AIRPLANE

You've become infatuated with airplanes...

As for your counting, it's a work in progress.  You seem to think the numbers 3 and 4 aren't really important. 

KEY LARGO

Along with a bunch of our good friends, Grandpa Russ and Grandma Kathy joined us in Key Largo for Laurin and Aubrey's wedding. They spent their time nannying, while you and Anna...

Played in the pool.

And played at the beach. 

All this while Heidi and I lounged poolside and your daddy and Joe spent their time trying to figure out how to get a misthrown football out of the canal...

with a boat lift,

with a big pole,

and finally with a gullible neighbor that offered to jump into the canal and fish it out for a beer. 

AVERAGE

These days, you're the Average Joe.  Your 17-month check had you weighing in at 24 pounds and 31 inches tall.  Pretty much at the 45th percentile for both.  Although your head seems to be headed in a different direction.  You're in the 71% range for head circumference.  What does this mean?  You have a big head. 

The doctor says it's time to say goodbye to your sippy cups.  I don't know who's going to be more upset about this.  You, or your dad and me as we get stuck cleaning up all your spilled cups.  Here's to hoping you're a quick learner for all of our sakes. 

BITE SIZE

Your favorite thing about Dr. Purcell's newly remodeled office?  It's not the new chalkboard for scribbling.  It's all the different colored chalks for nibbling on.  I'm sure parents thought I was trying to steal the chalk as I fished it out of your mouth and pocketed them.  What else was I supposed to do?  Throw it back in the chalk pile as if nothing happened, so that some other kid could use the slobber-coated chalk?  Or maybe throw it on the receptionist's desk dripping in slobber and tell her they might want to disinfect them?  I was told this mouth phase was short lived, but it seems to be dragging for us. 

ANATOMY

You've been learning body parts for quite some time.  Head, hair, eyes, nose, ear, mouth, belly button, toes...yes, you know them all.  Many nights your dad and I are entertained as you point to those parts on us, while saying what it is. 

New body parts you've learned as of lately...nostril and teeth.  Not a good combination when put together though, seeing as how you managed to pick my nose tonight with "nostril" and then pulled a quick "teeth" on me with that same finger finding it's way into my mouth.  Go figure. 

SAMPLES

Does it make me less of a parent for habitually trying to pass Costco samples off as lunch for you?  Or ingenius?  I'll go with the latter. 

YUM

Well, you seem to be hitting all the toddler milestones on target.  This day was bound to happen sooner or later...you've hit the playdough eating milestone.  Next it'll be glue sticks and crayons. 

FRIENDS

You love hanging out with the big kids these days.  It's always entertaining seeing you try to play with them.  Your usual approach is to go up to them and say, "Hi."

I can tell that you want to say so much more to them, but you just don't know how yet.  So instead, you just stand there with a smile on your face saying, "Hi...hi...hi...hi...hi..hi...hi."  This, as the kids usually just stare at you with a confused look. 

And when that doesn't work, you finally let out with a "Boo!"  Then they really don't know how to react.  They just stand there with an even more confused look on their face, wondering what just happened and why is it this kid can only speak two words.  Luckily for you though, this approach seems to work on kids with younger siblings, and they get you. 

PRECIOUS

There's nothing sweeter than your hugs and kisses.  On a side note, we're so close to real pony tails...

AJ SAYS...

"Potty.  Pee pee.  Poop?  Wipe.  All done!  Yay!"

No privacy for the mom of a 17-month old.  Thanks for the play-by-play commentary.

SILVERWARE

We've been working on using silverware for the past few months and with each meal, you're slowly getting the hang of what forks and spoons are for.  Did I say slowly?  Make that very slowly. 

I can't quite convince you that a spoon is more effective in eating soup, versus trying to pick soup up with your fingers.  This revelation will dawn on you one meal.  Until then meals will continue to be long and drawn out, as you pick up every piece of soup.  Or at least attempt to.     

5 SECOND RULE

Many people won't admit it, but they accept the 5 Second Rule when it comes to dropping food on the floor and then eating it.  As parents to a toddler, your dad and I have accepted the "As long as it drops in a relatively clean place and the dogs don't beat you to it Rule."  It seems to be working so far. 

 

BRA

You're turning into quite the little copycat these days.  Your newest activity is running around the house, trying to wear my bras.  Not to say that I run around the house in nothing but my bra.  Considering we don't have window coverings yet, that is definitely not the case.