16 months

I'll keep calling him my baby, even if my baby is 16months old today!

Here is the latest on Mr. P.

The kid is a climbing fool. If he can get his little leg on it or pull himself up with his freakishly strong arms, he will. He is now a regular on our kitchen chairs (although he has been found on the table as well), he has climbed our kitchen stools, he has been found on the coffee table, end table, couch and chair. He'll use us as human steps when he can. At the park he likes the big kid equipment and will scale it like nobody's business, even climbing on the chain ladder!



I'm not sure if he is a picky eater or just a complicated one. On one hand, sand and pepples are fine fare, but on the other blueberries, chicken and peas end up on the floor. mmm.. He is getting to be quite adept at using utensils lately. He prefers a large fork but will settle for a smaller one and a spoon if a fork is not available. He is getting quite good at getting food on them and to his mouth. He will throw a plasic fork though, metal only for this kid!

Not sure if it is because he is such an extrovert or not, but this kid loves to talk. He is teaching us what words he is trying to use. Even if we don't understand a lick of it he will still tell large tales to anyone in the room. Here is a recent list of words:
Ball Shoes Apple Puppy No Go Birdy Tree Baby Hi

His favorite activities are still playing with anything that has wheels or is a tool of some sort. Carts, wagons, brooms, rakes, hose etc. He has also taken a liking to his baby doll and blankie at night.



Sleeping seems to be getting much better. It has been tough since he added 2 teeth this month, but he is still making progress. We now nurse and read stories before bed, then mommy gets some awesome kisses, then he gets an additional bottle and rocking from dad and then to bed. He will scream for 5-15min, but then seems to fall to sleep after that. Only if teeth are bugging him will he wake before 12:30-1:30 or so. Then it is another quick bottle until around 4:30 or so when he joins us in bed for an early morning nurse. I know it sounds like a lot, but trust me, this is an improvement! Each morning Patrick will wake and either run to get his baby doll or climb downstairs so he can dance to the ABC song toy on the dishwasher.

He sure has grown taller too, although I'll get out the tape measurer to be sure.

Happy 16month my baby boy!

Welcome Baby Norah!

Welcome to the world Baby Norah!

We can't wait to break out the pink and dress you in fantastic clothes. Patrick can't wait to touch your beautiful hair and poke at your eyes!

See you soon! Don't grow too much before we get there! 9lbs is plenty big enough!

Already dreading winter

Ryan and I have been asking ourselves lately. What are we going to do once it gets cold out and we can no longer go outside?

A high energy toddler stuck in the house all day just doesn't sound like fun to us.

And my pictures won't sustain it either. This kid won't stand still for more than a second in the studio anymore.

I have also realized that if I don't get a wireless trigger soon, the studio is done for. Just look at the guilt on this kids face as he pulls down my light with my camera's sync cord and promptly breaks my bulb.

Can I just say that no other child in my studio (and I have had many!) have ever come close to let along actually breaking a piece of my equipment. I am really not looking forward to winter!

Our weekends

Since I am typically doing 1-2 and sometimes 3 photoshoots a weekend now. I try to shoot during nap time, but that doesn't always work. So with photoshoots and nap time, mommy and Patrick time can sometimes be limited. We make the most of it though. Sometimes we meet friends for a playdate, sometimes we hang out inside, sometimes we hang in the yard and lots of times we go to our local park and run around.

When we are together though, my camera typically isn't far!

One of the reasons I like to play outside so much is that Patrick can't get into as much trouble. Although, given his keen climbing abilities lately sometimes he can find trouble whereever he is!

Hot, Hot, Hot

It was hot hot hot this past weekend. I saw it as the perfect opportunity to get Patrick outside.

Funny kid doesn't have much interest in his pool, but loves the hose! I hate to waste all the water by letting it run, but he just loves it.

I do get my flowers watered at least. Patrick was having a great time and the cold water not only cooled him off but also helped his very sore gums.

He cut another tooth this weekend and has been just miserable because of it. This means a cranky baby and cranky parents. On Sunday he only slept for a total of 45min!

We did lots of distracting this weekend and made the best of it. It is all worth it for the big toothy grins though!

Bedtime with Baby

Last night we enjoyed a playdate with some friends. There was a tiny little 8lb baby named Tyler there. Patrick was very interested in baby Tyler. He wanted to touch his head (and poke his eyes) and be right next to him. He even pointed and said "baby" when he was in another person's arms. It was so sweet to see him around a baby.

After our playdate it was bathtime. Patrick has been really cute lately in the bath. He won't sit, but instead wants to fill his cup and then dump it on himself or try to drink it. He does this over and over until mommy is ready to have him out of the tub.


After our tub, I thought I would get out his baby doll to see if he had any interest in it. Patrick has had zero interest in any stuffed animal or baby doll up to this point. Last night was certainly different. Patrick crawled in my lap and wanted to hug baby, kiss baby and put baby to "nah night".


Then he took baby up in the chair and did the same on his own. He fell asleep with baby last night. This morning, he hopped out of our bed and ran into his room. He found baby in the crib and tried to pull him out. He cried when he couldn't get baby out, Daddy helped though and Patrick then carried baby all over the house this morning loving on him.


Just too sweet. I think he'll make a great big brother some day!

My Buddy, My Buddy

Do you remember My buddy? or is that totally dating me?

Well, Patrick has his own buddy, but his is real life and named Miles.

We met Miles and his papa Grant out at their park the other day.

As you can see Patrick had a great time. He went up the stairs and down the slide about a million times.

Each time was more funny than the last (especially with dad cheering him on)

He only stopped to either shout out "Hi, Dad" (a fluke? perhaps, but he definately said it!)

or to grab a fist full of sand and eat it. He throws dinner on the floor and eats sand. Go figure.