Walker-18 months

Dearest Walker Man,

You, my sweet love, are one and a half! I don't even know how it happened, but you've become such a big boy in the blink of an eye. Some of the early days with you seemed to drag by when you were so fussy, but now I'd give anything to go back to you being a baby, for a few minutes anyway ;)

You often give the impression of a grumpy, unhappy boy with the frequent eyebrow scrunch and scowl on your face. But that's just part of you and those who know you well know that you are almost always happy and can be so silly at times.

You are a feisty little thing at times too. And don't tell him I told you this, but I think you are going to be the one giving your big brother a run for his money. Although y'all have plenty of rough moments, you and Gray love and adore each other so much. He's often the first person you ask for when you wake up in the mornings and from nap if he is still asleep. You follow him around and imitate everything he does. You often initiate hugs and kisses too, every time making my heart explode into a million pieces. 

You had your well check up last Thursday and I am just so thankful for your good health. You were almost 33.5 inches, which puts you in the 79th percentile. You weighed a smidgen over 24 pounds, staying around the 50th percentile for weight. Of course your smart self has a head measure my that's almost in the 80th percentile! You are wearing size 18 month clothes, size 4 diapers and size 5-6 shoes. 

A few things you love most in life are Sophie and any and every animal you see, being outside, the toy vacuum cleaner, tractors, trucks (especially mail trucks and fire trucks), being tickled and chased and books. You must bring me 50 books a day and I try my best to always make time for you to plop down on my lap and read it to you. You also love music and we still can't seem to get enough of watching you dance around the house and in the car. Things you don't love are: loud noises (hair dryer, the real vacuum cleaner, the blender and the leaf blower) and when someone takes something away from you. You don't love when the lawn mower is on unless you are riding it with Daddy.

You are talking non-stop, from the second you wake up until the minute you fall asleep at night. I bet you say "hot" a million times a day. You are obsessed with any and everything being hot, even if it's not. If anything is turned on and has power to it, you point to it constantly telling us "hot, hot!". You are really into pushing buttons and opening things and we hear "open, open, open" all day every day too. You will repeat anything we ask you to and your little voice is just the sweetest sound to my ear. One of my favorite things to hear you say right now is "ok". You understand so much and are doing great at following commands. We tell you "obey" as a reminder if you look like you're about to do something you know you shouldn't. So now you love walk around putting your hand up at brother or Sophie and saying "obey, obey!" 

Your other four teeth finally broke all the way through a month or two ago, making 16 total. I hope we will have a break before your two year molars start coming up. 

I am so thankful that you continue to be a good eater. I give a little credit to Daddy and myself because as much as we can, we make you eat what we are eating, but I do think you just naturally aren't picky at all. I can count on one hand the kinds of foods you don't like.

You are also a champion sleeper. You take one nap a day and it's almost always 2-3 hours long. You go to bed around 7:30 or 8:00 and sleep until 7:30/8:30. Thank you Jesus!!!

You are pretty much over your separation anxiety and don't have any trouble being dropped off at the Y and at church. You have always been a big time Mama's boy but within a week or two of soccer season being over, you've become quite a Daddy's boy unless you are hurt or just really exhausted. He really is the best, buddy and I'm so glad he is who you and brother have to look up to.

I can't wrap my head around the fact that you'll be two the next time I write to you. But since life with you and brother and Daddy just keeps getting better, I reckon I'll take it.

I love you to the moon and back,
Mama

Thanksgiving 2015

We had the BEST five days with Daddy off work! We started the Christmas decorating first thing Wednesday morning. I've almost always waited until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas but- 1) pretty much the only Thanksgiving/fall decor I put out this year was outside and 2) there was no way we could get it all done after Thanksgiving and before Paul had to go back to work. Last year we hit a huge sale at Michael's and got wreaths and garland for all of our windows. I just love coming home to such pretty, cozy Christmas decor.

We spent the rest of the day outside enjoying the almost 70 degree November weather! Although, our full of life and imagination three year old wanted to make snow angels. Bless him.

Their cuteness is so hard for me to handle.

Nanny and Papa stopped in Wednesday to stay a night with us on their way to Boone. We kept it a surprise for the boys and they were sooooo excited to see them at the door that evening. They brought their big Christmas gift for the boys since we wouldn't have room to bring it back in our car after visiting them over Christmas. Paul and Papa couldn't get this thing together fast enough. It was a huge hit! 

Thanksgiving morning we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then came home and let the boys take their new tractor outside. 

The box was almost as much fun as the tractor.

Nanny and Papa stayed until nap time and it was so nice because we hadn't seen them much since the summer. By the way, Paul's dad's team lost in the semi-final game so they didn't get to play in the State Championship this year. But what a great season they had to make it that far. Papa was named Regional Coach of the Year and is even being inducted into the Coach's Hall of Fame!!! He is almost as good of a soccer coach as he is a dad and Papa! 

We left first thing Friday morning to head to Boone to spend time with Paul's aunts and cousins. There are now 17 kids between his cousins and with our boys that made NINETEEN. It was straight up Dugger and I loved every minute of it. They are the most well behaved, sweetest, most polite and grateful children I have ever been around and I take lots of notes every time we visit. Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Laura came this year too. We had our big meal that afternoon and spent the rest of the day enjoying a rare 60 degree mountain Thanksgiving. The army of kids went to bed early and the adults had so much fun catching up and playing games that evening. 

Typical Walker face, although he was having the time of his life!

Saturday morning we hung out, played some more and most of the children took a trip to the Mast General Store to pick out a few items from the candy barrel. This has become a Thanksgiving tradition that Uncle Kevin (Papa) does for all the older youngins (although there is no age limit with Papa's grandchildren ;). 

Walker has turned into a Daddy's boy lately. I can't blame him.

Then it was time for our annual tradition of finding the perfect Christmas tree. I talked Paul into letting us get a tall, skinny tree this year because  I really wanted it to be able to go in a different spot in the living room this year. 

After we got our tree we went back to Aunt Missy's for another hour of eating and playing before heading back home. Both boys were sad to leave but were asleep within minutes. 

Look at that sweet, dirty face.

I love the grumpy face and drool on his chin!

We got home and unloaded the tree and got straight to decorating. Within minutes Paul said I had converted him to a skinny tree fan because it was so much easier to decorate and fit so much better in the living room. Gray was so into the ornaments this year. He wanted to know where they had come from, who gave hem to us and he even figured out how to hang them by himself. Walker was enthralled with the lights but did well with "no touch" when it came to the tree. 

Perfect hand me down shirts!

Finishing the tree the next morning.

She's a beaut!

Nanny and Papa stayed with us again on Saturday on their way back home from Boone. We ate take out and watched Polar Express by the tree. In other words, it was a close to perfect night.

Those would be Gray's feet photo-bombing. 

We skipped church Sunday so we could see Paul's parents for a bit before they hit the road. That afternoon we had my family over for Thanksgiving round two and to celebrate my Gram's 80th birthday. We had so much fun that I forgot to take one single picture. I really am just so thankful for the wonderful family we have on both sides. We are blessed beyond measure!

It was hard to go back to reality on Monday but we are so thankful for all the family time we had last week. And less than three weeks til Chrsitmas break with Daddy!