1 Year, 11 Months, 15 days

Dear John,

Every time we pass the mall, you yell "Choo-choo!" because you love Barnes and Noble's train table.  This morning, we were the first ones there when they opened so you had the whole thing to yourself.  You decided this was the perfect opportunity to build the LONGEST TRAIN EVER.  You were very proud of yourself.  When children started showing up, I would pull of trains from your train snake to share and you would glare at me like I was messing it all up.  Sorry bud.  Sharing isn't fun.

Love,
Mom

1 Year , 10 Months, 16 Days

Dear John,

You and Penny had a blast yesterday. You two play keep away and tag all the time. I think she is officiall your dog. Luckily, I got a good video of your laugh. Also, your dad got a late birthday gift and when we told you it was for Daddy's birthday, you ran around the house yelling "happy Daddy!". So now we cann dad happy daddy :). You are also starting to understand make believe with your toys which is making you really fun to play with! I love every day I get to spend playing with you, buddy.

Love,
Mom

1 Year, 10 Months, 12 Days

Dear John,

Every day while Mom is getting ready you watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  At the end of Mickey, they do the Hot Dog dance and you dance with them.  It is adorable.

In this video, you yell "Toodles!" when Mickey is getting a mousekatool and then Cheers!  Hopefully you can hear it.

Love, Mom

1 Year, 9 Months, 30 Days

Dear John,

Mom has been hoarding photos, so it is time to post them.  Before each I do, let me tell you the big milestone of the week.  You say big words!  Like "blueberries".  You also love to dance to The Hot Dog song on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse :)

This week, you picked a new BFF.  We don't know his name yet so we just call him Teddy.  When we were having breakfast at Parker and Ottis, you found him in a basket with a ton of other stuffed animals.  You picked him up, hugged him, and wouldn't let him go.  Your big eyes looking at us while clutching him won you a new best friend.

We also learned how fun it was to run through the sprinkler!  Mom and Dad have not done it in 20 years, and we had just as much fun as you.

Here are a few more pictures I have had piling up.  My favorite is Elmo with the three binkies in his mouth.  You left the binkies in there and went upstairs for a nap, when you came downstairs and saw elmo again, you died laughing.  It was adorable.

Love, Mom

1 Year, 9 Months, 20 Days

Dear John,

Last week, Mom and Dad went on a trip to St. Martin while you got to have Grandparent Camp :)  One of the many things you did at Grandparent Camp was learn to ride a tricycle!  Papa J got a great video of you doing it.  Also, after Mom and Dad got back, we were throwing a ball and you said "One, Two, Three" before throwing without being prompted.  That is huge!  Your other big milestones are staying more than two words together (like "sit down"), counting, and getting all 4 canine teeth at once.  You are growing up so fast!

Love,
Mom

1 Year, 9 Months, 7 Days

Dear John,

You without a doubt know how cute you are.  We were at the museum and you were smiling at everyone with your shades on.  You stopped every single person in their tracks to admire you.  You are such a ham.

Love, Mom.

1 year, 8 months, 28 days

Dear John,

There are so many moments I want to capture that I don't have a camera for. This morning you woke up next to me when it was still dark out and stretched out so you could hold my face between both of your hands and just stared at me with half open tired eyes. It was as if you were making sure that I didn't turn away from you once you went back to sleep. It gave me the best warm fuzzies.

Instead, I captured your new favorite activity. Play-doh! We played with it for hours. Oh, and your other favorite activity is dancing to the "hotdog dance". If it comes on the radio, the whole family drops everything to silly dance with you. You also sing Hot Dog Hot Dog randomly through our the day. I love it.

Mom

1 Year, 8 Months, 3 Days

Dear John,

Your Papa loves to make you laugh.  Luckily, we caught a good video of him making you laugh by sweeping you up with a broom.

Also, you have had some big milestones the past month.  You have learned to do puzzle boards like a champ.  You have had a word explosion, but the best is that you say "Bewoo" for Bella and "Teennnyy" for Penny, which is adorable.  I think we need to rename Bella because Bewoo is so much better.  You also say "cheese" and "shoes" in this voice that slowly gets higher and higher and I am not sure where you got that from.  You have started sleeping soundly enough that it is fun to snuggle with you (before you were too much of an acrobat), which I think might be because you started sleeping with a pillow.  Lastly, you say "uuut ohhh" for just about every scenario with a sheepish look on your face.  Every time I don't think you can get any cuter, you do.

I have to run now because you are almost done with your lunch (you currently have hummus alllllll oooovvverrr you and are smiling at me like it is awesome) and we need to get you ready for a nap.   I love you a bunch sweetie.

Love, Mom

1 Year, 7 Months, 9 Days

Dear John,

Your first ice cream!  I was so excited to share ice cream with you knowing that you would just love it.  I even put chocolate syrup on it.  What this video doesn't show is you taking 4 bites and then signing for grapes instead.  Too bad Mom had to finish your share of ice cream.  I was really upset...ok, maybe I was kind of happy to eat it.

By the way, this week you started doing the cutest sounds to make a conversation.  Usually you just make single syllable sounds at me, but now it is long strings of babble.  I love it.  It sounds like "Boojabooja beeju fa".  Not many words yet (just up, big bird, and bath) but I love the babble!

I also took a super cute picture of you today.  You like to "bob for binkies".  You put a binky or two on a table, and pick them up with just your mouth.  Today you managed to get two in there at once.  Bravo.

Love,
Mom

1 Year, 6 Months, 29 Days

Dear John,

Your love of tools has started very young!  We are remodeling our laundry room and you couldn't wait to pick up a hammer and a screw driver to help your dad.  At the end of the night, you found Dad's ratchet set and played with it for 30 minutes.  That is a concentration record for your Baby ADD.  Mom needs to find you a toddler tool set.

Love, Mom

1 Year, 6 Months, 21 Days

Dear John,


We love going to Pinewoods park because they have a great play set, a dog park, and a teepee to explore.   You also love to go down the big boy slides and give mom a heart attack.  You always refuse to play on the structures meant for your age.  Another thing you like to do on play structures is get really close to high drop offs, stick your stomach out and laugh when I am running to make sure you don't fall.  You think it is hilarious.  Our friend Elizabeth got the same look when she ran up to make sure you didn't fall.  I don't think you would actually jump, but you love to see adults run to you.

Love, Mom

1 Year, 6 Months, 18 Days

Dear John,

The other day you were napping in your crib and I had to sneak in to get some laundry.  There you were, snuggled around three of your favorite stuffed animals sleeping like an angel.  You love big dog, owl (who we named Owl Roker after a news anchor) and white tiger.  When you are having a bad day, you carry owl around everywhere and cry when someone takes him away from you.  They are your little best friends.

Oh!  Big news on the words front!  This week you have said hot, hi and bath.  That is huge!  Mom is so happy that words are on their way.  Even though you are so young, I can already see your personality.  I think you are the strong, silent type.  We will see if that continues.  Maybe, 20 years from know when you are reading this you will be loud, talkative, and the life of the party, but right now you like to sit and watch everything around you.  You are only talkative right when you wake up and at night before bed.  Otherwise, you are shy.  I love you either way!

Love, Mom

1 year, 6 months, 7 days

John, 

Since this is the daily antics of PB&J, we needed a pick of the B.  Bella doesn't get into many antics, so I got. Picture of her doing what she likes best.  Love, mom

1 year, 5 months, 16 days

John,

Today, we set up your new art space!  Lots of crafting in our future!

1 Year, 4 Months, 28 Days

Dear John,

This was your first Christmas that you really understood the presents were for you!  We got about 1/2 way through and you got a little tired of opening gifts, but you had a blast.  You got your first sandbox (which your Grandpa G made by hand), your first craft table, and a lot of trucks.  Your theme was Sesame Street this year, which might be your second favorite thing on earth right now.  Your first favorite thing is your new Red Flyer wagon.  The second you saw your wagon under the tree, you giggled and you opened most of your presents while sitting in it.  We got a couple of videos and a ton of pictures.  Here are some of my favorites:

I like this one because it looks like your waving really fast.

This is when you first walked into the room and looked right at your wagon.

I will post some videos of you opening presents in just a bit.  I am glad you enjoyed all of your new toys!  Can't wait to play all day with you.

Love,
Mom