Mr. Leo Updates...

There is no denying it anymore...Leo is a little boy and I am afraid that all signs of baby are gone.  I think I am still holding on to a few things (like rocking him each night and keeping him in his crib) maybe to make myself feel better, but he is a little boy now. 

I think it's because he is talking in sentences now and asking me "why?" all the time.  It's fun to be able to carry on real conversations with him, but I do miss the baby-ness.  Don't get me wrong, it is getting easier and I am obviously happy that he is developing well, there is just something about a baby that a mommy misses.  Maybe it can't really be described.  I just miss my baby (a little bit).

These were taken in October 2010 and at the time I remember thinking he seemed so grown up.  Time truly goes by too quickly.

Some of his favorite phrases include (but are not limited to): "Mommy, I did it", "Mommy, he's watchin'" (telling me that his elf on the shelf is watching him!), "I take a baff (bath)", "I take a shower", "Leo's shirt's blue (or red or black), "Mommy going to work", and "I give Stef a hug".  He can be quite demanding, but he is so funny and so happy. 

He loves seeing all the christmas trees and christmas lights and each morning he instructs me to turn on the lights on the mantle. 

I still rock him each night and read at least two books to him.  His favorites are "One Fish Two Fish", "Happy Birthday to You!", "Noodle", and "The Elf on the Shelf". 

He can count to ten (and probably higher) and he can identify orange, red, yellow, blue, green, pink, brown, and black correctly almost 100% of the time. 

The other morning he woke up with a dry diaper!!!  I was so excited and proud.  Of course, he's had full diapers the mornings since, but I think it's a good sign that he's heading in the right direction.  He still goes in the potty each night before (or after) his bath. 

He still loves Yo Gabba Gabba but has added the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to his short list of favorite shows to watch.

I think one of these days I will post the letters that I wrote to him on his first and second birthdays.  These letters are housed in his baby book, but I think I want to have them on here when I decide to make this blog in to a book.  I've gone back and forth with myself about posting them, but I think I will.  I know my mom will like to read them, too.

That's all for now. 

Thanksgiving Recap...

We've been busy here, as usual, but things have been good.  We packed up the whole family (including Spring and Minnie) and headed to Greenbrier, AR for a long weekend of Thanksgiving family togetherness.  It is always so fun to see Leah and James' aunts, uncles, grandmother, cousins, and other family friends.  They are a wonderful group of people.  We had so much fun just spending time with everyone.  I come from a rather small family in relation to James.  His mother has seven brothers and sisters!  I just really enjoy being around all of the family (and listening to stories and looking at old pictures).

The day after Thanksgiving we headed to Heber Springs to hike Sugarloaf mountain.  I had hiked it before, but did not go all the way to the top where it requires quite a bit of rock climbing to get all the way up.  This time I went all the way and it was exhilarating.  Here are a few pics from the trek...

Sugarloaf!

Leo and Isaiah stopping for a rest...

Leo waited at the bottom of the rocks with Grandma Leah...

Isaiah and some other random dude (who, I think, thought I was taking his picture)...

Hubs...

Leo, Van, Leah, and Isaiah...

Of course James had to launch a couple discs from the top!

And we made it back down!

Next, we headed over to see the Trumpeter swans.  They migrate to the same lake in Heber Springs every year.  (And they are apparently the largest native North American bird).  They were fun to watch and listen to.  They really do sound like trumpets! 

It is so pretty there!

The next day we headed to Little Rock to do a little ice skating!  It was a blast.  I was unsure what Leo would think of it, and at first he couldn't even walk in his skates, but he wanted to be out there with us the whole time.  By the end of our session he was walking around (off the ice) on his skates just fine!  We are planning to go ice skating at Swonder's while we're in Indiana for Christmas!

He loved being out on the ice.  He seemed to take the whole thing very seriously.  It was cute.

There are only two more weeks of work before Christmas break.  Our decorations are almost finished.  Our house is looking and feeling joyous.  Happy Holidays!