When the Dream Never Dies: 18 month update

Well, our little baby is a year and a half old! Two years ago this month, we found out we were pregnant...how time flies! We went ahead and decorated for Christmas last week. I love the look of wonder and excitement as he studies the decorations. He loves the snowmen I have all over the house and has several he likes to carry around. He points them out to me many times a day. When we're shopping and he sees Santa, he says, "Ho!" and he says "neigh" when he sees a reindeer. I couldn't really come up with something else that a reindeer would say, so I go along with it. :) When he reads his books about Noah, he thinks Noah is Santa and says, "Ho." They do look similar in his books. He's very aware of temperatures and puts his hand out to feel if things are hot or cold. When you open the refrigerator and or put him in the car, he says "brrr", and when he gets near the stove, he puts out his hand and says, "hot" and shakes his head "no". My favorite thing that he says right now is, "I do". He answers every question that way and sounds so agreeable! He loves to look for the donkeys, cows, dogs and horses that we pass on our way to the highway. He can spot them and points them out, saying the sounds they make.

He was sick with a cold at the beginning of the month for about a week. During that time he decided he despised his pacifier! He wouldn't take it and got mad if I tried it. He hasn't used it since. So, I guess we won't have to worry about breaking that habit! We took him to see Dr Brooks to see if he had any other ideas for us to help with the digestion struggles we're still having. He suggested digestive enzymes and a magnesium supplement on top of the chia, flax oil and probiotics we're already doing. He said most preemies struggle with digestive enzymes and said we'd probably need to supplement until he's 2. Right now we are giving him a gluten free diet which helps some. At that appointment he was 33 inches tall and weighed 24 pounds and 10 ounces, dressed.

His favorite song to dance to right now is "Greater" by MercyMe. He's started humming along to some songs. If you menion going on a car ride, he'll run to get his jacket and start repeating, "socks, shoes" until we put them on. He loves to go places. He likes to walk backwards. He is a feisty little guy, but very sweet. When I pick him up he either rubs or pats my back and loves to give me eskimo kisses. So cute!

Here a some pictures from the last month...

We went to a park and bakery in Lawrence then had dinner at Mama Mia's in Leavenworth to celebrate our 9th anniversary.

Having fun with his pumpkin!

My parents invited their nine "grandchildren" over for a Halloween party the day before Halloween. This party was complete with dinner, trick or treating, costumes and cookie baking. It was fun chaos :)

On Halloween we went to Mitch's parent's house for lunch and pumpkin carving. He wasn't so sure about the slimy seeds.

Our little pumpkin! We handed out candy at our house that evening. He mostly had fun dumping the candy out of the bowl all over the floor.

Helping Grandma blow out her birthday candles

We decorated for Christmas on the 11th. Caden had fun unloading the boxes for us. He was helping Daddy put the star on. We decided it would make our lives easier to just skip the ornaments this year.

He loves the snowmen!

He helped me pick out all kinds of fun things to put in our

Operation Christmas Child box.

He loves to stand on his head and say, "hi" to anyone who'll listen

Helping PaPa celebrate his 60th!

We went to Judson's Thanksgiving Dinner. He looks like he's having fun!

Our whole family at Thanksgiving Dinner #1

Hiding behind the rocker and jumping out to scare me. Such a fun smile!

Working hard on a Thanksgiving craft

He loves to lie down under the Christmas tree and look up at the lights. He is also in love with the snow boots the Fosters let us borrow. I was surprised since he doesn't like shoes!