Jacob - 3 years

"Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ”  - Elizabeth Stone

 

My sweet boy, there is no better quote to describe my love for you. You are my whole entire heart. And I love you and your brother more than anything in this entire world. You make me a better person. You bring joy to every single day. You make me so proud. You inspire me. You surprise me. You drive me crazy, but after you go to bed I miss you. You are my whole world and I love you so much.

 

Jacob, you have grown up so much in the past year. You are such a sweet little boy, and SUCH a good big brother! I don't think any of us remember what life was like before Judson, and I am so thankful for that! You are so funny and smart and kind and curious and energetic. You seriously keep me young, but are the reason for my grey hairs.

 

I love you, Jacob, and I hope you know that every single moment of every single day.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

 

Age: 3

Height: 40"

Weight: 38lbs. 

Milestones: I feel like over the last 6 months Jacob has really morphed into a boy. He's so smart! He knows all his shapes, colors, animals (and corresponding sounds), can count to 20 and knows all his ABCs. He is always singing new songs and will request songs on the radio. I love that he remembers things from day to day, so we can really teach him things now. He's so curious! He is always asking questions, wants to know what everything is and why, and wants to know how things work (future engineer?). He's so funny! He picks up on sarcasm or jokes and is constantly turning it around on us.  He's so active! From the moment he wakes up until the time he goes to bed, he is going. He comes out in the family room and dumps all his trucks out before breakfast is even served. Every. Single. Day. This kid can run, he is FAST and he doesn't fall anymore. It's seriously impressive! He can climb all sorts of things at the playground, including a small "climbing wall" type thing. He hasn't quite figured out how to pedal, but we practice a lot on his big wheel. He's so sweet! He's always kissing and loving on his little brother and is the first person to comfort a friend when they get hurt. Jacob also really loves swimming! He's still going to swim class once a week, he just recently completed "Xtreme Waterbabies" and will be moving to "Advanced Aquatots" next week! I'm so excited for him. He can swim underwater for 10 seconds and moves 10 feet in the water. ALL BY HIMSELF!!! It's so impressive! I am so looking forward to going to the pool with him over the summer and seeing his swim skills in a real environment. Overall he's just such a good little boy! He loves his brother more than I ever could have imagined, and that honestly makes me the happiest mom on the planet!

Sleep: Jacob's nighttime sleep is starting to decrease, but he's making up for it during his nap. He generally sleeps 8pm-7am and takes a 2-3 hour nap (usually 1-3/4pm). He's still in his crib, but just recently he's started waking in the middle of the night because he's cramped in there, so I think we'll be moving him straight to a full-sized bed very very soon!

Eating: Jacob is still very picky. One day he will LOVE strawberries, and the next day he won't even look at them. This seems to be a very common toddler issue, so I usually just go with the flow. He doesn't like breakfast immediately in the mornings, so he gets chocolate milk and then will usually request breakfast around 10am. Lunch is usually a sandwich or lunchable-type plate. For dinner he either eats what we're having, or we'll heat up a corndog or something for him. He has a slew of go-to items, which I always keep around the house. Fruit Loops, Honey Nut Cheerios, Eggo waffles, greek yogurt, bagels, PB&J, Lean Pockets, corndogs, macaroni & cheese, turkey hotdogs, cheese sticks, smoothies, grapes, bananas, green apples, strawberries, cuties, Pirate Booty, Goldfish... He will not eat vegetables unless they're mixed in with something and he doesn't know they're there. :) And he really doesn't like meat, except hotdogs and deli meat. He loves pasta, so we make ravioli or tortellini a lot.

Clothes size: 5T

Diaper size: We moved Jacob into 3T-4T pull-ups. He just recently started making progress in the potty training department, which is awesome! If I ask him to go potty, he will go on the toilet, but he doesn't quite understand the feeling of needing to go yet. His school requires him to be accident-free for 2 weeks before he can be sent in underwear, so we still have ALOT of work. When we're home though, I put him in underwear and set my phone timer for every 30 minutes, and I always make him go. Which he does! So now we just need him to recognize the urge to go BEFORE he goes. Ha!

 

Teeth: He has them all! Praise Jesus! I think his 2 year molars are still moving around though because he will wake up crying in the middle of the night from time to time.

Favorite toy: He still loves all things that "go"...trucks, cars, planes, trains, etc. He got his first set of Lego Duplo for Easter and he loooves those! He's constantly building stuff.

Likes: his brother (hands down- favorite thing), playing outside, playing on the iPad, running around like a crazy person, swimming

Dislikes: being told "no", mealtimes, when we take the electronics away -- these were all listed on his last update and they're all still true

Personality: I touched on this earlier. He's such a sweet, cautious, curious, friendly, smart, funny little boy.

Looking forward to: He's going to a new school over the summer, so I'm excited to see how he likes it and how he grows. He'll also continue at CUMC in the Fall.

Jacob - 2½ years

Age: 2½

Height: 29"

Weight: 36lbs.

Nicknames: Jakey (this is what he calls himself), Jake, J-bird, Boo Boo, Boosheto, Big Boy

 

Milestones: My goodness, Jacob has changed so much over the last 6 months! I chalk a lot of it up to him starting school, but he's also just growing and maturing. His communication and vocabulary is incredible! He comes up with new ideas and sentences, is so observant and is constantly pointing out all that he sees or asking what something is or what happened. He can count to 15, knows all his colors and shapes and animals, and we're working on ABCs now. He can successfully open my iPhone or iPad and get to whatever he wants (usually YouTube, DisneyJr, games or videos). He can unlock and open all the doors in our house, unless they have baby locks. We actually had to put a baby lock on the pantry door because he can now climb up the shelves and get to the cookies and pudding cups. Lord, help us! Physically, he's very strong. He can carry rather heavy stuff, he runs faster than me, can climb ladders (and shelves), takes on any and every slide at parks, and he rarely stays put when we put him in the stroller. He loves to stay active and engaged, which I can tell is going to be our biggest challenge this winter with a new baby (and we can't necessarily go out every day). Overall, I'd say he's really turning into a little person with his own personality and opinions. I love seeing him learn new things and remember it. It's such a rewarding part of the parenting process!

Sleep: Just when I thought his sleep schedule changed, he goes and changes it up again! Whew! So I don't really know what to say about that! Ha! Generally speaking though, he wakes up around 7:30-8am, takes a 1-2 hour nap and goes to bed around 8pm.

Eating: He's still very picky with what he eats. I try so hard to push healthy options, fruits and veggies, but he gravitates towards bread, pastas, cheese, milk, and sweets (just like his dad). He will eat most fruit, so we offer that as much as we can. I'd say his favorite meal is macaroni & cheese with a turkey dog and ketchup. His favorite fruit is probably either bananas or green grapes (has to be green). His favorite snacks are Pirate Booty and Goldfish, and he gets a cookie after naptime (either Oreos or Chips Ahoy). We give him a YoKids smoothie every night before bathtime and he slurps those up (but doesn't really like homemade smoothies- go figure)! In terms of liquid, he looooves his milk. He could drink milk 24/7. I try to put the milk up between meals and offer water or "gatorake", which he loves.

Clothes size: He's still wearing some 3T stuff, but I've started buying 4T.

Diaper size: Size 6 Cruisers. In terms of potty training, he doesn't really seem interested at all. He's been peeing on the potty nightly before bathtime for months now, and he occasionally will ask to go potty throughout the day, but for the most part we're still in diapers.

 

Teeth: 16 total, and he's working on his 2 year molars currently.

Favorite toy: He loves all his cars, trucks, tractors, etc. He is always carrying around his little Hot Wheels. He also loves to play in the backyard with all his little construction trucks. And he loves to play at parks.

Likes: playing outside, watching his shows on TV, playing on our iPhones or iPad, going for car rides

Dislikes: being told "no", mealtimes, when we take the electronics away

Personality: He's kind, funny, compassionate, empathetic, cautious, sensitive, obedient, silly, curious, and smart. He's very much like his daddy. He has started to show his independence through tantrums, which usually begin first thing in the morning (before mom has had her coffee- UGH!) or right after nap, and usually consist of him wanting/not wanting something...over and over...

Looking forward to: Seeing how he reacts to his new baby brother. He usually loves babies, so I'm excited about that, but we've never actually brought one home. Ha! He is such a sweet little boy though, so I think he'll do great! I'm also looking forward to the Christmas season and all that entails. He thoroughly enjoyed our trip to visit Santa, and has loved watching all the Christmas movies so far.


Overall, I just can't say enough about this little boy. He's such a sweet soul. He is so funny and energetic. He's getting so BIG! Every time I look at him, I wonder where my little baby went. He's such a joy and I really do feel like the luckiest mom in the world to have him as my son. I know the next few months are going to be tough on him, but I pray he knows how much we love him and what a blessing it is to have a sibling. Love you more than life itself, nugget!

Jacob - 24 months

Where do I even begin with you, my sweet little boy??

Let's start with the obvious- how much your daddy and I love you. There are no words to accurately express the love we have for you, but let me just say that you are easily my greatest blessing and I cannot thank God enough for you. You are the greatest joy I've ever experienced and I thank you for that!

As you get older, your personality is really starting to blossom. I'll do a quick breakdown on your personality.

60% rambunctious boy - you're always playing with trucks, cars, planes, trains...anything that "goes." I often find you crashing your cars together, or lining them up for a race. It's wild how boys really are wired like that! You love being outside in the dirt, but you don't like your hands to be dirty for too long (totally get this from your mom). You also love animals, the movie "Cars", singing and dancing, and you've recently started bringing us books to read to you (this is new to us, as you usually can't sit still long enough).

20% goofy/silly/funny boy - you are always making us laugh! You do the silliest things, and are now saying the most hilarious stuff! Where you get some things from, I'll never know? If we laugh, or someone on TV, you instantly throw your head back and crack up. Which is just the cutest! 

10% compassionate boy - as silly and wild as you can be, you're also very quick to apologize when you hurt someone, and you offer kisses and hugs allllll the time. It really melts my heart. You hate to see people sad or cry, and will often give random kids hugs at the park if they get hurt. I just love this part of you! You've also started saying "luv you", which is easily the sweetest thing I've ever heard!!

10% terror/turd boy - you rarely throw a tantrum, when you do it's because we won't let you have or do something, and that's usually because it's dangerous or not good to eat cookies for breakfast. ;) We find the best way to deal with your tantrums is to talk you through it and let you know that we understand your frustrations. You quickly bounce out of it. There are, however, those occasions when you just won't stop doing something and that usually involves some tears and timeout. But really, I cannot complain in this department. 

You're also getting so so smart! It really amazes me! You learn something new every day and are always very proud to show it off. You know all your animals, sounds, colors, shapes, etc. You also love to tell people that you're "two!" You remember everything. If I tell you something the day before, I can assume you'll remember the next day now. Your speech is growing by leaps and bounds lately, too. You actually repeat things I say, which is making learning a lot easier! :) 

In terms of physical activity, you can RUN, like fast. You also love throwing balls, kicking soccer balls, hitting baseballs, hitting golf balls, swinging on BIG boy swings, climbing up ladders and sliding down slides. All of these things you can easily do on your own. You don't care too much about arts and crafts, and don't really like to color. Which I'm kinda ok with, because it ends up being a mess. :) You do like sidewalk chalk though!

At the end of the day, you are absolutely perfect in our eyes and we seriously couldn't love you any more than we do. You will always be our little baby boy, even if you have a younger sibling and even if you're taller than us.

We love you, Jacob Monroe. Thank you for being you, and thank you for letting us be your parents, and thank you for loving me.

Age: 24 months

Height: 37.25" (100%+)

Weight: 32lbs 8oz (92%)

Milestones: I listed a lot above

Sleep: Still really good! He generally goes to bed around 8-8:30 and wakes up around 8-9. Depending when he wakes up, he takes a nap around 1-2 and sleeps for 1.5-2 hours.

Eating: He eating better now. I guess my expectations of how much he should be eating were a little off, so we just let him eat as much or as little as he wants, and leave it at that! He still doesn't like vegetables (which I hear is quite common at this age), but he loves most fruit, especially strawberries, blueberries, bananas, apples, pineapple. He likes chicken and hot dogs, and will sometimes eat red meat. He also loooves all kinds of pasta, bread and cheese.

Clothes size: 3T

Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers, although we will be moving up to size 6 with his next box.

Teeth: 16 total- he got his 2 top canines!

Favorite toy: He is SUCH a boy- he loves all his trucks, Jeeps, tractors, etc. He also still loves his mower when he's outside. He also really loves the swingset we got him for his birthday. He can swing on the big boy swings, climb up the wooden ladder and go down the slide...all by himself! It seriously blows my mind!

Personality: I talked about this above

Best Moment: this month has been really fun, I can't think of one thing in particular.

Worst Moment: nothing, really...

Looking forward to: so many things- next week he starts a new level at swim class, which does not require me to be in the pool. Also in the fall, he'll be going to pre-school twice a week at our church. I'm sure lots of tears will be shed at both, but I'm so so excited to see him grow his independence!!

Jacob - 23 months

I actually cannot control my emotions this month. How is my baby almost 2?! That's not even possible! He was just a baby, and now he's running and talking. Gah! :( God help me on June 5, because I'm going to be a basket case!!

Age: 23 months

Height: we don't go back until he's 2!

Weight: we don't go back until he's 2!

Milestones: Jacob's communication skills continue to improve, and impress me daily! He is now putting together 2-word sentences ("daddy home", "daisy nite nite", "nene peeeez", "welllow bus", etc.). He's also starting to pronounce words better- he always said "Shotz" for Schatzi, but now he's saying "Shotzeee" and instead of "Mav" he's saying "Maveeee." He's also starting to recognize colors and points them out wherever we are. It's so cute! He'll say "welllow bus" (yellow bus) anytime he sees a school bus, or "bboooo car" (blue car). I think he's also starting to understand numbers because he's constantly pointing out when there's "two" of something- "two bus", "two dogs", etc. Physically, I think he's amazing. He can run so so fast, like almost faster than me! And he's persistent! If he wants to go in the front yard, he will find a way out there, which usually ends in a meltdown because Mommy doesn't want to hangout in the front yard. ;) He's still doing really well at swim class, too. He's up to 6 seconds underwater, but has kind of hit a plateau because he refuses to keep his head underwater. Which, I guess is the point?? So now we're working on moving through the water- kicking our legs and moving our arms. He's still so cute when he jumps off the edge into the pool- he's so cautious, but you can tell he really loves it. Our instructor told us that after this semester is over (right around his birthday), he'll move up to the next class, "Super Waterbabies", which doesn't require me to be in the pool! As much as I've loved doing this with him and seeing him grow and learn, I'm secretly really excited to sit on the side and watch. ;)

Sleep: Still really good!

Eating: He had a bout of constipation a few weeks ago, which really messed with his food intake. I could tell he didn't want to eat much, probably because he had no room! So, I switched up his diet a little bit to include more fruits (and vegetables, although he really HATES veggies) and more water, which is probably what I should've been doing all along. He seems to be eating more and happily, which I'm thankful for!

Clothes size: mostly 3T at this point

Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers

Teeth: 14 total- he got his 2 bottom canines

Favorite toy: I bought him a bubble gun for Easter, which he loved, but it was kinda annoying for me. So I bought him a different one (one that you put the actual bubbles IN the gun) and he LOVES it! And so do I! We've been playing with that a lot. He also still loves all his trucks and cars and jeeps.

Personality: He's starting to show his independence a lot lately, which is both good and bad. He insists on doing things by himself, which I love when it comes to playing or coloring, etc. But when he wants to put the muffins in the hot oven himself...not so good. Because of this, he has started throwing more temper tantrums, but he honestly doesn't do it that often...maybe once a week? He also loves singing and dancing, especially when we're watching the morning news and they have a band on. He pulls out his broom or golf clubs, and sings into them. So stinkin' cute!

Best Moment: we had a busy month! Jacob got to meet his new cousin, Autumn, which was such a special moment. He even gave her a kiss on the head when we left. Melt my freakin' heart!!!!

Worst Moment: when he face-planted into a concrete planter and got a HUGE whelp and blackeye. I nearly stopped breathing!

Looking forward to: planning his birthday party! I'll be back later this week with my ideas...!! For now, here are some fun pictures from the month.

 

his first blackeye

this was actually right before he got his blackeye, see the planter to his right...yeah....

singing with his hat on

playing with his new bubble gun

meeting his new cousin, Autumn

"I go nite nite"

Jacob - 22 months

Age: 22 months
Height: we don't go back until he's 2!
Weight: we don't go back until he's 2!
Milestones: Jacob's vocabulary and communication has really improved by leaps and bounds this past month. It's actually pretty incredible! He repeats everything, so we can now actually start learning our numbers and alphabet. He doesn't say it on his own, but he'll repeat "ABC" or "123." He's also been "singing" into his broom and dancing around- it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen! He looooves Justin Bieber's "Baby"; I used to sing that to him when he was a itty bitty baby, so I wonder if he remembers it?? We also started swim lessons this past month and he's really come around in the water. At first, he didn't really like it, but now he's really having fun. He's learning water safety (how to grab the pool edge and move side to side, and how to pull himself out), how to jump into the water, and how to hold his breath underwater (each week we increase the length of time by 1 second- he's up to 4 seconds!).
Sleep: Still really good! He still sleeps 11-12 hours straight at night (usually 8pm-7/8am), hardly ever waking up in the middle of the night and when he does we just let him work it out himself. He naps for 1-2 hours each afternoon, starting around 1pm.
Eating: He's been eating better lately. I let him graze at breakfast and lunch, which is really working well for us! I've heard that its not recommended because they can choke or they get used to not sitting and eating, but we honestly haven't had either of these issues. On the weekends, we will occasionally eat breakfast/lunch at the table as a family and he joins us just fine! I do, however, make him sit at the dinner table for dinner with the family every single night.
Clothes size: some 2T, but starting to buy warmer weather clothes in 3T!
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Teeth: 12 total, and I think his canines are starting to move now.
Favorite toy: Still really loving all his trucks and being outside. He's also starting to show interest in movies, which I'm so excited about! I hate him watching TV, but feel like movies are a little more acceptable. He loves Cars, Toy Story and Monsters Inc.
Personality (I'm adding this one this month): Jacob has the sweetest personality! He's so kind and affectionate, but he's still soo boy! He shows caution, especially when doing things he's already done before (and he knows it can/did hurt him), but when he's doing something for the first time- he's ALL about it! He runs and falls alllll the time. He currently has 2 skinned knees. Ugh! If he accidentaly hits me, and he sees that I'm in pain, he quickly comes to my aid and gives me a huge hug and kiss. He also looooooves his dogs, and is constantly giving them hugs and kisses. Although that doesn't stop him from chasing them around the house, too. He's also a total goof, and loves to make people laugh. I just can't get enough of his "cheese" smile (see below).
Best Moment: swim lessons, Josh's birthday, our March Madness 5-day weekend, our ride on Thomas
Worst Moment: nothing
Looking forward to: Easter fun!!

 

be still my heart

Jacob - 21 months

 

Age: 21 months
Height: we don't go back until he's 2!
Weight: we don't go back until he's 2!
Milestones: His vocabulary is getting better- he knows most animals and their corresponding sounds, he know lots of daily words (helicopter, airplane, car, truck, etc.).
Sleep: It still good! Nighttime we get anywhere from 11-13 hours, and naptimes are kinda all over the place. If he wakes up early (before 8ish), he usually goes down for a nap in the morning and sleeps 1.5-2 hours. If he wakes up after 8, he takes an afternoon nap for 1-2 hours. We just kinda go with the flow.
Eating: He's still not eating very well, but I'm approaching meals differently now. Instead of forcing him to eat at every meal, I offer him food and just kinda let him graze. He generally eats MORE this way, which is the goal- right?!
Clothes size: 2T, but starting to buy warmer weather clothes in 3T!
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Teeth: 12 total, and I think his canines are starting to move now.
Best Moment: Valentine's Day was a lot of fun!
Worst Moment: Can't really think of anything??
Favorite toy: Still really loving all his trucks!
Looking forward to: Josh's birthday is coming up, so we'll be doing a few fun things for that!

Sidebar: I decided at 4pm yesterday that I was giving up social media for Lent. Yes, you read that right- no social media for 40 days. I know its totally crazy, and its going to be so so hard for me, but its been weighing on my heart for awhile and I knew it was the right thing to do. I need to spend more time with my boys, and remember how to live in the moment.

Besides a few "previously scheduled" blog posts (like the kitchen reveal, recap of my sister-in-law's baby shower, and these monthly updates), I won't be on Facebook, Instagram or this blog (or any blogs- for that matter!).

I hope y'all understand, and I hope you can find something meaningful to give up for Lent as well! Cheers!

Jacob - 20 months

Age: 20 months
Height: we don't go back until he's 2!
Weight: we don't go back until he's 2!
Milestones: I swear Jacob has gone through a major developmental phase recently. (maybe that's why he's been sleeping so terribly?!) He's talking up a storm lately, and really starting to remember everything. I mean, I can tell him a word/noise ONCE and he will remember it! I love hearing him say all the animals and their sounds. Literally the cutest thing ever! He said "teddy" the other morning and I almost flipped my shit! Who is this kid?!  I also noticed he's stacking items really well now- 3+ things now.
Sleep: After re-reading his 19-month update, it seems like his sleep is still very much the same. He still sleeps 11-12 hours at night, but his daytime sleep has really been lacking. I think he's finally coming out of this funk, but we'll see. Right now I'm just gauging his tiredness and reacting accordingly. Some days he takes 2 naps, others just 1.
Eating: I still hate mealtimes. Gah, will this ever get easier or better?? I really hope so!
Clothes size: 2T, and some 3T (mostly PJs)
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Teeth: 12 total, and I think his canines are starting to move now.
Best Moment: We've had a fun month. I can't think of any specific moments, its just been really good!
Worst Moment: Can't really think of anything??
Favorite toy: Right now he is L-O-V-I-N-G all his trucks- fire truck, dump truck, tractor, etc. He pushes them all around (complete with sound effects), crashes them into each other and stacks them. His Grandpa brought him a Melissa & Doug 18-wheeler with alphabet blocks this past weekend, and he LOVES that thing too, especially turning it over and spilling all 3216516 blocks everywhere.
Looking forward to: our Valentine's Day playdate will be a blast! My parents are also finally moving up to the metroplex, so I can't wait to go out to their lakehouse and spend more time together! Stay tuned because we'll be going on a Family Field Trip soon (one of my New Years Goals), and I'll be sharing a slew of field trip ideas for your family!

And a few outtakes for your viewing pleasure...

Jacob - 19 months

Another month, come and gone. I commented to Josh how looking back, a year and a half is really nothing. Look how much he's grown and changed! It's almost hard to remember those sleepless nights. Almost. ;)

Let's get on with it. 

Age: 19 months
Height: we don't go back until he's 2!
Weight: we don't go back until he's 2!
Milestones: Jacob is a full-blown KID now. He's running, climbing, throwing, etc. He just goes, goes, goes. His newest trick is dragging his playtable chairs into the kitchen to "help" me cook. In reality, he's just forced me to babyproof my counters. Ack! He's talking better, but still not a lot and definitely not in sentences or even 3-word phrases. He KNOWS a lot of words though, because he can point to all his body parts, point out animals in books, point out all his food, etc. I'm expecting him to just start talking one day, and never stop. And for that reason alone, I'm ok with his current communication status.
Sleep: His sleep has kinda been all over the place. Well, his nighttime sleep is still very consistent. He goes to bed around 7:45pm and sleeps until 8am, sometimes 9am. Naptime is a different situation. When Josh is home, like on the weekends, he normally takes 2 naps. I honestly don't understand this. Maybe with 2 people playing with him, he gets tired faster? No clue. During the week, though, he usually takes 1 afternoon nap, anywhere from 1-2 hours.
Eating: I still haaaaate mealtime. He eats 3 meals and 1 snack, but lately I've been letting him graze throughout the day and its not quite as stressful.
Clothes size: 2T
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Teeth: 11 total
Best Moment: Christmas. Hands-down the best holiday ever! We had sooo much fun! I'm already getting excited about next Christmas because it will be even better.
Worst Moment: Can't really think of anything??
Favorite toy: Now that we have all new toys, he's playing with new stuff. He looooves his kitchen and all the pots/pans. He just moves them all around and pretends to "cook" stuff. It's super cute. He also loves his Thomas from his Coco, and his basketball hoop. He really likes playing with it all. He also really loves his toy Fire Truck and Dump Truck.
Looking forward to: Our baby-free vacation coming up. Is that bad? :)

Jacob - 18 months

I realize I say this every month, but HOW ON EARTH IS MY BABY 18 MONTHS OLD?! A year and a half! Holy geebus!

Age: 18 months
Height: 34.5" (97%)
Weight: 30lbs (97%)
Milestones: He's really starting to talk more, although most of what he says is indecipherable, he babbles ALL the time and he really acts like he knows what he's talking about. He understands most of what we say, and follows instructions (i.e. "throw this away", "go get your milk", "where's Boo?". He's also learning animal names/sounds, shapes and colors, and just day-to-day stuff. I love hearing him talk, it's just too cute! He's catching on to different sports really well now- he loves golfing (uses his golf clubs and actually hits balls around the room), playing soccer (will kick the ball), shooting hoops, and throws a baseball pretty well. I know Josh is so excited about this aspect of his growth (as am I, of course).
Sleep: I'm not sure what the heck is going on with him, he's been waking up early lately (7am or earlier) and taking morning naps. So not like him. The other day he woke up at 6:30am and took two 2-hour naps! Crazy! But in general, he sleeps 12 hours at night and 1.5-2 hours during the day.
Eating: Mealtime is still my least favorite time of the day. He's just all over the place. One day he LOVES oranges, and the next day I can't get him to eat a single bite of orange. It makes meals kinda stressful!
Clothes size: 18-24mo in Old Navy and Gap, but otherwise he's in 24mo or 2T.
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Teeth: He finallllllyyyyy cut 3 of his 4 molars! So he has 11 total teeth.
Best Moment: Thanksgiving was infinitely better this year. Having a kid makes holidays a billion times better. He actually ate Thanksgiving dinner with us and had a blast! We also put up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, and seeing the look on his face when he saw the tree for the first time...ahhh...I'll never forget that! It might trump the ongoing ornament battle we're currently facing. Ack!
Worst Moment: No bad moments.
Favorite toy: He still loves his lawn mower. He also just got the Little People nativity set and Santa's sleigh set, and he's loooving those! As I mentioned earlier, he also loves all his sports- golf clubs, soccer ball, basketball and baseball.
Looking forward to: Christmas. For sure.

Jacob - 17 months

I feel like the worlds worst mom. These mirthdays keep flying by and I hardly even flinch! Ugh! I realized it was his 17 month mirthday in the car around 4:30 yesterday, so I immediately snapped a picture when we got home because I was off to bootcamp. He obviously wasn't in the mood to take a picture, but I like this one because its a true resemblance of what he's like these days. Totally rambunctious and super FUN!

 

 

Age: 17 months
Height: (don't go back until 18 months)
Weight: (don't go back until 18 months)
Milestones: He's starting to learn animal sounds, even though he can't say "cow" he knows that THIS is a cow and it says "moo." His favorite animal right now is the elephant; he sees elephants EVERYWHERE! And immediately goes "brrrrr." It's sooo cute!! I bought him an elephant toy in the dollar spot yesterday and he literally trumpeted the entire trip. I'm constantly just naming things, basic things, EVERYTHING, shapes, colors, animals, sounds. I can tell he's catching on, so I think it's working. I worry a lot that we aren't teaching him the right stuff, so this is reassurance to me. He's also starting to climb on everything. I found him ON the coffee table the other day. What the heck?! He's also trying to jump, it's so cute...he never actually leaves the ground, but he bends his knees and bounces a little bit. I also put his stool in front of the bathroom sink and he loves getting up there and looking at himself in the mirror. I'm trying to make teeth brushing more fun (so far NOT his favorite thing), so I thought watching would be good. We'll see...
Sleep: It's funny how last month I was bragging about his awesome sleep, and then he goes through a Wonder Week (and the time changes- ugh) and now we're ALL over the place. He wasn't sleeping more than 10-11 hours for a while there, but he's finally back to sleeping 12 hours at night. Naps are generally around 1 and last 1.5 hours.
Eating: Mealtime is still my least favorite time of the day. I have to constantly change up what we eat, and how we eat it, otherwise he has no interest in eating.
Clothes size: 18-24mo in Old Navy and Gap, but otherwise he's in 24mo or 2T.
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Best Moment: we've done a lot of fun stuff this month. I'm really glad he got to spend a weekend alone with Josh and bond. I'm trying to do little things away from the house for them to bond more.
Worst Moment: I honestly can't think of one. Great month!
Favorite toy: This is getting harder and harder. He's really loving his slide in the backyard lately, and now that its actually cooler we've spent a lot of time outdoors. He loooves running around the backyard.
Teeth: 8 total, still no molars! Shoot me now!
Looking forward to: Thanksgiving and starting to decorate for Christmas.. Holidays with kids are SO MUCH MORE FUN!

Jacob - 16 months

This monthly update came and went- and I didn't even realize it! Oops! Time is just flying by so quickly, I can hardly believe it! I can't believe we have a 16-month old, it just can't be true!

In other news, we've officially been members of our playgroup (Baby Buddies) for 1 year! What a blessing that group has been for us (especially me). All the kids are growing up, and I just love watching them actually play together. How fun!



Age: 16 months
Height: (don't go back until 18 months)
Weight: (don't go back until 18 months)
Milestones: I feel like Jacob learns something new every day...every hour! It's so amazing to watch him. He's just a little sponge! I really don't even know what to say here. He's saying 11 words- mama, dada, da (dog or airplane- ha!), duck, ha (hot), mo (lawnmower or more), book, hi, bye. He plays/sings along to "happy and you know it" and plays "peak a boo", "soooo BIG" and dances to EVERY song he hears. He's getting really good at waving hi and bye now- he used to be kinda delayed, but now he waves perfectly. He has such good ears- he can hear airplanes before I can! And he immediately points up and says "da." We're working on "airplane."
Sleep: Sleeping has regulated a bit this month. He's sleeping 12-13 hours a night still, so usually 8pm-8 or 9am. We hardly ever hear him fuss throughout the night. Occasionally he loses his blanket or Boo and will fuss for a second until he finds them, but otherwise we really don't hear a peep until the morning! He naps for anywhere between 1-3 hours, depending how he slept the night before and how much activity we've had that day. I usually try to get him down by 1:30 for his nap though.
Eating: Mealtime has become one of my least favorite times of the day. He never wants to sit still long enough to eat, so I either make his meals SUPER excited (by using muffin tins) or singing/dancing while offering him food, or I drag his highchair near the family room so he can watch TV while he eats (this only happens for breakfast when there's a new Doc McStuffins on). Of course, Jacob eats like a CHAMP for Josh.
Clothes size: 18-24mo in Old Navy and Gap, but otherwise he's in 24mo or 2T.
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Best Moment: it's been a really fun month. He's just such a bundle of joy! I really enjoyed watching Jacob play with all the kids at my sister's wedding reception- he was having so much fun!!! I loved it!
Worst Moment: He was suffering from some seasonal allergies and cutting his 1-yr molars last week, so we had a few rough days, but other than that...it's been great! We're giving him Zyrtec now daily.
Favorite toy: His new golfing set from his CoCo and his lawn mower still.
Teeth: he cut his 4th bottom tooth, so 8 total. I expect a molar soon, too.
Looking forward to: with the cooler weather, I'm excited about taking him for LOTS of runs, trips to the park, pumpkin patch (with and without dad), and Halloween of course!!! He's actually going trick or treating this year. Yay!

Jacob - 15 months

This little booger has stolen my heart. His curiosity and passion for life is infectious! I know it's hard to believe a 15 month old can have "passion for life", but he DOES! He has so much FUN every single day and plays til he can't play any more. Maybe we could all learn a thing or two from kids.

 

Age: 15 months
Height: 33" (89%)
Weight: 26lbs 13oz (92%)
Milestones: He's added a new word to his vocabulary- "ha" or HOT. LOL! I literally die laughing every time I hear him, because he opens his mouth suuuuper wide and almost whispers the "ha"...hahahahah!! Oh my gosh. I think he learned that because I was explaining to him that his lunch was still hot and we were waiting for it to cool down. I think he really understands when something is hot though, because he'll use it correctly (i.e. hose outside in the sun, oven, stove, grill, food, etc.). Although I think he's still getting the sensation of cold and hot confused, which is understandable because at first they both kinda feel the same. Anywho- what else is he doing?? Hmmm...he can successfully climb on the couch now and has learned how NOT to fall off of it (thank goodness!!) It took several hard falls to learn that one. The poor dogs have now lost every inch of freedom in this house. He's running now, which is super exciting (not). He can walk really well in his new crocks, which has opened his boundaries. If Josh is with us, I will let him walk into stores (holding my hand) and sometimes even let him walk around in the stores...again, only if Josh is with us!
Sleep: Goodness! Where do I even start? He started this past month sleeping great- 11-12 hours straight at night (usually 8-7) and two 1-hour naps. Then around 14.5 months (as I blogged about), he went through a crazy growth spurt. He was sleeping 14 hours at night (one morning he woke up at 11am!!!), thus we didn't even have enough time to fit two naps in the day! So, he kinda dropped to 1 nap randomly (but easily) during that week. As of today, he's sleeping 12-13 hours at night (8-9) and taking one 2-hour nap (usually 1-3). Although now that he's officially out of that growth spurt, I can tell he's waking up earlier (sleeping less at night) and not napping for 2 full hours (more like 1). There's no earthly way he's only going to nap for an hour all day, so I'm going to try and nap train him similarly to how I did it earlier in his life. I'll report back on that next month.
Eating: He's still eating like a champ- breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner, with 16oz of 2% milk and about 10oz of water throughout the day. If he gets fussy during the day, its usually because he's hungry and a quick snack (cheese stick, fruit pouch, goldfish) often does the trick.
Clothes size: some 18 month t-shirts, but mostly 24 mo-2T stuff
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Best Moment: I don't know, we've had a really good month. I think the highlight, though, was buying him his new shoes. He hadn't really ever worn shoes out in public, mostly because squeezing his fat feet into his shoes was often a HUGE undertaking. But his new crocks fit GREAT and he loves them! They're perfect for the hot Texas weather we've been having, and I think he'll fit in them for awhile (size 6/7).
Worst Moment: I can't even think of a bad moment. He's had a few bad falls off the couch and stopped my heart, so probably that...
Favorite toy: This is becoming a hard question...he jacks with a lot of stuff throughout the day, whether its actually a "toy" or not is debatable (if you consider a corkscrew or spatula a toy, you'd win).
Teeth: he cut a 3rd bottom tooth, so 7 total
Looking forward to: we have ALOT going on in the upcoming my month- my sister's bridal shower, quick road trip for mom (sans baby), a night away for mom for my sister's bachelorette party (secretly soooo looking forward to sleeping in!!!), and so much more. I will definitely post throughout the month, because it will be eventful and blog-worthy! Holler!

Jacob - 14 months

Age: 14 months
Height: 32.5" -- just a guess, we don't go back to the pedi until 15mo.
Weight: 25.5lbs -- just a guess, we don't go back to the pedi until 15mo.
Milestones: I can tell he's starting to master skills that he's been practicing for months- he can successfully stack all the rings on his ring stacker, and he can pop up all the bugs on his bug pop-up toy. He's been babbling for quite some time, but he's starting to say some words- "mama", "dada", "da" (dog) and "duck." He's starting to get more frustrated with his lack of communication skills, so I'm trying to work with him on that. He's climbing ALL OVER EVERYTHING, and its truly terrifying. He will literally stand on window sills to get onto beds, or climb on the side chair to reach the iHome (he loves listening to music).
Sleep: He's still sleeping 11-12 hours at night (generally 8-7/8) and taking 2 naps per day. He generally takes two 1-hour naps (at 10:30 and 3). I thought he was trying to drop to 1 nap, but he's definitely not ready for that yet.
Eating: He's still drinking about 16oz of cow's milk each day, with 3 meals and 1 snack. He's a pretty good eater, and I've really enjoyed watching him try new things. Our major issue at meal times is that he doesn't want to sit still long enough- he'd rather be down running around.
Clothes size: 18 months - 2T
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Best Moment: I really enjoyed celebrating my birthday and our wedding anniversary with our little nugget this year. Celebrations have definitely changed, but I am so in love with our new life as a family.
Worst Moment: He went through another Wonder Week this month, so he was pretty clingy and fussy, but we all survived! Ha!
Favorite toy: He really loves the broom I bought him, his lawn mower and various pots/pans/utensils.
Teeth: 6 total- top 4 and bottom 2. He's working on the next bottom 2 and a few molars.
Looking forward to: We don't have anything huge planned for this month, just preparing for our upcoming vacation in early September and my sister's bridal shower in mid-September.

Jacob - 13 months

This month has been incredible. My baby turned into a toddler overnight and what a complete joy he is! Oh my goodness- every single day he gets more fun and learns new things. It's so incredible. A true miracle!

Since I don't have monthly stickers that go through the second year (he wouldn't keep the stickers on anyways), I'll just attempt a quick photo sesh each month in the same chair.

 

Age: 13 months
Height: 31.5" -- just a guess, we don't go back to the pedi until 15mo.
Weight: 24.5lbs -- I weighed him on our scale at home, but its kinda janky.
Milestones: Gosh, I don't really even know what major milestones to expect after walking. He is like a sponge- watching and imitating everything. He's practically running now, sometimes he stumbles (especially if he's sleepy) but most of the time he's pretty dang quick! He loves to screw the caps on every bottle in this house. It's so cute! He loves going outside and exploring the backyard. He's started taking the hose attachment thingy and "watering" the plants- too cute for words!
Sleep: He's consistently sleeping through the night now- generally he goes 8-7 (lately until 8am!) and takes two naps for a total of 3 hours. When I stopped breastfeeding, I obviously had to stop nursing him to sleep, so now we just hold him and sing him a song, turn out his lights, turn on his sound machine and put him down. And he falls to sleep completely on his own. What a relief for us!
Eating: He's not breastfeeding anymore, and thankfully he's replaced the breastmilk with cow's milk. He drinks about 15oz of 2% milk each day. We generally offer it at every meal and after he wakes up in the morning and from each nap. I love watching him slurp it up, I think he really likes it! He's eating 3 solid meals each day, and 1 snack time when he wakes up from his afternoon nap. Meals are pretty much the same, although I've been trying to incorporate more of our meals into his.
Clothes size: 18 months - 2T
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Best Moment: We've had such a fun month! He went to the splash pad for the first time, and that was fun to watch. He was skeptical of all the water at first, but I think he started to like it. And I'm looking forward to taking him back.
Worst Moment: He's been teething a lot lately, so he gets kinda cranky and clingy. But I don't mind the snuggles!
Favorite toy: I'm slowly opening all of his birthday presents, so he gets obsessed with whatever toy I open...for like a day...and then he's over it. Haha. Currently, he's loving this farm animal mashup.
Teeth: He has the top 4 and bottom 2. I think he's cutting his 1 year molars right now, because he's been a cranky mess!
Looking forward to: Nothing in particular. Summer in general is just so much fun with him! Especially because he loves spending time outside and in the water. Love this little boy!

crazy kid climbing all over the place

Jacob - 12 months

Howwww on Earth is my son ONE!? I'm welling up just saying that. I've been so emotional all week- not really because he's one, but because its gone so stinkin' FAST! Every day, as he gets older, he gets more fun, so I'm definitely not sad that he's getting older and more mature. But as I look back on the year, I cannot believe how ridiculously FAST its gone! And then I think that in 17 short years, he will leave for college. And be gone forever. How sad! Ughh....

Okay, enough with the debbie downer....

This past year has taught me so many things- how to change a diaper under 30 seconds, how to do many things with 1 hand, how to breastfeed like a boss, how to survive on no sleep, how to concoct the perfect pot of coffee, a level of patience I never thought I had and, above all, a love I never knew existed. I love that little boy with every ounce of my heart. He makes me so proud and happy, I literally think my heart is going to explode. Sometimes after he goes to bed, I want to go in and wake him up, just to cuddle and kiss him some more. Everywhere we go, I want people to see how adorable he is. And if he's not with me, I want to show his picture off. I just can't imagine loving anyone/anything any more than I love him.

Having Jacob has also reaffirmed my love and admiration for my husband. I thank God everyday for putting Josh into my life, because I know, without a shadow of a doubt, I couldn't have done this with anyone else but him. He is our rock and backbone, he keeps this family together and strong through everything. His patience, understanding and support are such a blessing to me.

And lastly, Jacob is such a joy. He is the light of our lives and the sweetest thing that I've ever known. His love for me, and Josh, is so refreshing, so effortless and so unconditional. I can see him look at Josh, like he is the coolest person ever. And I see the look in his eyes, when he looks at me, like I'm his whole world.

Well, baby... you are our whole world. And we love you more than you'll ever know.

Now, onto his monthly update... Jacob has changed a lot this month, he's much more consistent and stable. He seems to be settling into a new routine/schedule, which has pushed bedtime back a bit.

Age: 12 months
Height: 31" (88%)
Weight: 23lbs 14oz (86%)
Milestones: Well, he's officially walking! And by walking, I mean running- or at least trying to! That boy caught onto walking with ease. I mean really, its quite impressive! I think its also safe to say that his first real word was "da" for dog. He loooves his puppies so so much! Every time I go in to get him from a nap, he immediately points to the door and says "da da da". He loves to chase them all around, "pet" them, and giggle at them when they bark and run around. They are so cute together! As I mentioned, he's pointing, waving, clapping and showing signs of trying to use spoons/forks himself. He definitely understands that food goes in bowls, and to get it out, you have to use a spoon or fork. He's also pretty much a pro at the sippy and straw cups.
Sleep: His sleep has improved SO MUCH this month. He's consistently sleeping through the night, without a peep, for 11-12 hours. He usually sleeps 8pm-7am. His naps have gotten better too. I can generally get two 1-hour naps out of him, but of course we have freak days where he naps for 2 hours.
Eating: We are down to 2 nursing sessions a day- morning and night. We just dropped down to 2 last week and Jacob really doesn't seem phased by it. I got a little engorged one night, but so far so good. As for solids- much like his daddy, he doesn't like vegetables. Like not at all. I try so hard, but it usually ends up in full-blown tears. So I offer it, but don't push it. He still loves strawberries and cheese. I always serve him yogurt for breakfast, I think it really helps with his digestion. He usually has fruit, oatmeal and toast/waffles as well. For lunch and dinner, he usually has turkey dogs, mac & cheese, cheese sticks, strawberries and I try to get him to eat a pouch of food, so he gets a little bit of vegetables. As he gets older, we're trying to get him to eat what we eat. We aren't the BEST eaters, but this is encouraging us to eat better.
Clothes size: 18 months - 2T
Diaper size: Size 5 Cruisers
Best Moment: There have been so many fun moments this month- he's walking like a champ now, and I love watching him toddle around the backyard chasing the dogs. Today was also really fun- I'll post separately about that!
Worst Moment: Last week while we were cooking dinner, Jacob slipped on some water on the kitchen floor and smacked the back of his head on the tile floor. I literally think my heart stopped for a second. That hard, solid thud on the floor nearly gave me a heart attack! He cried really hard, and got a pretty good bump, but he seemed ok and bounced back really quickly. Thank GOD!
Favorite toy: His legs? Haha! But really- now that he's walking, he's running around all over the house exploring everything he couldn't before. Keeping me busy, indeed!
Teeth: He officially cut his top front teeth, and one of the side top ones. Ugh! Poor guy has been a teething terror, complete with runny poo, and he keeps smacking his head from the pain.
Looking forward to: His birthday party this Sunday. I'm soooo excited!!! What a FUN time!

Jacob - 11 months

P.S. these monthly pictures are becoming
tough to take!

Age: 11 months
Height: (we don't go back to the pediatrician until his 1 year visit)
Weight: 22lbs 15oz (this was 2 weeks ago) 
Milestones: He's still not walking, but he cruises around the house like a mad man. He will pull-up on the wall, and cruise along the walls to get where he wants to go.  It's so funny to watch! He can walk holding 1 of our hands, so 1 of his hands is free, but he still doesn't look ready to walk yet. And I'm ok with that.
Sleep: We've officially cut the nighttime feeding- thank GOD! Within the past 2 weeks, he's starting sleeping through the night more consistently, but occasionally he'll wake up and fuss/cry for a little bit. He still sleeps approximately 12 hours at night- usually 7-6:30. He's getting more consistent at nap time too- I can usually get two 1-hour naps out of him, typically around 10am and 2pm.
Eating: We're still nursing 4x/day- morning, after he wakes from both of his naps and before bed. And I'm proud to report that he's still 100% breastfed, no formula! Woohoo! I'm hoping to wean at 1 year, so we've introduced whole milk, but he doesn't like it. My goal is to get a little more consistent with offering whole milk this month, so hopefully he at least likes it by 1-year and we can start transitioning to that.  In terms of food, he's completely off baby food. He eats all table foods now. For breakfast, we do yogurt, oatmeal, fruit, waffles, pancakes, etc. For lunch and dinner we typically do the same stuff- turkey dogs, lunch meat, if we make meat for dinner we'll give it to him, fish, chunks of steamed vegetables, cheese and fruit. His current favorites are cheese (colby jack mostly, but he had pepperjack last night) and strawberries.  He will double-fist strawberries and shove them in his mouth chubby bunny style. It's absolutely hysterical!
Clothes size: 18 months - 2T
Diaper size: Size 5! We decided to stick with Pampers Cruisers. As tough as it is to change him, I'd rather wrangle him for 30 seconds than have to constantly battle diaper rash! This month we also switched to the Pampers overnight diapers; his diapers were getting really full at night and these seem to help.
Best Moment: This month has been a lot of fun- now that its warming up, we've been spending a lot of time outside. We took Jacob to the zoo for the first time, and we often eat dinner outside, or just hangout outside during the day.  He loves riding in his wagon in the backyard while I water the flowerbeds and he uses his pushcar to walk around the backyard with the dogs. So cute!
Worst Moment: Overall, things are definitely improving and "bad moments" are few and far between. We had to go on antibiotics again for a lingering green/yellow runny nose- it seemed to work overnight and he's doing fine now.
Favorite toy: He mostly likes pots and pans, and crawling/cruising around discovering new things. He also loves looking out the windows at the world. Josh bought him this turtle pull toy that he's been obsessed with for the last 24 hours. He drags it along as he cruises on the couch and coffee table.
Teeth: He has the 2 bottom teeth, and I think the top front 2 are moving because he's been pretty fussy lately and I can tell that his gums are swollen.
Looking forward to: his birthday party and all that comes with his birthday!! I have so many things up my sleeves, just hoping I can pull it all off.  Let the crafting begin! :)