Cutest Baby Contest 2010

TJ has been entered again into the Regis and Kelly cutest baby contest - I think he'll win!! At least I hope he will. Stay tuned - I will let you know when they call

Problem Solving Toddler Style

Like a true toddler TJ licked the cat....this was how he solved the hair in the mouth problem

Shunned

It feels like October just started and now it's almost December! CRAZY how fast the time goes by.
One of the best parts about my job is all of the days off we get - and one of them is today! I found a fun "pop-n-play" toddler play thing to go to for $1 at the Johnson County Museum. TJ had a great time, it was a little room with other toddlers and they had sensory tables/buckets, balls, mats to climb on, puzzles to do and art supplies to "create" with.

We had been there for awhile and I was noticing another mom with a little boy about TJ's age. She was rather high-strung and following him around dilligently monitoring his every move. "Matthew, don't do that" "Matthew share" "Matthew where are your socks?" "Matthew put that down".....honestly, the room was designed for toddlers there wasn't anything he could get hurt on or damage!

She saw her beloved Matthew go over to the tunnel and crawl through it and she turned to me and said "Oh - I am so glad he is willing to go in there, we are going to buy him one for Christmas and I don't know if he will like it" ....I was nice and responded with something vague and genaric as to not encourage any more communication but she continued to talk to me. We chatted genearically for a while about our sons, their ages, what they like, etc.

Eventually she introduced herself as Beth and I introduced myself to her. She asked "Are you part of a Johnson County Mom's group?" - - I did not know that her ability to speak with me or not depended on my answer to this question - - I told her that no I was not part of this group and that I worked in a school district and I had the day off today, and that I was just trying to take advantage of some of the fun things that TJ and I usually miss out on because I'm at work.
Her response: "Oooohhhh"

and that was the last thing she said to me the rest of the morning.....guess I was shunned! How dare I have a JOB and grace their precious stay at home mom circle!

He is just so fun!

I am almost positive that I have made this declaration at every stage of TJ's life....but this stage is just SO FUN!

I thought the 1 month stage was the best because he was still teeny tiny, but had a little smile, and would snuggle and nurse and still had the wonderful newborn scent.

At 3-4 months I thought it was the best stage because he was little and still a baby, but he smiled a lot and was starting to play games and explore things around him

At 6 months I thought it was the best stage because he could sit up, and laugh, and play and was so super cute

At 9 months I thought it was the best stage because he was starting to communicate, and had ideas of his own and how he wanted things.

At 12 months I thought it was the best stage because he strated talking, and moving and was really getting into trouble

At 15 months I thought it was the best stage because he was starting to walk, and starting to be funny, and silly

Now I think 18 months is the best stage, he talks and walks and gets into every thing and just really seems to enjoy life!!

What I really think, is that every stage is special for different reasons, one stage isn't better than the other, I think every stage is the best because I think HE is the best and I think being his mom is the best!! I am just enjoying every bit of it....

Here is a little taste of the fun:

Crabby-Ass

A little girl at school got right in her teacher's face the other day and said "you a crabby-ass"! We all stiffled laughs and pretended that it was NOT funny.

Well when I came home today I wanted to get right in TJ's face and say "you a crabby-ass!" But of course I didn't. Nothing really made him happy except being outside. I guess he had a good day at day care and saved it all up for me.

This video is just a demonstration of what happens when my one year old doesn't get his way. I wanted to try and get video of him walking, he wanted to see the camera himself...this was what happened. Good thing I love him! Turn the volume down - he's loud!!

He grows so quickly!

I wished and wished and worked and worked to get TJ to walk, and now the man is non-stop! It's crazy to think that he has changed so much in just a little over a month. Here are two videos of TJ walking. The first video was taken about a month ago when he could just take a few tiny steps (please ignore the too small hat - I understand that it's way too small, but sometimes you have to pick your battles and he REALLY wanted to wear it). The second video is from this morning, a confident (naked) walker!


You will have to turn your head to watch these, I don't know how to make them load the right way....

A Walking Boy

That TJ is a walking boy now! He doesn't go far or fast yet but he is walking. He just figured out how to stand up in the middle on the floor and since then he thinks walking is fun!
He had physical therapy tonight and he was so proud to show off his new skill. Miss Trina walked in the door and before she could even say hello he crawled over to where she could see him, stood right up in the middle of the floor and clapped for himself. It was pretty darn cute.
I guess all my wishes for a walking kid are coming true, I just hope I don't regret it when he starts to RUN!!