Dear Brennan,

How in the world are you 18 months old? That is a year and a half! It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating your first birthday and now in just a mere six months we'll be celebrating your second. My how times flies!

You are currently wearing 18 month clothes. You have started wearing size 4 diapers during the day and still wear size 4 overnights at night. It's a little bittersweet to walk into stores now and see how many clothes are too small for you. I can't believe you used to be small enough to fit into newborn clothes! They seem so tiny!

You still aren't walking independently. You certainly seem to be taking after your Momma because I didn't walk until I was 19 months old. You were dismissed from physical therapy because Ms. Jen said you're fine and will walk when you're ready. You just need to work on your balance some. You love walking back and forth between Momma and Dada and have taken at least 15 steps on your own when you walk between the two of us. You are a super fast cruiser and can finally pull yourself to standing. You actually seem really close to being able to go from sitting to standing without using anything to help you, so you're definitely making progress. Dada just lowered your crib to the lowest setting tonight. I wonder if any other baby has ever made it to 18 months without his crib being lowered all the way. You might've set a new record!

You are very vocal. You make loud noises all the time. You have been trying to say a few news words, but aren't consistent with any new ones except for "boom". I have started a weekly alphabet box with you and I think that is helping expand your vocabulary. It still astonishes me how many words you understand. You are also doing really well at sorting things by color now.

You still love "The Wiggles". You like to watch their concert "The Wiggly Big Show" on YouTube. I also checked out a "Wiggles" cd from the library, so that is all we listen to in the car now. You are so cute because after each song ends, you immediately sign "more". In fact, you usually just leave your two index fingers pointed together the whole time you're in your car seat in a constant "more" sign. We just started watching Laurie Berkner videos on YouTube and you love those too! You watch way too much YouTube because it's almost always on during breakfast and lunch, but it keeps you happy. And you are learning to follow the motions of the different songs, so I claim that it is an educational opportunity!

You have twelve teeth now. You're usually a really good eater. You now like chicken nuggets and can even dip them into ketchup all by yourself! You are starting to show interest in using utensils to eat. I know many babies who want to use them much earlier than this. You still can't quite scoop food up, but will help me bring the fork or spoon to your mouth.

We had a wonderful trip to Georgia right after you turned 17 months. You were a champ on the plane! During that trip we flipped your car seat around, so you are forward facing now. You'll fly again in exactly one month. We are going to see your GeGe, GaGa, LaLa, and C-Dub in Florida! I know they are all so excited to see you again! Hopefully you'll do great on the plane again!

I love you so much! I love our days spent at the library, aquarium, and park. I love our days just spent at home too! Maybe by this time next month you'll be a walker and if that's the case, I know our days are about to change. Hopefully I am ready!

Love,
Mommy

Brennan back at 17 months

Brennan today at 18 months - becoming increasingly less cooperative - once he's actually walking, I'm not sure these photos will continue.

Taking Baby Steps

Brennan is able to take even more steps independently now. He does really well walking back and forth between Momma and Dada, but still isn't stable enough to walk on his own indefinitely. He still doesn't have great balance and can't stand alone for very long at all. I think he's going to have to get better at standing before he will be a true walker. Looks like he's gonna take after his Momma; I didn't walk until I was 19 months!

For now you can enjoy this latest video of him walking in the hallway.

Tot School - 17 . 5 Months - Introduction to Alphabet Box

After no official Tot School the past few weeks, this week we tried to dive back in! I feel like the day goes so much better when I have some activities planned for Brennan instead of just trying to keep him entertained. I find that we both are much less frustrated!

I had mentioned a few weeks ago that I was thinking about starting sensory bins with Brennan, but was worried about small pieces he could put in his mouth. A little over a week ago, I found an alternative. I was  checking out Amber's blog over at Amber's Articles and she had started creating alphabet boxes for her son. Her little boy is just a little younger than Brennan. I loved the idea. I have tons of alphabet ideas bookmarked or pinned for when B is older, but an alphabet box sounded perfect for a 17-month-old! You can see Amber's original post about alphabet boxes here.

I decided to start with the letter 'A' and do one alphabet box each week. I used a container I already had and placed the following 'A' objects in it:

• Leapfrog 'A' magnet
• Baby Einstein's 'Aa' book
• 'A' coloring page
• airplane
• apple (a real one and a fake one)
• abacus
• apron ($1 at Dollar Tree)
• Abby Cadabby book ($1 at Dollar Tree)
• stuffed armadillo
• The Armadillo from Amarillo book

Using Amber's advice, the week before I created the box I went to Alphabet Curriculum to get some ideas of items to put in my box.

I also thought of items I'll use in each box each week: The Leapfrog magnet, Baby Einstein book, and the coloring page, which I found here.

I was really busy the week before with VBS at church and we had our VBS closing program last Sunday night, so I didn't really get the box completely together before Monday morning like I planned. This was actually a blessing in disguise because I needed to make a quick trip to Dollar Tree Monday morning and while we were there, Brennan spotted the Abby Cadabby book, so I picked it up. Right before we checked out, I saw the apron and since it was only $1 I bought it too. After that we went to the library to return a DVD. While Brennan was playing with toys, I went to look at this one section where they have books in bags with a puppet that goes along with the story. I just started flipping through the bags looking for a puppet animal that started with the letter 'A' and I found the armadillo. I knew the book would be a little too long for Brennan, but the puppet was cute, so we checked it out.

We came home Monday morning, ate lunch, and Brennan went down for his nap. It was neat because I fixed the box all up for him during nap, so he'd have something exciting to explore when he woke up. We came right out to look at the box after nap and starting exploring. I named each object and we pointed to the letter 'A' on the magnet, books, and coloring page. Then I just gave him time to look at everything.

I like this picture because he pulled out the abacus, gasped, and made this surprised/excited face!

After I little bit, I put him in his highchair to "color" the picture. He did make a few scribbles on it and I colored in the letter 'A'. We then pulled up some videos on YouTube.

He loved the "Ants Go Marching" video. I videoed him watching it!


We also watched this one:


I found it annoying, which is saying a lot coming from me, but B really liked it and there is one for every letter, so that's pretty cool.

After Monday, I just tried to incorporate some time each day to explore the box. I had him point to the objects I named and he knew every single one, even the abacus. We also identified the letter 'A' when we saw it throughout the week.

I'm excited to continue these boxes each week!

We also had more Tot School fun this past week!

An oldie but goodie: putting popsicle sticks into the holes of the basket. Please excuse the binky in his mouth. He only sleeps with it and knows he has to leave it in his bed in the morning. This particular morning he didn't want to leave it and I didn't feel like arguing, so I just let him keep it for the morning.

We tried pulling out the dice again. He used to put them in his mouth, so we couldn't use them. The fact he had the binky in his mouth helped keep them out of there. He has played with these dice ALL WEEK! We even take them into the bathtub at night!

Transferring dice

Tossing dice onto the chair

I tried to get him to match up the colors, but he had no clue. I had to help him, but
he kept signing "more" after doing it, so I helped several times.

This next pic makes me laugh. I was trying to get him to look at the camera so I said, "Brennan, where's Mommy's nose?" He turned and looked, but pointed to his own nose.

We had fun with food colored shaving cream in the bath!

Gotta incorporate that letter 'A' into everything I can!

We used our blue Do-a-Dot marker. He's getting much better at using those!

We brought the dice out again and check out what he could do now!

It's so crazy how quickly they can pick stuff up. I am excited to do more color sorting activities with him now.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check over to Carisa's blog to see more Tot School fun!

Naptime Craftiness

I just had to share a new Pinterest inspired creation!

My inspiration came from here. And here.

This morning Brennan and I did some running around to pick up materials. I stopped by Michaels (yarn - $2.99 and felt $.23/sheet) and Home Depot (foam tubing - $.97 for six feet).

I realized I wanted my wreath to be thicker than the skinny tubing I bought at Home Depot, so I cut the tubing into two pieces and put the smaller pieces inside the larger one to give it some thickness.

I then started wrapping it with yarn. And wrapping and wrapping. I had read about people making yarn wreaths and they said it took awhile. I actually thought it went pretty fast. I just turned on my recording of "So You Think You Can Dance" and wrapped away. I did the first layer really nicely making sure the pieces were lined up side by side. I then went around the whole wreath a second time, but wasn't nearly as careful.

I then cut my felt into strips. No certain size.

Next, I started making my rosettes. I make them by starting to roll up a strip of felt into a tube and then when it's almost half way rolled up, I twist the rest of the strip and wrap it around the rolled up part. Then hot glue it to make it stay. I also cut a few leaves.

Finally, I hot glued everything onto the wreath! And got this final product!

So happy with it! What do you think?

Tot School - 17 Months

Tot School didn't officially happen this past week. I promise we'll be diving back in this coming week! I thought I'd go ahead and share a few pics of some of the fun we did have though! These are some of our favorite "go to" things we enjoy quite a bit!

A trip to the aquarium.

Playing with water inside.

Playing with water outside.

And more outside water play.

Maybe I should actually buy the kid a baby pool?!?!

Sidewalk chalk is a new favorite! He started by just taking chalk
out and putting it back in, but now he likes to scribble outside with it.

Head on over to Carisa's blog to see much more inspired Tot School ideas!

Getting Closer!

Brennan is getting closer each day to walking on his own! I know a kiddo walking around comes with a whole new round of stresses, but I can't wait for him to do it. I mean, he's almost 18 months old! A friend at church recommended I stand him against a wall and have him walk to me. I got that advice well over a month ago and have been trying a lot since then. It wasn't until this past Wednesday that he decided he would walk to me. So proud of him!

He can actually do more steps than he took in that video, but you get the idea.


Also, check out one of my newest Pinterest inspired creations! I am going to frame it and put it in his nursery!

WILW

My mom was just asking me last night if I had posted anything new on the blog. I've been a little bit of a blog slacker for the past two weeks, so I thought I'd better link up with Jamie today for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

{one}

My last post was all about my trip to GA! It was great! I will forever be thankful Josh and Kyle were stationed together on the Alexandria, so Amanda and I could meet. It's stinky that we live far apart now, but I am thankful for the times we do get to visit one another!

{two}

The day after we returned from Georgia, Brennan had his final physical therapy appointment! Yep, he's all done! He's still not walking on his own, but Ms. Jen felt like she no longer needed to work with him because he had made great improvements while we were there. I know he's capable of doing it; it's just a matter of when he's ready.

{three}

During our weekly physical therapy appointments, we worked a lot on trying to get Brennan to pull himself to standing. It's so crazy to me because I always see my friends posting on Facebook about their seven-month-olds pulling up in their cribs and until this week Brennan had NEVER pulled himself to standing. So far he's only done it a few times and always using the new train table Kyle built for him, but I am so proud that his is making progress there too!

{four}

VBS is happening at church this week! Lots of churches are doing the same Pandamania theme this year. I am leading music each night and it's been a lot of fun. I always have fun when you combine three of my biggest passions: Jesus, kids, and music!

{five}

Brennan has been waking up earlier than usual this week. I know I have nothing to complain about because earlier than usual means around 6:30 and I know plenty of kiddos who wake up earlier than that on a daily basis. Even though he's been waking up early, he wakes up so incredibly happy and I love that! I don't go into his room right away because he's content just rolling around in his crib. When he hears me open his door in the morning, he almost always starts shouting or laughing. As soon as he can see me, he gets a huge smile on his face and starts moving all around in his crib. So thankful for that smile in the morning!

This was taken one afternoon when I went to wake him up from
a  FIVE HOUR NAP! For some reason he's started to sleep in this position.

{six}

I haven't had much time to be "pinning" many new things recently, but I thought I'd share some of my Pinterest inspired creations. I shared a few two weeks ago, but I've got a few new ones to share with you too!

Our new menu board (don't judge our menu this week; I have to be out of the house
by 5:20 to get to VBS.
Inspiration found here.

Love my new storage for my straightener!
Inspiration found here.

Fruit of the Spirit for marriage!
Inspiration found here.

Came home from GA to find these! Thanks, honey!
Inspiration found here.

{seven}

As always I'm loving these two guys! Thanks, Kyle for putting B to bed each night this week, so I can work at VBS. I love you!

We don't have to go to GA to enjoy the beach! We have "beaches"
right here in CT!

This one was taken last summer in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Have a great Wednesday!