18 Months

Our baby boy is 18 months!

Jack is constantly keeping us on our toes.  His little personality is really starting to emerge and some days I just sit and watch him with complete awe.  I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to watch this amazing little person discover the world.

Jack's vocabulary has really taken off in the past two weeks and he is communicating so well with us through words and signs.  One, not so welcome, addition to his vocabulary "MINE!"  He picked up this nasty little habit in "school" and everything is now "MINE!"

Parenthood is not all smiles and sweet kisses (at least not in this house).  Jack challenges me and my patience AT LEAST once a day!  He has a mind of his own and definitely likes to test the boundaries.  Nonetheless, I wouldn't trade this time with him for anything.  I know that through all of the ups and downs having him in my life challenges me to grow and learn as an individual.

 He fills my heart with an indescribable love and fullness.

Jack's favorite things:
* ANYTHING related to cleaning (hmmm wonder where he picked this up!?!).  My dad bought him this little vacuum and it has been the best gift ever.  Jack loves to vacuum!  When we use the big vacuum he likes to take turns with me and when I am done he gets VERY upset when I turn it off.

Everytime we go outside he brings the broom over to me so that I can sweep.  Again, if I don't obligie he gets very mad at me.  The kid likes to watch me clean!

*Buttons, switches and knobs.

* His "goods".  Jack, I hope you read this some day and you become embarrased that I put this in writing because this has been a very frustereating battle to fight against you!

* Blocks

* Books (YAY!) Particularly, Where The Wild Things Are.  We have to read this book at every bedtime and nap.  I will start with another book and when he is almost done with his milk, he pushes the book down and points to Wild Things.

* Milk

* My right boob.  Who needs a blanket for security?

* "Cooking"

* Song- The Lumineers "Ho Hey"  as shown below ;)

At his 18 month doctors appointment, we recieved some very exciting news!  Jack is finally on the curve when it comes to his growth :).  We have always been a little concerned about his growth as he has continued to be on the small side.  But he is now 22 lbs 8 oz which puts him at the 10% (up from the 2% at 12 months!).  Height is 31 3/4 in (40%) and head is 19 (50%).

As my grandfather would have said, "Keep doing what your doing, Jack," because these past 18 months have been wonderfully rewarding!

Lindsey

 

What's Cookin', Good Lookin'

When we lived in our old house (Peakview) there were some projects we really wanted to do but never got around to it (I think our hearts were never really in that house).  When we decided to move, we knew that we needed a house that needed minimal work.  We were finally honest with ourselves…we are NOT project people.

Our new home (Kearney) is in a way our dream home.  It is not perfect but it has sooooo much charm of an older home (it was built in 1929) and that is what we love.  There were a few small projects that needed to be done and I'm happy to say we just completed our first! (Disclaimer: we did not tackle this ourselves!)

The before kitchen had a lot going on and nothing flowed together.  I knew that we didn't have to do a total overhaul (thankfully!) and a new backsplash and paint would take the kitchen a loooooong way.  I'm happy to report that it turned out exactly as I had envisioned and we (thankfully "we") think it looks wonderful!!!

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It's funny…when we were looking at the house I thought to myself "that stove is going to be one of the first things to go!"  But it works amazingly and I think it looks great in the new kitchen.  Whew!  One less thing to buy :)

Lindsey