16 Months Old

I'm not really doing monthly updates anymore but I felt like Connor has changed so much this last month I had to write some of it down (plus I have a LOT of pictures). The biggest change this last month has been in communication - in what he understands and says to me!

Christmas day he started to shake his head yes and no. It was so funny how by day two of this he already was nodding yes yes when I was telling him "no, no!"

Another word he says is "shoes". It started sounding like "shouks" (mix of shoes and socks) but he just says "shoes" now. Connor loves it when I put his shoes on and brings them to me often hoping I will take him outside. He LOVES being outside! Today I took him on a walk (pic to the bottom right) because it was such a nice day! 72 degrees in January feels great!

Connor used to kinda copy the "Totoro" sound but he hasn't for a while. Still I was impressed the other day when he found his stuffed animal Totoro and then went digging in his toy basket. After a little while he brought over the stuffed animal and the little plastic finger puppet Totoro. I was shocked he remembered the other one after months of being gone and not seeing it until then and he knew that they were the same thing even though they are different size and one is soft and the other is hard plastic! He did the same thing with the Dog next door. We didn't see it for the first few days we were back but Connor still barked and tried to look each time we passed. Without being taught or influenced Connor just loves stuffed animals, balls, dogs and balloons.

Look what I found at the thrift store here on base for only $1 (the music pusher toy just like the one he loved at Katie's)! Baby boy loves pushing all things. When we were out at the store today he was done being in the stroller and nicely asked to get out so of course I let him. I expected him to quickly start pulling everything off the shelves and have to put him back in but he pushed the stroller like this the whole time except for a minute when he saw some toy balls he had to stop and throw a few before going back to pushing again.

Connor is not really naughty (I don't really think a one year old can be naughty) but he is extremely curious - to a fault! I was putting groceries away and all the sudden things got too quiet! I literally put what I was doing down right away and ran to the bathroom where I knew I would find him and I did. Even at the Dixon's they all laughed at how much more Connor is into things then the other cousins - even the ones his same age. 

Phrases I know he understands:

• His newest word is please. Like all done, he signs it but he also actually says the word out loud too! 

• Sit on your bottom - in the bath, in chairs, on his scooter.
• Do you want to go upstairs? - starts running for the stairs. 
• No no - this really only works when he knows he really can't do something but if he has successfully touched or gotten something before he ignores me completely. 
• Lay down - to change his diaper. He does it half the time and the other he starts running away!
• Spit it out/Yukky/Don't eat that! - I say this for everything and all the time. He still puts everything in his mouth including a bug nest and cigarette at the park yesterday!! EW!
• All done? (Here I am trying to get him to say please - I'm holding his toothbrush hostage but he mostly just made stinker faces and then says "All done" ha ha). He says all done when he doesn't want a food anymore or wants down out of his high chair/stroller/car seat/shopping basket. 

• Say it nicely - Connor got in a bad habit of whining and throwing fits for things he wanted. Thats when I said this to him once and he totally shocked me by stopping and saying/signing please for the first time! Now he does a great job of either asking nicely or starts getting upset and will often stop himself and say please without any promptings. He gets a lot of things this way. haha
• Its hot! - he sticks his palm out and shakes it while making a shhh shhh noise. He often reminds me that the oven is hot when we are in the kitchen. It is so cute! 
• Where's the baby/I'm going to get you!/Peek a boo! - All fun play words. 
• He understands the words for cars and stool.

 

I feel very lucky to have gotten a loving little boy. I really love cuddles and hugs and I think Connor does too! I love how he is so willing to hold my hands when we go somewhere or if he wants to go up/down stairs he will usually come find me and take my hand to lead me where he wants to go. I love how he runs to me with open arms to give me a hug as I swoop him up! He still gives the best open mouth kisses too! Logan may be gone but Connor still takes care of me!

Every time Connor hears a Plane he sticks his little pointer finger straight up in the air! He loves seeing them fly by and lucky for him they do all day long because we live on a Air Force base. 

He loves taking his diapers to the door to throw them outside. Today he helped me with the bag from the upstairs trash. I love that he already "helps" me with the chores.

One other thing I think is really remarkable is seeing how Connor is starting to play make-believe! I know a lot of it is also copying but he is doing it on his own and I think making creative connections. For example, the other day we practiced using a bowl and spoon in his high chair. Later he was in the living room and started to use a hair clip as a spoon and pretend the steering wheel of his scooter he was sitting on was the bowl. He would touch the wheel and then pretend to eat off the end! Yesterday he found some foot spray in the shoe basket and then walked around the house holding it out and saying "shhh" like how I spray air freshener. Also when he plays with his cars he likes to push them across the floors and make zooming sounds. And one of my personal favorites is how he pretend snores sometimes when he lays on a blanket or pillow on the floor. I think all of these show how he is learning so much!

The other day I decided to do a little photo shoot because I love my new camera and wanted some new pictures to edit. It definitely isn't as easy as it used to be to take a few cute shots of him on the couch. Pretty much as soon as I put him down he is either standing and turned away or crawling off. I got one. haha

As part of my photo shoot I also decided to get some good picture of Connor's distinguishable marks so I could have them in case of an emergency. He has a little birthmark on his right forearm and a mole on his left hip. He still has a bit of a red spot on the back of his head but luckily he has enough hair now you really can't see it.

Indoor pictures were not working so we took it outside! I loved these two on our front porch.

I knew we would get lots of happy faces if I took him to the park so we walked to the one just one building down from out quadplex. 

Connor still needs help getting set up to go down the slide but he is so brave and will do the rest himself. I LOVED these 4 shots in a row. He is so happy! Even after he fell off the end, he just popped right up to go around and get back up.

I love this sweet little face!

And here are a few more videos. Playing with a spider and dancing! He loves music and can't help but move. 

I just love this little kiddo so much! He has another cold and is getting his first two molars but he is still so fun and good! 

Seattle and Flying home

Connor has loved being the center of attention around here (at least he thinks he is). Here he is trying to start a dance party while the other kids were listening to Papa reading last Sunday. It is great to be so close to so many cousins!

Today after tuckering him out at the kids quest discovery museum I gave him one of the awesome rice crackers mom gave him for Christmas. He has really liked them and found them again when we got home and was begging/whining for more. I wasn't really going to open it but said "say please". And Connor around his pacifier said "eas, eas". So of course after that he got them because I just couldn't say no! So as of now, he has said mom, dad, shoes and please! So good for a 15 month old! He also shakes his head no and signs all done. 

Connor loved all the other kids and the attention!! Of course Connor is a little more into things then his cousins apparently and so they had to put on the baby locks for the kitchen drawers and actually lock the baby gates for the stairs. In the living room there are drawers in the entertainment center and apparently none of the other kids (even at the same age) ever got into them but Connor found them right away. Connor even taught Ellyn how to escape by crawling under the bench although Connor preferred to scoot backwards under the middle of the bench like he was training for a limbo contest.

Piano duet

Connor testing out his new blanket from his great grandma Finley (Sue's mother). 

Robin had some passes for the Children's Discovery Museum and Connor loved it so much!! He kept bouncing from one thing to the next and trying to copy the other kids. Part of the play place was higher by two stairs (not pictured) and I think that may have been his favorite part. Silly Boy!

Every time he passed this piano he would check to see if it was open and then balance on the step to play. Sue was impressed at how softly he played the notes. I was too!

Saying goodbye to Grandma Dixon.

So the night before we were to fly out I came down with a sinus infection/cold and Connor started throwing up. So that was interesting. Our flight back was at 1 in the morning the day after. I think I prepared as well as I could. Waiting to leave at the airport Connor got his wiggles out by climbing over the back of the chairs over and over. People commented on how cute and brave he was. We got on the plane and while we waited for everyone to seat Connor had to meet the little boy the same age who sat on the other end of our isle. His name was Casper and he was the same age as Connor. His mom was a Taiwanese girl about my age and said she named him after the ghost movie haha. 

I feel like the trip was a pretty good success. Connor only threw up once and I caught it all in a baggie and threw it away quietly. I don't even think anyone saw/noticed. Then Connor took a 6 hour nap (it was night time) and that was amazing! It is really hard to keep him asleep because he really likes sleeping on his tummy and turns a lot. My other problem was that my bum or leg or arm would fall asleep but I couldn't really move without waking him up. Amazingly I got to snooze a little too. 

About an hour before landing I could tell Connor needed to make a dirty diaper. He did a little and then was still working on it. After the second time I went to find a bathroom with a changing table. All were busy. Then as we were waiting all the sudden I feel it. He had gone again and this last time it was explosive. He is literally dripping. I put him down and it is on my arm, shirt and all the way up to his neck!! Just so you know he has never pooped out of a diaper this bad. I got one of the flight attendants to get me into a bathroom right away and the other went and got my bag. I got him changed and cleaned up just before we had to sit down to land. I was glad I had brought extra clothes for both of us. 

We had a short layover in Taiwan and then Connor slept from gate to gate of our last short flight. We were finally back in Okinawa! My friend picked me up and after we got home I used my last bit of energy to go to the store for some food. Connor and I took a good nap and by that first night we were pretty much back on Japan time. I don't know why but I always feel like it is so much easier to adjust coming this way. I think we have had enough adventures for a while and are happy to be home. 

Last Part Of Madison

This baby loves olives!

Happy boy!

Connor found a new love! Mopping but it will never replace his broom.

We really did have a fun time at Katie and Jeff's! A few days before leaving they took us to the Botanical Gardens. The out door area was covered in snow and raining but it had a beautiful indoor area and I loved having a chance to play around with my new camera!

These are my artistic flower shots.

Me and my baby :)

Too much to see to get that little boy to look at the camera.

After this we went to the outside gardens and braved the snow and rain. There were umbrellas to use and I bundled Connor up in my carrier. It was still fun and had lots of pretty areas. 

Another amazing thing Katie and I did one afternoon while Connor was napping was make crab legs at home and eat them all!! So good! It was so easy and yet I think one of my favorite things we did there! haha

 

The last night Katie and I were sitting at the table after I had finished packing. We talked about all the things we did get to do and were very happy with my trip to see them despite being sick the whole time. We went to Chicago, I got to see the Art store where Katie works, I got to see 2 movies at Jeff's theater, we watercolored and played games and lots and lots more! It was so fun! Thanks Katie and Jeff! I'm so glad we both got to come!

Happy New Year!!

Spent the night with my little buddy who slept great last night for the first time in forever! (hallelujah!)  I added some extra padding to his crib and I think that made a big difference. It has a blow up mattress but I guess I've just been using it too much because it leaks too fast to last all night. I'm hoping he continues to sleep better but I'm not holding my breath. 

The first thing I did this new year was talk to Logan so I was a very happy girl. 

Katie and Jeff had a game night with their friends in the ward. I'm glad they went because I was perfectly happy with a little alone time. 

Happy New Years!! I think I will finally get the date right - I've already been trying to write the year as 2016 all of last year. Finally I will be right!