Levi is 1 and a half years old!

I'm not ready.  Year two is already halfway over.  :( My baby is now acting like a full-time toddler.  As sad as it is to see my baby getting so big, it has also been so so fun as he discovers new things constantly!  Just about everything is AMAZING to him....which is so fun to witness.

He's a growing boy, in height, just not so much in weight. 
Height: 33.75 inches (86%)
Weight: 23.12 pounds (21%)
Head: 18.75 (44%)

This means he has only gained two pounds in six months and grew three inches.  So, needless to say he is skinny and tall.  He can now reach onto our counter and pull off stuff.  And stove.  Yikes!!  Gotta stay on top of that one for sure!

He eats like a boss...usually.  Lately he's been a bit under the weather with either a cough, upset tummy, or cold, which means he doesn't eat quite as much.  He's likes everything pretty much except sauces.  NOT a big fan of any sauce, except syrup for pancakes.  So if I bake a casserole, I set aside each ingredient for Levi before mixing in the sauce.

Speaking of food, he still really likes to throw food off his plate randomly....doesn't help that Keller is constantly begging for it.  Newest strategy at stopping this is removing his plate and telling him I have to feed him if he is going to throw it on the ground.  He hates this!  Usually it is enough to get him to stop.


Levi still loves his big friend Teagan!  We are at the nature center here.  He loves, loves, loves animals!!  But dogs are still his favorite! 

Levi and I go on lots of walks around our neighborhood.  As we pass fences along the way dogs will start barking.  So now when Levi sees a fence, in person or in a picture, he points and starts barking.

His favorite song is Old McDonald.  He is just now starting to say a few things.  But in this song the only thing he has figured out is e-i-e-i.  Not the o.  So all throughout the day he looks at me and starts saying e-i-e-i and waits for me to keep singing it.  Ha!

He can say:

Moo, meow, woof-woof, quack, baa
doggies: sounds like dees(leaves out the g)
bye-bye(he says bye bye to EVERYTHING and EVERYONE all day long, just not on command from others)
Momma:  but he often leaves off the ma and will yell "mom."  Seriously sounds like a teenager.  I correct him "momma."  We are not moving to mom already!
hot
ya
no
cheese(maybe no s sound)

He tries to say a lot more but it comes out in pieces or jibberish.  He studies our mouths so closely.  But you can tell he knows it means something because he'll run into the run jabbering very seriously about something and look at me like "what are you going to do?"  Josh and I have done a lot of laughing lately!
 

We visited the zoo in Abilene this month.  So fun!
 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this picture because it shows where Levi is developmentally.  He watches us so closely.  He is a very observant kid as far as I can tell.  I often find him trying to copy what he has seen me or Josh do many times.  Always a bit shocking/cute when you see him mimic us so closely.

The weather is still rather warm here so we are still enjoying playing in the water outside.  He still is quite the cooker....inside and out.  He always has something 'brewing' in a pot, pan or bowl.  And he wants to help or watch me cook constantly!

Side note-this is the prettiest our yard has looked ever!!
 

$1 aisle at Target entertainment.  These suckers were stuck all over our house til I couldn't stand stepping on them anymore.
 

He is still my sweet, sweet boy.  Generally even-kill and go with the flow.  Rarely cries or fusses much.  He's been rather snuggly and loves his momma!  When I leave he always acts so sad at first....then realizes Daddy is really cool too!  :)

Oh...he's also learned the word "no."  It's been pretty funny seeing him begin to comprehend that concept.  At first he'd just walk around the house saying "no, no, no."  Now I can ask him something and he says either "no" or "ya."  It's pretty cute to see him begin to express his own opinion.  It's a little tricky trying to teach him when it is ok to tell me no and when he needs to just obey.
 

Handsome Starbucks date!
 

Levi used to not be such a big fan of the water, but now he looks forward to his baths every night and hates when they are over.  Bye-bye water.

Levi is not a big fan of the snakes at the Nature Center.  When he gets to close, specifically to the big ones, he says "no," and backs away.
 

He loves his new back pack.  It goes everywhere with us!!
 

Painting fun!
 

Fun at the park with Brantley.
 

Calls the pumpkins his "balls," and wants to carry them every time we walk out the door.
 

More time with friends.
 

Levi not only loves to play in this water, but he loves to drink it.  Which means he pees it out all night.  Which is why he soaks through his pj's quite often!  :/  Night-time diapers and all.
 

Playing dress up.  Ha!

We love you sweet son!!!

Levi is 17 months old!

Here we are, almost a year and a half.  I'm actually behind on this post so in a few shorts weeks Levi will hit the halfway mark on his way to two.  Yikes!


Levi finally gathered up enough courage and tackled the climbing toys at the mall.  He is still not a risk taker by any means, but he does enjoy running around 'attempting' to climb and slide down the toys.  On the steep ones he still feels better if I hold his hand when he comes down.  I don't mind obliging.  So sweet!

His new favorite game is standing on the couch and trying to say "1, 2, 3" and then he falls down.  It sounds more like "da, tha, weee!!"  With a high pitch ending. 
 

"They put this here just for me?"  Genius!  Whoever thought of this at Town & Country must have had kids.

Soaking up the sun(actually staying in the shade) while it is still PLENTY hot!

Levi absolutely loves to hide and then be chased...as long as you aren't acting too scary.  Apparently my scary is pretty tame.  When other people chase him, he is much more scared. 

What would we do without that dog? :D

Stirring up some mysterious potion....still a favorite activity wherever we are.

First yogurt Popsicle.  He didn't even get a fourth of it eaten before he moved on to something he found more interesting.  Keller didn't mind finishing it off though.
 

We enjoyed a long trip to Nebraska this month to celebrate my cousin's wedding with my dad's side of the family.  Levi's enjoying my Grandma's tree.
 

Naps were a bit difficult to get in with all the hustle and bustle.  Poor guy!
 

My cousin Emily and her sweet babe, Gus.
 

My grandparents.
 

Grandparents and the great-grand babies.
 

That's right...a pic of just the two of us.  We realized when putting together a photo album for our adoption that we basically haven't taken a picture of just us two since we had Levi.  :/
 

My sweet sisters and I.  Love them!
 

Did I mention the wedding was great....and rather warm.  We roasted!  :D
 

Twinkies!  Love these two so very much!
 

We visited the Omaha zoo while in NE.  The aquarium was definitely the coolest thing!  So fun!
 

 

My mom does such a great job loving on all the grand kids!
 

Hi there monkey!

16 Month Update

We have turned a corner.  I'm not sure I was ready for this new Levi.  He has finally figured out how to climb on things...such as chairs.  Within a matter of days I find him on the kitchen table and 'typing' away at the computer whenever I turn around.  For so long he was very content playing with his toys and not exploring every nook and cranny of our house.  I thought, we have such a calm, content little guy.  Well, that Levi is gone.  And a far more curious, determined and exhausting Levi has emerged.  He's obsessed with taking out all of our dvd's and opening and pulling out the actually dvd, unrolling all of the tp, pushing buttons on the tv,  splashing in the toilet(if he gets that far), and dumping out everything he can get his hands on.  This new sneaky side is coming out too.  If he knows he isn't supposed to have something, he'll grab it when I'm not looking and then run go hide.  I have found him many times now hunkered down behind a bed punching buttons on my phone.  Oh dear!  I know I'll make adjustments and get the hang of it soon, but right now it has caught me off guard.

Paci's are his favorite thing EVER!  We've created a monster. :D  We have to completely hide them from view to avoid an insistent whining fit.  But it is so hard to deny it bc he just loves it so much!

I think Levi is going to be a lefty.  He holds just about everything with his left hand.

He loves playing hide and seek and chase!

He hates having his diaper changed!!
 

He loves eating with a fork, but as you can tell he is not awesome at getting yogurt in his mouth. :/  He loves most foods, but not really sauces like alfredo, marinara and such.  He'd rather eat casseroles decomposed and without the sauce.

I re broke out the high chair straps.  This little stinker kept wanting to stand up in his chair.  Strapped in you go.

We finally broke down and put child locks on cabinets and drawers.  We had already removed anything harmful from them, but for this momma's sanity, I had to be able to control what he could pull out.  We would literally have all of our pots, lids, pans, utensils, Tupperware all over the house, plus his toys of course.  Could. Not. Take. It!  Don't kid yourself, it is still a mess, but a bit more of a controlled mess...maybe?
 

Levi has outgrown his size four shoes but still fits in his 12-18 month clothes.  He is still in a size four diaper, but we are trying an extra absorbent night time diaper because this kid can pee!  Thankfully he doesn't pee out of his diaper and completely soak himself, blankets and sheets every night, but still some.

Time for another hair cut.  This kid's hair can grow!!
 

Levi loved getting to stand in the big part of the cart for the first time.  Oh the freedom!

Anything outside is still a favorite activity..and Keller of course.

Momo and Papa came to visit this month!  I feel so very spoiled when they are here!  Levi loves both for sure, but he does seem to have a special place in his heart for Papa.  He wanted him all weekend.  So cute!!
 

Eating our afternoon snack and marveling at the rain.
 

Levi seems to especially love to mix all kinds of things together.  Gross.
 

The lamp is a new fascination these days.  He pulls it off his night stand and turns it on and off.  Then he touches it and yells "hot" over and over and over again until I acknowledge that yes, it is getting hot.  Speaking of hot, he asks me if just about EVERYTHING is hot.  He points and says "hot" over and over about food and non food items.  And then he repeats.  :)

He is quite the jabberbox lately.  Not a whole lot is discernible, but he tries to tell me all about it, all the time.  I mainly get "Daw, daw" while he points at something over and over about everything.  I am constantly explaining what every single thing is around him. 

He can say:
**"Dog" but it sounds like "daw" and then is followed by a woof woof.  I'm pretty sure he thinks all animals say woof woof.  If he hears any dog noise in the background, he immediately starts imitating.  Can you say obsessed?  :)
**"Thank you" but it's a little fuzzy.
**"up"
**"more" and he finally started signing more to me...yay!
**"hi" which is said to just about everyone we pass in a store.  They also get a little wave from him.  Such a friendly little guy!  We meet lots of old ladies that tell me all about their grandbabies.  :)
**dog
**hotdog
**hot
"uh-oh
 

We visited Josh's parents too.  Levi was not such a fan of the pool, but then again my husband's idea of getting him used to it was immediate dunking.  Didn't turn out so well.  :/ 

On that note, Levi still does not even like his baths.  He wants out about as fast as I can get his body clean.

 

But we still love Daddy!
 

My new climber.

We love our friends from church!
 

Still loves the dirt.

We had a wonderful 4th of July celebrating at Freedom Fest as a fam.