Memorial Day Weekend

Hello there! Our Memorial Day weekend has been so much fun. First of all, we are so glad to have those that serve our country to protect us each and every day and we are very thankful to each of them. We want to celebrate them more than just one day a year.

Also, this weekend has been a very nice Seidel family weekend in College Station. I have looked more forward to this three day weekend just because we planned to relax at the house. I have scrapbooked, Vic has made delicious meals, and Atticus has played and played. A few of the things that Atticus was up to this weekend now that he is almost 13 months old…

• He has learned to say “no-no” and “uh-oh”. We found both out on Saturday. Saturday night, we were sitting outside the tub talking while he splashed in the water and he proceeded to want to dump water out of the bathtub onto the floor. We told him no-no and he shook his head back and forth and repeated us “no-no”. We were so surprised! We are sure that they must say no-no at school because we actually have been trying to not over-use the word “no”. But, it was so funny. Then, this evening, as I changed his diaper when really preferred I didn’t, he said “no-no” over and over and shook his head. I wanted to burst out laughing, but I just told him that “yes, we have to change your diaper”.

• We noticed him saying “uh-oh” on Sunday when we were outside playing. When he falls down, I think Vic and I say “uh-oh” a lot more than we realized, because when he dropped something or fell outside, he would say “oh-ohhh” in the “uh-oh” sound. It was so funny! So, clearly we will have to watch what we say from now on, because our little sponge will soak it all up…and repeat it!

• Atticus loves to play outside and in the water. At school on Friday, they had water day in the morning for a couple of hours. Some of the kids his age were not happy about it, but Atticus loved it. He has a water table that his Aunt Molly bought him for his birthday and he really likes it. Plus, he recently discovered how fun the water hose can be and loves to pull it around with him and water the grass and the flowers. 

• He really would play outside all the time if we’d let him. Whether it be in the water, in his wagon, in his swing, on his slide, or just crawling to find the next great stick or leaf. 

• WALKING! Ok, so a month or so ago, he took a couple of steps toward us when I stood him up on his feet, and we just KNEW walking was about to start. It has taken a little longer, but as of this past week, he is getting much closer. He likes to walk all around the house holding your hand. He only needs one hand most of the time and when he is ready, he will reach for and pull on your hand…that is your cue that he wants to walk. So, we walk and walk and walk. Also, while not really “walking” regularly yet, he did take 7 steps on his own in the grass outside this weekend. Vic and I were sitting on the porch talking, while he was in the grass playing at his water table. He stepped away and just started walking….really slowly….but walking until he plopped!

 

•   Smiling for the camera: this began just today! I was taking his picture and he gave me this goofy scrunched up face over and over. He’s either making fun of me or just learning to smile for the camera!

•  Toys, toys, toys. He loves to play with toys. He has small cars and a big car, and books, and blocks, and musical toys. We even watched Bambi this last weekend so he can start learning that cartoons are fun. He is also into watching Jake and the Neverland Pirates and the Mickey Mouse Club. Well I guess he is into those – that is what we put on for him in the morning while he drinks his bottle. There is also this goofy show called “Fresh Beat Band” with these kids that sing and dance (and we swear they are at least 25 years old in real life); but he loves the music. And, he LOVES books. So happy; although we read the same ones over and over, there is nothing sweeter than when you tell him to go get a book and he finds his favorite and brings it to you. And recently, he will even crawl in your lap to read.

So, that was our Memorial Day weekend with Atticus. A few other facts: He is growing fast lately and I expect him to be in 18 month clothes sooner than later; he weighed 24 12 lbs at his 12 month appointment and was 31 inches tall; he has 8 teeth, but is working on some more; he wears size 4 diapers; his hair is mostly blonde now although sometimes we see hints of red in it; he is a picky eater, but we are learning to be patient because sometimes he just devours down a new type of food one day and then won’t eat it again for a week! But, a few things we like right now are yogurt, yogurt melts, graham crackers, breakfast sausage and breakfast casserole, strawberries, bananas, thinly sliced turkey lunchmeat (but not thick sliced turkey or not thinly sliced chicken…ay yay yay!), cheetos (what kid wouldn’t like these? So those are pretty limited), oatmeal, bread and that’s about it. Notice what is missing? VEGETABLES. But, we’ll get their eventually.

I have to admit that he changes so quickly from day-to-day that I need to be better about writing these things down so I don’t forget. We are really looking forward to our summer though and watching him grow!