And everything these days seems to be "HOT." We're trying to teach him about the stove, hot food, light bulbs, etc. so anytime he sees steam, fog, smoke or hears the microwave, he whispers the word "HOT." I think he does it on the video.
Enjoy!

This week in the life of Shepard-19 months

Happy 19 months, sweet boy! You are such a joy. You ask what EVERYTHING is, and especially like to point to animals and objects in books and hear the words over and over. You can identify lots of animals now when Mommy and Daddy ask you something like, "Where's the cow?" Occasionally, you will roar like a lion and smile at us with a glimmer in your eye, as though you know how cute you're being.

Man, my feet are growing so fast!

Hopefully, I'll grow into these feet soon.

Let's go play outside!

On Saturday at the park, you played on the bridge part of the playground for the first time. Which was all very exciting until you decided to run into the other section and slide down the really-steep slide on your stomach. It was so steep we hadn't let you down it at all before! You laughed and then ran around and did it again...this time with me and on your bum. I have to wear my running shoes to keep up with you. (yes, the same running shoes pictured on HIS feet up there)

Who me? Just sittin' at the table. That's all.

You still love to climb on things. I came around the corner this morning after you had been quiet in the kitchen for a few minutes to find you sitting on the stool at the table and smiling at me...again, as if you knew how cute you are. You seemed so proud of yourself. I was really proud that you weren't standing on the stool. (see pics)

Cheese!

You take particular joy in closing doors these days, especially is someone is on the other side. Then we play a game where we open the door and you giggle and close it again. I think you'll be opening the doors pretty soon.

You have outgrown most of your 18 month clothes and are fitting into mostly 2T stuff now. Good thing we had lots of hand-me-downs ready!  At mealtimes, you are getting much better about not yelling, but asking and gesturing so we know what you want. You are pretty particular. You still love pizza, pasta, chicken, and your veggies, and have recently decided that grapes and strawberries are pretty awesome too.

I love scrambled eggs!

Last week, you interacted with the TV by saying "CHOO CHOO!" whenever the TV asked you to. And when you heard the word "sky," you jumped up and pointed straight up as if to say, "I know where that is!!!"
You change every day. I really think you grow measurably every day in height. Your eyes sparkle with everything you're thinking, and I know you can't wait to tell us all about it. We can't wait to hear.

Supermen!

I have some pretty awesome guys. And to prove it, I bought them (mostly) matching shirts for Christmas. I love watching them giggle, wrestle, and read together. I love it that Shepard's torso already looks like his Dad's, long and lean. I love my supermen.

Ho Ho Ho! pics

Well, I couldn't get flickr to cooperate, so I made a slideshow with music. Probably more fun anyway.
So, a belated MERRY CHRISTMAS with photos from our celebrations. I was a delinquent photographer and did not capture everyone. We didn't even get a family picture that was in focus. Sigh. Now I know.
Enjoy the festive photos!

The boy wonder.

:) We are getting to the really fun age when Shepard starts identifying stuff, making animal sounds, etc. I was able to capture our "body parts quiz" earlier today...

Christmas 2011

Still trying to post our Christmas pictures. Flickr is driving me a little bonkers. Please let me know if you CAN'T see this set of pics. I can, because it's my account...but I don't know what YOU can see.  :)

See if this link works...

I'm a big boy. ~by Shepard

This week I am 18 months old. That is a year and a half. Mommy keeps using the phrase "big boy" these days. That sounds good. I am learning to be a big boy every day. I went to the doctor today and he said I have big feet. Why does he always tell me that?
I am about 26.6 pounds and in the 60th percentile for weight. I am 35.5" and in the 99th percentile for height. No surprise there. I can reach the door handle at the doctor's office now and like to open and close the door while we wait on the doctor.

I got to see lots of my family at Christmas. I ripped paper off of presents and stood on my train box. My favorite part was getting love from Gigi and Pops and Grandma. They smile at me a lot and hug me. I also really liked climbing the stairs at Gigi and Pops' house. Daddy kept saying it made him tired. But I was the one climbing. Daddy was just making sure I didn't fall when I went down the stairs head-first on my belly. I know where my belly button is and I will show you if you ask. I also know about my nose, eyes, mouth and teeth. I like to put my finger in mommy's nose. I don't think Mommy likes it very much though.
The end. I have to go run and wiggle.