"Hello" & Uhhuh

Meet "Hello" the newest member of our stuffed animal family. He got attached to in the store and I kind of did too... it was so cute. This child does not need another toy but I couldn't help myself. Well he has named his adorable Elfum "Hello". I am not sure where the name came from but it cracks me up. We are referring to the Elephant as "Hello" now too. He bounces it around on the ground and plays saying "Hello Hello Hello...". Just like when he plays with his beagle puppy and bounces it around and says "Woof Woof". I love the pretend play that is developing right now. Finally not every toy and person is named "Abby"... it was cute while it lasted. Abby bear is still Abby Bear. "Maggie" is his stuffed beagle doggie, "Roars" is the lion.... "Mickey" is his blankie. I love these names. He is starting to combine words to make one word. He has done this a few times the best example is "Mickey"... I think it came from "My" & "Blankie". Sometimes he is proud of his hybrid words.

The other new thing is "Uh Huh". He will tell you a story, explain a situation or just express his thoughts. You can understand about 20% of it. Very clear words pop out and the rest is who knows what. He will say these thoughts over and over again, which leaves us to fill in the blanks. The fun part is you can turn anything he says into something and he says "Uh Huh" (with a tone like "can you believe it?!"... so funny). I wish I could think of an example. He will spill out tons of words and sounds and you can say "You think Maggie wants a shirt on?" His response will be "Uh Huh!!" Lame example but you get the point. It cracks me up.

He has been trying to sing for quite a while now, but now finally words are coming out. Not necessarily the right ones but words. He loves music. He asks to "Dance" all the time.

Till Next Time...

Photo's & Updates

Well like I mentioned we went to Redding. I thought I would share a few photos non-birthday related. I saw this picture of Wesley and I and I thought "Wow I look like Wesley"... when really it is the other way around.

I took some time off a couple weeks ago, to recover from the holidays. What did I do? Day One: Sick As A Dog! I spent the rest of the vacation on the couch and nursing myself back to health. Wesley was really wonderful while I didn't feel well. He looked and books with me and played quietly if needed. Mind you I still was the main source of entertainment but I think he could tell I wasn't myself and to best behave. He is so sweet. I had the hardest time going back to work after my week off. It was so nice to be home and to take care of him... well kind of, I didn't do much. He and I had a good time together. One afternoon I did try and take a few pictures of him since he is 2 now. I got a few cute ones. I got lucky... As much as I enjoyed my time with Wesley, on the other hand frustrated that I didn't get anything done... I mean NOTHING. Oh well. I am still trying to get well also!Oh before I got sick we did get to go to our friends annual "Ugly Christmas Sweater Party". We buy awful sweaters and make them worse. Levi actually got a tree skirt instead of a sweater. We had a lot of fun. Here is US:

Well some great news. Levi made the Dean's Honor Roll Again! YEAH! Monday is the beginning of the end... Levi is scheduled to graduate in May. It will be a trying road to get to the end. Levi is losing his job at the end of the month... well was losing it at the end of the month. They are allowing him to work a couple extra weeks. That is so nice of them. So pray that a job will come our way or that my salary will miraculously increase:)... either one we aren't picky.

Happy Birthday Wesley!

Well Wesley celebrated his 2nd birthday TWICE! 2 years old so lets have 2 parties:)! We ended up going up to Redding last weekend. It was a quick trip but I wanted the Grandparents to be able to celebrate with Wesley. Man let me tell you that is one spoiled kid! Well loved, spoiled whatever it may be, he made out on his birthday. My sister in law and other brother & sister in law went in on a power wheels jeep for Wesley. He LOVED it. He doesn't have the steering thing down. He does however have the On/Off button and the gas pedal down pat. At first we thought that it would stay in Redding but no it ended up coming home with us. I made these mini cakes for Wesley's party. They turned out close to what I was picturing.

He also got a chalk board easel which he loves. It has a dry erase board on the other side but we took away those pans. Good thing since he has already drawn with chalk on things other than the black board.

So then a week went by and it was time to celebrate for reals. We got him a really cute book. I highly recommend " A Visitor For Bear" a really cute story... My parents and Levi & I went in on a Trike for Wesley. It is an adorable bike. I am very happy with it. He can't quite push the pedals all the way around but he'll grow and get there. That was kind of my thought with getting a bike for him- By the time the weather is nice for bike riding he will be big enough. Right now he keeps asking to ride it. Riding it in the house doesn't really work either. I feel bad he has the jeep and the trike that he can't wait to ride again but it is a bit cold and wet.

Last night I made Spaghetti and Meatballs & Banana Berry Pizza for dessert... it was all yummy if I do say so myself. Wesley enjoyed his birthday celebration... I think.

I mainly can't believe that my little baby is 2. It is amazing how quickly he learns and grows. He says sooo many words. He is such a blessing!

Coming Up On 2!

It is becoming VERY apparent that 2 is just around the corner for Wesley.

I have heard that 3 is the new 2... meaning their child was more stubborn at 3 then 2. The terrible two's seemed to disappear. Well it wouldn't say Wesley is in the "Terrible Two's" yet. For one he isn't quite 2... about a week left & Two: I am sure this is ONLY the beginning. He will continue to try new things and gain more independence... and push that line.

He has become very clingy to me when we are here at home. He still does not fuss if we leave him with someone but if he is here at home and loses sight of us it is very tragic for him. If we are both home I have noticed it isn't as bad but when one of us is gone he wants to make sure the one he is with is not going to run off too. For this reason he does not leave my side. I am constantly tripping over him. I am happy to have the company and I am getting better and making wider turns and such, so that I don't knock him over. So nap time is very traumatic for him... he has to be in there and I am somewhere where he can't see me. The fussy nap time I know is standard for most house holds but Wesley has never really put up a fight when sleep is involved... so this very different for me.

Nap time today: He fell asleep in the car. He was seriously asleep for only 5 minutes tops before he could be in his crib. Well he has decided that was enough sleep. He is screaming. I go in there and he says "I cry, I cry". I am like I know you are crying that is why I am here... I tell him to lay down and sleep. He says "WWWHHYYY??!!" and throws himself down on the pillow crying. (Ya for some reason he is asking "why?" & "what?" lately). I am trying not to laugh at his dramatic display of protest. I have to hide my face in his blanket so he doesn't see me smile. I am really bad at the not smiling thing... I HAVE to get better so I will not last :)

He requests to read a book but does not want to read any of the books we have here at the house. He wants a snack but doesn't want anything we have to eat. He wants to do it but he CAN'T do it. He wants a drink of milk or water anytime I have a drink... I know you all know what I am taking about.

On one hand though he will gladly ask for help if he has tried to do something and failed, so that is nice. He will also "thank you" for your helping hand- so sweet.

He is still such a pleasure and fun to teach. I am seeing a different Wesley emerge each day. I want his words to matter. If he wants an apple to eat I think he should be able to have an apple... he does request candy and that one doesn't work. If he says "sleepy" he should get to go to bed. The problem is sometimes he just says words to say them and doesn't really mean them all the time, then gets frustrated with the results...

Weslang

Weslang, is Wesley slang. His words he has for things cracks me up. I know that all parents get a kick out of what their child comes up with but this is my first time around. I hate being away from everyone because they miss all these incredibly funny stages... He will say anything you say just not correctly. He says it his own way and there is nothing wrong with that, it is just cute. Elephant is "Elph-in" and it is all nasally. "Butt" is button. He points to his belly and says "Butt" ... he means belly button. Zebra is "Jasba", Frog is "Rabbit"... he means ribbit but always says rabbit instead. But a Rabbit is a "Bunny". Or any cartoon drawing of either a mouse or cat with larger ears is either a bunny or maggie (she has floppy ears incase you forgot). "Sock" is Snack. "Socky" is Sock... did you get that?:) "Maaaggie" is of course Maggie. "Maggoo" is Monkey though. I am having so much fun with him.

He is also starting to name things. He has named all of his stuff animals "Abby". My friend Abby is honored and she should be. His favorite bear is now just "Abby" not "bear". We use to have to ask him what his bears name was for him to say "Abby" now that is all the bear is called. Clearly it is BOY bear so it kind of makes it funny.



Funny story... Levi loves Cheese, Wesley loves Cheese. This makes me believe that some things are genetic not so much learned. Anyways Levi gave Wesley some cheese with his dinner the other night. After he put it on his plate Wesley said "Amen"... he was very thankful for what was put on his plate! Funny.

He has never loved Maggie more than he does right now. He is constantly looking for her, walking around the house yelling "MAAAAGIE". I just laugh cause I know Maggie is probably hiding from him. When he finds her he says "Awe HI Maggie!". Then she gets endless hugs and kisses, well not really endless cause it doesn't take her too long to move away and go sleep somewhere else. All the sudden he will be playing or sitting doing something and where Maggie is at becomes the most important thing. He must find her!


I can't believe he will be 2 soon, so sad!

Just a photo of my favorite little boy... I was instructed to never blog with out a photo:)

He has Levi's eyes doesn't he?

New Year, New Update

Well we had a nice Christmas. We got to stay in Redding for an exceptional amount of time. It was one of our most relaxing trips we have had.

Wesley, Levi and I woke up Christmas Eve morning and acted like it was Christmas Morning. Wesley was funny. He wanted help opening his presents (by the time all the Christmas' were over he was having other people open his gifts while he watched). He also wanted all the wrapping paper off the present before he would enjoy it. I was happy with what we got him. His two big presents were a Lion puppet (I'll explain the reason in a minute) and a toy guitar. The Guitar was the hit that day... His "Tar Tar" as he calls it. He loves the music. The only thing is you have to keep strumming to keep the music going, well he would rather dance. He'd stop strumming to dance and the music would stop, we had a frustrated boy on our hands. We got him a Lion puppet because he loves Lions right now... or Roars as he calls them. Roars are bear, tigers, lions... you get the picture. He also love my oven mitts, he is constantly getting in the drawer to play with them. He loves the puppet... The toys were a hit.

Christmas lunch was at my Mom's and my Grandparents came over along with my Uncle. It was nice to see everyone again. I got to take a NAP! I had mentioned in a blog back that I always want to take a nap on Christmas cause I am so tired by then. I worked a 10 day stretch building up to Christmas and my first day off was the day we packed and traveled, so come Christmas I needed some rest. The nap was sure nice. After that I was rested for party #2. Here you can see Wesley letting Uncle Chuck open his gifts. Poor kids were up so late it was present opening then bed time.

Great Granny & Wesley Watching My Mom Cook Christmas Dinner.

Me & My Grandma's Christmas Day... after my nap:)

New Years Eve we had been invited to a party. I was really looking forward to it but we couldn't find a sitter so we skipped the party. We played board games which Levi won every game and we watch a movie. I feel asleep a few minutes after midnight:)... After my midnight kiss of course.

The next morning I greated cheerful Wesley in his crib like usual. I said "It's a New Year!" He laughed and then went straight faced and said "What??"... it was so funny. I was excited then he was excited then he was confused... what does a "new year" mean? Well we'll see where this new year takes us! Hopefully there are a lot more laughs a long the way.

This is Levi and Cailee our neice. He was dancing with her in Grandma Bowers new spacious house:). He's a fun Uncle and even a funner Dad (funner is a word if I want it to be!)