15 Months Old

How can it be that my little tiny baby is fifteen months old already? Actually I have been reminded constantly how quickly he is going up. Every day he learns to do something new. He is turning into such a sponge for knowledge. He deeply studies his toys to figure out what he can make them do.

While we are still working on walking with no help he struts around the house with his little walking push toy like he's been walking for months.

He no longer wants to just look at his little push car and has started riding on it.

Giving high fives and tens has been a common thing for him. If he sees your hand up he is going to give you five weather you want it or not. He enjoys throwing his arms up in the air to show me that he's 'so big'.

His other favorite thing is to clap and say 'yeah'. It's so cute and I can't get enough of it.

I guess I have to face it that the 7lb baby is now an active 15 month old that keeps us busy. We are loving every minute of it though.
Jim & Johnathan 4 days old
Jim & Johnathan 15 months old

Christmas with the Rest of the Family

After celebrating Christmas at home it was time to begin the many other Christmases we would celebrate. We left for Bompa and Grandma's for lunch and gifts. Johnathan was still kind of cranky and didn't eat much. When we headed downstairs to open presents he was in a little better spirits. He made his rounds seeing everyone. He enjoyed sitting with Floyd a little bit.

He found Tyler and Debby's gifts much more interesting. Several times during the gift opening Johnathan crawled over to help them open their presents.

We were able to get him to open his presents. In his stocking he got paper and pen which he was impressed with. (We don't allow him to have those at home due to his body doodling and paper trails he tends to leave)

He also received a Osh Kosh zip-up jacket and a musical car that moves and plays Livin' La Vida Loca'. Thank goodness for the mute button!

After opening his gifts he spent some time 'talking' with Dagen and chilling while drinking his bottle.



Of course his favorite part was helping Grandma Carol open her gifts.
The following night we had Christmas at Mom and & Dad's house. Johnathan was very busy checking everyones gifts out and traveling from person to person. I was able to snap a picture of him with his Papa Paulie and playing with some of his favorite toys at Grandma's.


When we returned home we immediately had to get out one of Johnathan's new presents: His Fridge Farm. He loves it and plays with it constantly. Will try to upload the video of him at a later date.

That Sunday we got in the car and drove to Pa John's house. Johnathan was really getting into this gift opening thing and was quite excited when he saw this gift.

He started opening it but stopped to pose for another picture:

He was quite excited about his new car to ride. He has really gotten the hang of it yet but I'm sure before long he'll be scooting all over the house.

After his gifts were unwrapped he showed Pa John and Mary the picture collages they received as gifts. He enjoyed showing Pa that the pictures were of him.


Johnathan was not forgotten by the New York families either Grandma Gail and Aunt Carol's family presented Johnathan with his gifts during our Thanksgiving trip.

Uncle Tom & Aunt Peg sent Johnathan some books that have become a must pack when we leave the house.


As you can see Johnathan was quite spoiled this Christmas and can usually be found surrounded by all his great new gifts.

Christmas at Home

Finally I have found time to share our whole Christmas experience. Please bear with us as it may take awhile.
It's been a tradition in Jim's family for years that we read "The Night Before Christmas' on Christmas Eve. Jim greatly enjoyed continuing this tradition as he read to Johnathan this year.

Johnathan opened a few gifts from Jim and me also. He got various books because he loves sitting and 'reading' them. We were glad to see Johnathan has started enjoying opening gifts also. It's nice not having to open his gifts and try to get his attention drawn to the gift.

(Of course Little Foot was there to help Johnathan out with his gifts to!)


Christmas morning came and Johnathan had quite a pile from Santa.


This Christmas was so different from last year because he was 'interactive' in this Christmas and could get real toys and not just clothes. He received more books, blocks, matchbox cars, a Mr. Potato Head, and a clock for his room. After opening his gifts he also assisted us in opening our gifts.



Johnathan has started to play peek-a-boo and everytime he got clothing he would put it on his head then pull it off and giggle. Here he is with one of Jim's shirts giggling.

After all the gifts were opened and we had breakfast of pancakes (They are Johnathan's favorite) Johnathan went into his swing while we got ready. When I came back through I found him asleep holding his Mr. Potato Head. Isn't he adorable?


So there you have our Christmas at home. I'll document our other THREE Christmases later as I'm getting tired.

New York and Thanksgiving

Finally I have time to share the details of our amazing trip to New York. We left on Saturday, Nov 22 for the long car trip. Johnathan was strapped in the back of the car and slept a lot of the trip. Unfortunately a baby will not sleep 12 hours straight in a car and the crying fits did happen. Most of this stemmed from being wet (including the horrible pooping incident), being too warm, and not being able to see mom and dad when it got dark.

When we arrived we tried to get as much sleep as possible to prepare for Carson and Johnathan's birthday party. Johnathan wasn't overly interested in opening presents but he did enjoy the Spongebob cake.



Carson was happy as long as Mom was right beside him.

After the party Johnathan was ALL about spending time with Cousin Tory. Their bond is very strong and most of us agree it is because she reminds him of Jim.

Johnathan especially enjoyed going to pick Tory up at college and seeing her dorm room.

After we picked her up we went to Carousel Mall to eat and do some shopping. Johnathan had his first meal ever ordered off the menu: Mac & Cheese. He ate all but a very small portion.

After dinner Johnathan went on the carousel. It was a little too fast for him but he enjoyed seeing Jim when we would pass him and liked having Mom close to hold onto.

When we returned home that night Johnathan slept well. Unfortunately Johnathan refused to sleep in his bed at all during the week. Therefore it was either in the big bed with us or sleeping in the chair downstairs with him.


But when a baby is this cute it's hard to be mad about it.

Johnathan greatly enjoyed Thanksgiving this year. He entertained at the dinner table by getting the giggles and shaking the whole table. He loved his sweet potatoes and stuffing and had second and third helpings. After dinner he was all over the place: playing with Carson, sitting with Grandma Beaty, flirting with Dave's girlfriend, and hanging out with Dan.




Everyone else was having a good time also. Carol posed with the kids.

'The Twins' Jim and Tory played video games.

And Gail spent some time with her children and grandchildren.

Johnathan felt like the center of attention which made him happy. The whole house was filled with his screeches of delight.

He was overjoyed when Tory came to sit with him.

Back at Gail's Johnathan did get to spend a little bonding time with Grandma Gail which I think they both enjoyed.

After going out in the crowds on Friday we took our annual trip to Schaller's for a couple of 'ground rounds on a hard roll'. Then we returned home to pack our bags to prepare for our trip home. Saturday morning we went to Carol's for a goodbye Christmas bunch. Johnathan got to open some more presents, cuddle with Aunt Carol, and we got to say our good-byes to Skyler and Carson (Tory was gone to a friends).






We then piled in the car - with our new portable DVD player to entertain Johnathan and headed home. Once again this was the common scene of the backseat.

It was a fantastic trip and we can't wait to go back again.