17 Months

I'm a few days late with this one.  While Ben and I were taking Ladybird for her walk this morning, I had one of those moments where reality just takes your breath away. I have a toddler! A walking, breathing, communicating, 17 month old. Everything about his first few days is still so incredibly vivid for me that it's hard to believe it's been well over a year since his arrival. I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed by this miracle tearing around my house:)

He's still climbing everything non-stop, only now he's moved on to bigger and better challenges. The kitchen chairs and couch are soooo 16 months. Don't freak out grandmas, but Ben has figured out that if you stand on the handle of the warming drawer of the oven, you can just peer over the top and reach all the burners. Also, did you know that if you push a chair or stool over to the dresser, you can climb up and reach all the contraband that mama and daddy put up there to keep out of your reach? He hasn't figured out how to climb OUT of his crib yet, thank God, (I'm not ready for non-containment) but scaling the outside is easy peasy. Also, I guess crawling down the steps is for babies, because Ben thinks he can just walk down them like the big boys. After a few falls, he reached a compromise with himself--the first step is no hands, but on the next two or three he'll hold onto the railing. It's working out so far. He's going through a fussy phase. Everything is heartbreaking for a 17 month old. Sitting down, putting on your shoes, diaper changes, naps, not being allowed to play with mama's makeup, put daddy's toothbrush in your mouth, throw things in the toilet, throw all your Duplos down the stairs just to see what happens, etc... If he weren't so darned cute I'd be pretty mad! 

Here are a few pictures from the last week. I got him these rain boots at Wal-Mart, and they were a great purchase. They're perfect for mucking about in the back yard. He loves to help daddy take Ladybird out and get the paper in the mornings.