Hanukkah 2008

Last year during Hanukkah Joshua was 3 months old. Therefore, he was a little young to really enjoy the holiday. At 15 months, Joshua is still pretty young, but he is able to interact a little more. On the first night of Hanukkah, Joshua got a picture board book on Hanukkah. Each page discussed a different night. So, we read 1 page each night that corresponded with the night of Hanukkah. After lighting the candles each night, we gave Joshua a gift. The gifts ranged from books to stuffed animals to toys. One night, we even gave him a dreidel, and Keith and I ate the candy inside. Joshua really enjoyed opening the gifts. Yet, we think he enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper more than the gifts. Next year, it will probably be different and he will wrip the paper off real quick to get to the gift.

If I can't see you...

... it is not happening.
What kid likes getting his face wiped clean? Certainly not Joshua. After he finishes with a meal, we always wipe his mouth and hands with wet wipes. Of course, he hates when we wipe his mouth. Lately, every time that Joshua sees that we are going to wipe his face, he covers his eyes. If he covers his eyes and can't see us, then we really aren't there wiping his face.

Florida Trip

15 months and Keith and I haven't had a night without Joshua. No sleepover at the grandparents, no nights alone yet. As I had been nursing Joshua for all this time, it made it difficult to be away from Joshua. (Together, Joshua and I decided that it was time to stop nursing, and the timing was great). So, Keith and I thought about putting together our first "alone" trip. We wanted to get away but knew that a week away without Joshua would just be too long, so we compromised. We visited the Uhr grandparents in Florida and then went on a 4 night Bahamas cruise without Joshua and left Joshua in Orlando with Keith's parents. That worked really well. The overall trip was fun, and the cruise was great. (Although, Keith was a little sick for part of it). We missed Joshua when we said goodbye and were very excited to see Josh when we got back, but we did really well without him. Joshua behaved well for his grandparents over the 4 days as well. Unfortunately, he got in a molar and a tooth on the bottom, so he was a little fussy during the night, but Joshua did well.

15 Months

15 months and Joshua is still an absolute pleasure. Joshua knows the difference between a hairbrush and a toothbrush and uses both properly for his hair (he is getting more and more) and teeth (he is getting more and more). It kind of amazes me that when I say "brush your hair", he knows and when I say "brush your teeth", he knows that as well. In addition, he knows that all the 12 different hairbrush styles that I use are hairbrushes for the head. (That doesn't mean that he doesn't try to chew on them every once in awhile. Joshua is still a teething toddler after all). Joshua is walking with the assistance of our hands and a walker but not quite ready to take his first unassisted steps. He is still a happy easy baby. Joshua is saying more words all of the time. He is getting a bit pickier with food and we are able to give him more of a variety of foods. (He tried brownies the other day). He uses the "more" sign when he wants more and also says "done" when he is finished eating. Although, it sounds more like "duh".

Blah Blah Blah

Joshua loves talking on the phone. He grabs our cell phones and the house cordless, puts it to his ear and says, "HI". Of course, it sounds more like "I". It doesn't even have to be a phone. The other day, he used a suntan lotion bottle, and quite often, you will find Joshua just putting his hand to his ear and saying "Hi". Yesterday, keith and I watched Joshua have a whole conversation with himself on the phone. We tried to record it, but of course, he wouldn't perform for us.

Down the Stairs

Over the past 2 weeks, Joshua has learned how to go down the stairs. (He mastered up the stairs several weeks ago). He knows that if he wants to go down the stairs, he needs to turn around so that he slides down feet first. He has also learned that this is the same way to get off the bed, off the sofa and off of chairs. (So, now I have a little less nervousness about him falling off the bed). When my brother-in-law and his family were in town, we had formal family pictures taken at Brookside Gardens. (-t is an indoor gardeb and they have an outdoor arboretum as well). The photographer was taking pictures of Joshua climbing across a small bridge. On the bridge, there was an incline. When Joshua felt that he was starting to go "down hill", he turned himself around and started to slide down feet first. How smart!

I Want What You Are Having - Part 2

It has occurred to me that the food situation has turned into a bit of a frustration. Probably not for Joshua, more for me. I know if he was truly hungry, he would eat. Often, I will try to give Joshua food and he will turn his head and then talk gibberish and begin pointing. If I take the food, put it on my plate, and then feed it to him, he may eat it. If I give him a spoon and let him put the spoon in the bowl while I put a spoonful of food in his mouth, he may eat it. If I pretend the spoon is an airplane, he might eat it. You have to just keep trying things, and what worked one day might not work the next. I try hard to give him a variety of food to get his daily vitamins each day, but it is hard to get him to eat different things. So, I am happy enough if he eats.

"What do you want?" He smiles real big and points over to the area where we keep the cheerios.

Got it.