Peeks from the Week

One of my mom friends warned me that one day it would be like a switch and suddenly your baby would be a raging toddler. That day has come. I thought Kip's tantrums on Sunday were a one-off. Like tired or hangry. But no. It's been a tough week! He gives me the most but Dan has witnessed it and Mandy as well. So, buckle-up and hold on. Terrible twos started early!!

Okay, but for the most part. He is still sweet and fun and we'll make it through.

In other news, Kip is now climbing. I was getting his bath ready on Monday night and I walked into the living room to find this.

Eeek!

Dan took Kippy to a friend's apartment on Tuesday for a play date. Ball pit? Yes please!

And look at how cute he is eating at the kiddie table!

Music class with Mandy!

And on Thursday, Dan took Kip on the subway to visit his boss at the office.

Today Mandy is in LA to visit Jessy so I am at home with Kip for an extra mom day. So far, he has graced me with multiple tantrums.

Happy Friday.

Weekending it

This weekend Dan was living his real-life dream and killing it in an all-day basketball tournament with church friends. Kip and I didn't attend because I wanted Dan to really enjoy his time and I knew it would be hard with Kip. A friend sent some pictures.

Annndd...after games literally all day, our church team won the championship in overtime!!! The next day at church everyone was telling me that Dan had some crazy moves. I knew he would. I remember his skills from when he would play with the youth group at our old church. He really loves the court and I'm excited for him to share his love with Kip when he gets older.

Meanwhile, while Dan played, Mandy and I had a play date for Kip and his friend and mom. They played really well together.

Kip face-planted on the floor later and got his first goose egg. 

Then we drove over to the Staten Island Mall for lunch and shopping.

On Sunday, Kip turned into a two year old. Raging mood all day long that hasn't stopped. I'm exhausted. But, it's a holiday Monday and he is down for a nap.

Happy Valentime's Day

Dan says Valentime's instead of Valentine's. He can't help it. And it's cute.

This week we set out a few small treats to celebrate this minor holiday in the dead of winter. We celebrated a day early with Mandy and some toys sent from Marmee and Poppa.

Kippy got puppy stuffies from both sets of grandparents!

On the actual holiday, I got home from work and Dan was all dressed up and set a nice table for us to enjoy the most romantic meal on the planet: blue box mac & cheese with hot dogs. PLUS, my favorite rain berry flavor Gatorade in wine glasses. We go all out.

And he spent an hour making me handmade paper flowers because I told him multiple times NOT to buy me real flowers on v-day because of how astronomically more expensive they are on that date. Personally, paper flowers are much more special.

Kippy || 18 Months Old

On Sunday Kippy turned 18 months old!! Halfway to two years old, I can't believe it!

Kipling at 18 months

Weight:  26 lbs. 11.2 oz (25 lbs. 3.2 oz. at 15 months) 

Height:  33.5 inches (32.20 inches at 15 months) 

Personality: Busy and creative + sweet and saucy

16 Months
Clingy phase
Visit with Santa
First time walking in snow
First little hair trim
First time to eat Thanksgiving dinner
First visit to a kid's museum
Loved the Christmas decorations and playing with his nativity set

Favorite activity: crunching through the leaves

17 Months
Trip into the city to see the holiday markets
Pet a donkey and sheep at the Live Nativity
Enjoyed Christmas and unwrapping presents
Adored all the attention from family in Kansas
Banged on a piano for the first time
Got his first trike and basketball hoop
Finally started noticing dogs and interacting with them
First ear infection and antibiotics

Favorite activity: throwing balls

18 Months

Started getting attached to stuffed animals
Started to play feed and cuddle with his baby doll which he now calls "Mama"
True tantrums on occasion, drop on the floor kind of tantrums
Transitioned to one nap a day
Learned to run
Discovered he could scream voluntarily (oh joy)

Favorite activity: hugging his stuffies and dragging his doll around by the hair

Sleep
Kippy is sleeping 6 pm - 6 pm and is now taking only one nap a day. We just transitioned a few weeks ago so that is a major adjustment. He naps from around 11 am to hopefully around 1 pm. He will occasionally wake up in the night but we try to let him settle himself with the pacifier. Check back in 6 months and will let you know how that pacifier addiction is going. Eek.

Eat
Kippy loves to eat. His most favorite thing is applesauce pouches. It's a problem. He will throw the biggest fit over those things. He also really loves waffles with peanut butter. He loves cheese and his milk. Lover of dairy and lover of carbs. He also loves fruit. Veggies we're working on. He gets milk first thing in the morning, eats breakfast with Dan and me at 7 am, lunch at 11 am, and dinner at 5 pm. Two snacks and another cup of milk after nap. He has his picky moments but for the most part he is a good eater. He is also using forks and spoons now too. He refuses milk in any other cup except a sippy cup but he will drink water from a 360 cup, open cup, or straw cup.

Play
Kip is hardcore with play. He plays cars, loves his trains, adores legos. Plays in his kitchen. Bangs on his instruments. He just started getting attached to stuffed animals and his baby doll. He does peek-a-boo, and we just started play doh and coloring. His imagination is beginning to grow and it is so fun to just sit and watch him play independently.

Talk
Kippy hasn't hit the word explosion phase yet but he is still able to communicate quiet well with hand gestures, some sign language, pointing, and shaking his head. He says: mama, dada, poppa (my dad), woof, quack, ca-ka (cracker), ma (for applesauce), agah (for dog), car, go, I di dit (I did it), ah da (for all done), oh wow, and ball. He does respond to his name but he also responds if you call him Santa (hmm).

This beginning toddler phase is quiet fun with all the exploration and development happening daily. We are starting to see hints of the "terrible twos" but I'm hoping, like most, that those are just moments. I often feel like a tantrum-throwing two year old myself so we can all have our moments. 

Weekending it

This weekend we went to a friend's 2nd birthday party and Kippy loved access to a bunch of new toys. And he loved the birthday cake.

Birthday boy!

Birthday parties are tiring.

On Sunday we had a long day at church with Dan helping out with set-up and tear-down. Kip and I climbed up the stairs about 10,000 times and then played with all the toys. Oddly, all the other kids his age were sweetly napping or sitting quietly in the service. Meanwhile, Kip was all over the place. Sundays are exhausting. 6 more months and he can go to the toddler class! Countdown is ON.

Also on Sunday, Kippy turned 18 months old!!! Such a big boy. Check back later this week for his 18 month update!

Peeks from the Week

Monday was absolutely fabulous and warm outside. Kippy and I met-up with friends at the park in the afternoon and had fun crunching in leaves, playing with a stranger willing to share his toy cars, and running through the muddy grass. I can't wait for real spring.

And Kippy is really loving his new Toy Story friends Woody and Bullseye

Daddy took Kippy to the library to play at the train table.

And Mandy fostered more Toy Story bonding...

Happy Friday friends!