Cool new tricks

I've had this post sitting around for a while, but haven't had the time for energy to finish it.  But, I've got to make my end of the month push to get our blog post quota up.

Davis really seems to be growing up fast.  A few new things he can do and say are below.

Some of the things he can now say that we recognize:

• Dinner - pronounced "ninner"
• Monkey
• Up please (sometimes, usually this is tugging or putting his arms in the air)
• Yes please
• Thank you (not new)
• All right (not new)
• Grandma, Grandpa and Grammie (but not pronounced like that, he has distinct names for all of them and recognizes them all on Skype)
• Sarah, Avi, Lucy (his daycare providers)
• Domino (not Lilly, I'm not sure he knows we have two cats)
• This
• Read this

Some cool things he does:

• Gives hugs and kisses.
• Walks down stairs holding our hands.
• Walks home from daycare, starting from the top of the stairs at daycare.
• Can walk up a step without holding onto anything (just the first one).
• Runs really fast.
• Puts toys away (sometimes).
• Puts sand in his dump truck.
• Builds elaborate structures with his blocks.
• Stands on a footstool to wash his hands and brush his teeth.
• Throws balls really well.  He nailed me in the head tonight from about 4 feet away with a tennis ball.

Some things he likes to do:

• Get each child's lunch box and coat when their parent arrives at daycare.  
• Play fort with mom.
• Be tossed in the air.
• Be tickled.
• Chase around the living room.
• Naked chase in his bedroom after a bath (this doesn't always end well).
• Watch work crews and trucks.  The other day, he got to sit in a big truck on the way to daycare.
• Watch and pet dogs.  Last weekend we went to minuteman national park and he loved the young lab that was running everywhere.
• Pick up domino.
• Pick up leaves.

Some developmental milestones:

• For 18 months, he is in the 95th percentile for height and weight
• Will soon be in size 5 diapers
• Wears a lot of three toddler clothes (see a theme)
• Has at least 12 teeth (its hard to see!)
• Has started to try and get out of his crib.  We might be going to Ikea this weekend for a "big boy bed".

Since he is now migrating into 2 and 3 toddler clothes, we put a bunch of his smaller and summer clothes away.   While doing this, we found his costume from last year and amazingly he a) wanted to wear it and b) it still fit.  Here are the results:

Rough week

The last week was a rough one around the Naegle household.  Kristen came down with what turned out to be strep Friday or Saturday last week.  It left her on the couch or in bed for almost the whole weekend.  Davis and I went to the zoo to try and escape, but we ended up sick as well and now the whole family is on antibiotics.  On the upside, we did find that we really like our new doctor's office.

Here are a few pictures of our attempt to escape at the zoo:

95 Blocks

Davis was out of daycare sick today so we split the day with the little guy.  I went into work early and Kristen went in to do some lab work tonight.  During the day, Kristen and Davis went to the zoo, and while I wasn't looking, she snuck in his first haircut to trim down the toddler mullet that had been forming.  Hopefully, she will be able to write a separate post about that experience.  

While Kristen was at work, Davis and I had a fantastic evening.   We took a little cat nap in the rocking chair, then with a re-charged little one we had dinner and played hard for a couple of hours.

We:

• Had french toast for dinner.
• Went for a walk around the neighborhood.
• Ran the Scooba.  Davis sat in my lap for 20 minutes while we watched it work.  I love robots. :)
• Built a structure using all 95 of the mega blocks.  Davis put 85 of them together and I added 10 or so for stability.  He was just amazing with the blocks.  It seemed like he made a huge leap forward in his building abilities.  When all 95 blocks where used, he said "more".  I agree, we need more blocks mom.
• Played chase and hide and seek.
• Had a miniature tickle fest.
• Rolled and threw tennis balls to each other.

Here are a few pictures from the evening.  I had to use the little camera which doesn't take as good of pictures with the harsh direct flash (sorry):

Building in progress.  Davis has identified a structural weakness that Dad will address.

Work in progress

Adding the last block

Final product, from the top

Guilty of something.  He just came out from under the table

How many books?

Davis has recently started taking a book into his bed at night.  Our nighttime routine is usually bath, brush teeth, optional naked chase, a cup of milk in one of our laps and one or two stories before lights out and bedtime.  Davis usually sleeps with his dog and a few other animals.  However, in the last couple of days, he has insisted on taking books to bed with him.  Last night it was Goodnight Moon and tonight it was his Kindermusic book This is my Dance.  We've still be turning off the lights on him, but both last night and tonight, he was trying to read the books in the dark.  Tomorrow, we'll be adjusting his bedtime to leave the light on so he can read in his crib.  It is really great to see him wanting to read books.

Today's Pictures

Apple Picking

This weekend, we headed up to Kimball Fruit Farm in Pepperell, MA to pick apples, get pumpkins and enjoy a gorgeous fall day.  The weather was 60s and sunny which is just fantastic weather to be outside in the fall.  Davis had a great time riding in the red wagon, eating apples and licking pumpkins.  He even picked an apple off a tree and put it in the bag.   We learned a couple things: Apples are fantastic entertainment at this age; he spent over an hour working on a single apple.  Also, licking pumpkins seems to be his "thing".  He did it at the farm and again when the pumpkins were on the back porch.

Scouting out the apples

All smiles

Riding in the wagon - he loved this

Dad and Davis looking for the perfect apple tree

Putting the apple he picked in the bag

Eating his apple on the wagon

Still eating his apple while picking out pumpkins

Licking the pumpkins.

Apples and pumpkins

More pictures for Mom

Kristen is back from her conference tomorrow night so here are a few more pictures to tide her over until then.  Davis and I had a good day.  He woke up in a great mood (and at 7:15!), had a good day at daycare, then played, read, talked on the "phone" and wrestled with me tonight.

Hi Mom!

Pretending to talk on the phone.  He just jabbers away

Putting Davis to work.