15 Months...or 16

A while ago Jake turned 15 months.  This was his picture.

 At 15 months he FINALLY started walking.  A short while after that we started to notice how smart he is.  He's not much for words, but we recognized he was learning several directions.  If I mention brushing teeth, he walks straight to the bathroom and bangs on the door until we let him in and he can climb up on the stool.  It's pretty funny because when he's done, he spits into the sink and laughs.  Monkey see, monkey do.  He understands when we tell him to put his shoes on the shelf.  He can't say everyone's name, but can clearly identify everyone in the family (we quizzed him calling names around the table and he pointed to the correct person easily).  He understands if we mention "outside", which is by far his favorite place.  Really, it's the only place he wants to be.  If I tell him to sit down so we can put his shoes on and go outside, there's no asking twice.  There are several other things he understands and chooses to disobey and laugh...mostly sitting on his bottom.  When he goes to bed, he gives a big hug to whatever animal is in bed with him.  It's very sweet.

 A few weeks ago I stepped outside to take a picture of our blooming daffodils.  I came in to find this.  He tipped the water over and was half slurping, half blowing raspberries into it.  It was big fun.

 He's quite handy with a stool, and knows how to get to food.

 He's in the weird time between needing 2 naps or just one.  The other day I tried to hold him off until after we got Ellie from school.  I figured a snack would help.  I came back to find this sweetness.

 Last Wed. it was time for mullet boy to get his first haircut.  I didn't get any good pictures before, during, or after.  He moves around too much for that.  It was long in the back, and over his eyes, though, so it was time.  A few days before he somehow scraped his eye pretty bad at McDonalds.  We never found what caused it.  He had a butterfly bandage on it, and Buck and I couldn't help but say "Yo! Adrian!" to him all night (after he had recovered, of course)  He looked just like Rocky Balboa if you missed the reference.

 John took the pictures during the haircut.  It only took us 4 milkshakes to get everyone through it.  Actually he did really well, and everyone else managed to sort of stay out of trouble waiting for their turn.  I brought a bag to keep a few snippits of his hair.  There was food all in it.  Buckingham style.

And here he is at 16 months (before the haircut).  He's getting so big!  He's gotten to be pretty ornery because he has a hard time communicating, and he doesn't understand yet that he doesn't always get his way.  He is always always happy when he's outside, though, or when he's playing with (or in) water.  I think he's going to have a ball when the pool opens.  He knows no boundaries.  I'm constantly chasing him to the neighbor's yard, or outside of the boundaries of the playground.  He's a wanderer and explorer.  One day this will be a fabulous trait!  For now, it keeps me on my toes.  Oh, and he's perfected the silliest face when he fake cries.  It's so hard not to laugh.  I so love this chunky monkey.

Weekend Funnies

Lots to update.  I haven't posted our pictures from the fun snow we had.  We were so busy having fun while it was here, and after it left, all I wanted to do was think of spring and warmth.  I just couldn't bring myself to sort through the pictures.  I'll get there.
In the meantime, we had a lovely spring weekend this weekend!  And best of all, we sprung forward!  Most people hate losing an hour of sleep.  We actually gain an hour because Jake doesn't know when 6:30 is actually 7:30.  We'll lose the hour tomorrow morning because of school, but I'm choosing to ignore that reality for now and bask in the extra hour of glorious SUNLIGHT!!!!
So, Friday night we were out later than usual in the cul-de-sac because it was nice.  It was dusk, and our neighbor came to the conclusion that our kids are funny in the dark.  First, Jake was in the cozy cab car and Ellie was on the tricycle.  They crashed, then laughed hysterically.  Ellie proceeded to push the car by continuing to pedal on the tricycle.  It was a great arrangement for both of them!  A few minutes later John and Eve collided on their bikes (that part wasn't funny).  Eve was crying pretty hard.  I walked over to see if she was alright, and thought she needed the extra comfort of being picked up.  She was pretty upset.  After a minute I said, "I think this is a good sign that it's time for us to go inside."  In her still sobbing voice, she wailed, "But MOOOOOM, I'm not even bleeding!"  After that I let them play a few more minutes.  It was a pretty good argument.

Today our fun babysitter Miss Allison was over during our adult small group.  Last week when we got home John, Eve, and Ellie were all saying, "Welcome to the gun show!  POW POW!"  With each "POW", they made a muscle with one bicep.  I asked where they learned that, and they ratted out Miss Allison.  Today when we got back, Jake (who, by the way, is still talking a TON but not saying hardly any words) was laughing and saying "POW POW".  That's my boy!