Tyson - February 2013 - 14 months

Well it may not have been by your dad's birthday  but you finally decided you'd give walking a try by my birthday.  At first we could only get you to take a few steps by coaxing you with your blanket.  Your dad or I would stand you up and the other one would be across the room with your blanket.  You'd stagger over to us and basically dive at your blanket as you got to it, and then we'd stand you up, toss the blanket across the room to the person you'd just left and do it over again.  After a couple nights doing that you got adventurous and started walking across the room by yourself without any coaxing.  Now I'd say you walk about 20% of the time. (Just since I started writing this 3 days ago I'd say that's gone up to 50% or more!  You're getting good!)  What's funny is that Logan and Tess are still freaked out by the fact that you are walking, Tess especially, but both of them will yell "HE"S WALKING!!!!" as loud as they can any time they see you walking.  Hopefully they eventually get over this or your teenage years could be even more awkward.  It is cute to see your little Frankenstein stiff-legged walk.  And the look on your face those first few times is always the best.  You are so excited and so proud and love the attention and fuss everyone makes.

You're also finally getting some more teeth!  All 4 of your front top teeth look like they are coming in at the same time.  They haven't broken through at the time I'm writing your letter, but they are getting close.  It's made for a bit of a rough month again, but hopefully they will come through soon and hopefully give us a bit of a break for a while.  I am sad to lose your 2-tooth smile though.  Walking and a mouth full of teeth?  If it hasn't hit me by now that my baby isn't so much a baby any more, it definitely will soon.

You've generally been a better kid this month.  You've still been cranky, some nights you get up more than most newborns, and you still destroy the kitchen as often as you can,

but it seems like I haven't spent every day with someone clinging to my leg and screaming, so that's an improvement.  Here's a bunch of pictures to recap the rest of the month...

Giving dad hugs before work.  You LOVE your dad.  Way more than you love me.  It's okay though, really it is.

Tess tried to feed you one of the warm chocolate chip cookies we got at McDonald's on our way to take them to dad in Fredonia. You were covered by the time we got there.

This laundry basket is the best toy in this house, and it is fun for all ages apparently.

Dad shaved his head in support of a friend and coworker who is going through chemo.  I love it, but I'm not the only one.  You love to pet his head when you get a chance.

Trying to figure out a way to get outside where the big kids are playing in their new sandbox.

Just standing there like you've been doing it your whole life.

Meeting the new Smokey Bear statue that dad had ordered and put out in front of the office.

I forgot how much you hate the automatic car wash until I started pulling in.  I can see how it would be terrifying for a baby.  Sometimes it still freaks me out.

Always on the inside looking out.

And still with the oven shenanigans...

...and trash digging...

And the diaper head picture I have to do for each kid at least a few times.

You're starting to show me that you do know a few words here and there.  You don't say mama or dada really, but you have started to say something that sounds like "all gone" when you scarf down your latest meal.  I think part of the problem is you don't get a chance to say much with your brother and sister around.  It's never really quiet around here.

I'll keep working with you on saying mama though since it really is so cute the first 100 times or so you say it.

Love you bud,
Momma