Stats Catch-up and Walking Videos!

Because one day, I know I'm going to want to have these. :)

One Year Stats:
Weight: 16 pounds, 6 ounces

Length: 28 inches
Head Circumference: 17 inches

Started WALKING right after his 14 month birthday!!

 2/28 5 steps in a row

 3/2 Took several steps and never looked back!
I will be forever grateful that we were ALL home together when this happened!

Here's a progression of videos. 
 

You'll notice we eventually took the footie pajamas off. 

Literally, since that morning, our lives have never been the same!
He has been busy, busy, on-the-go!

15 Month Stats:
Weight: 17 pounds, 14 ounces

Length: 29, 1/4 inches
Head Circumference: 17, 1/4 inches

18 Month Stats:
Weight: 18 pounds, 8 ounces

Length: 32 inches
Head Circumference: 18 inches (?)

Tyndall James is 18 months old!

So, the last time I 'blogged', he had just turned 9 months and looked like this: 

He was crawling and pulling up, and I thought life was more 'active' back then.  Ha!

Now, he looks like this: 

He's walking, running, climbing, getting into everything, and now I KNOW life is a lot more active. And wonderful.  And some days tiring, but I'm absolutely LOVING it! 

Let's see how I can sum up the past half of his 18 months in this world. :) 

In October, our 2nd cousin Noah moved in with us, and Tyndall had a blast having another person to entertain and to get attention from. 

Tyndall was Santa Claus for his first Halloween.  It was kind of by default because I waited until the last day to find a costume, and it was the only thing near his size at the consignment store, even though it was still waaaaaay too big.  But he was sure cute. And liked trick-or-treating for the few houses we did.

For Thanksgiving, we traveled to Atlanta to be with my dad's side of the family.  It was wonderful being with them. There were lots of adults, 4 kids under 4, and lots of fun.  We were missing lots of family, and unfortunately, Tyndall was pretty sick during the visit.  But, we had a great Thanksgiving and loved being able to be with extended family. It was absolutely adorable watching him fall asleep at the highchair during Thanksgiving dinner. 

Sometime in the Fall, Tyndall started going to a Mother's Morning Out program at a local church 2 mornings a week.  He LOVES it because he gets to be around other kids, and mommy loves it because I get some concentrated time to work or recharge, and he always takes an epic nap afterwards. :)  Bonus is these adorable little crafts they do and the pictures they send home. 

The rest of the holidays were really fun.  For years, we had dreamed of doing Christmas-y things with a child of our own, and this year was amazing.  Tyndall was at a fun age of being expressive and mobile but still very sweet and cuddly and containable. ;) 

We spent a few days with my family at mom's house in the mountains which was very fun, especially with Tyndall and baby Sadie there.  Then we spent the traditional Christmas morning and day with Matt's family.  That was extra fun this year with 3 kids under 3!  We especially liked having a longer Christmas break with Daddy and love that his teaching job gives him so much time to spend with us around Christmas. 

Especially since Tyndall's birthday is also during that time!!

On January 3rd, we celebrated Tyndall's first birthday with a 'small' family gathering at our house.  We made chili and had cornbread and cinnamon rolls with other chili fixings and had birthday cake.  It was very simple but VERY special.  Tyndall LOVED his smash cake and absolutely demolished it.  

We loved having the family over and celebrating our precious son.  We didn't plan it this way, but we actually had the celebration on the 1 year mark of finding out about him! 

The rest of the Winter was filled with lots of indoor fun. And everyday stuff.  We had a pretty good routine where we would get up and get ready, take Noah to school, come home and play until nap time.  During nap time, Mommy would get ready for the day, and lots of times Miss Erin would come over to help with office stuff.  Tyndall looooved Miss Erin and especially loved 'helping' us work. After work and nap time, we'd go get Noah and usually spend the afternoon out and about with him.  Then dinner, then bath (which he loooved), then bedtime. 

Tyndall continues to be a fun-loving, happy, funny little guy.  He's full of laughter and silliness and his own special sense of joy.  Even when he's fussy and cranky, it doesn't take much to get him distracted and laughing again.  This was especially a blessing since we were also living with a moody, emotional, teenage boy who Mommy and Daddy didn't know what to do wit most of the time.  Tyndall's relationship with Noah was a special blessing no one could have predicted would have been so special. :)  Noah moved back in with his Mom in May, and Tyndall definitely misses having him around.

Speaking of special relationships Tyndall has, this boy LOOOOOOVES his dog, Zoe.  One of the first questions he responded to was "Where's Zoe?" and he would point outside or point to where she was.  :) He often takes his snack/milk to her dog bed and curls up with her to relax.  He looooooves playing with her inside and outside and crawling on her and sharing food with her and 'reading' books to her.  Lately, he's been getting a little more rough, so we are giving her more breaks, but more often than not, the two can be found in close proximity.  It's one of my favorite things.

As soon as it started getting warmer, we started doing more and more outside, and I think we created a monster.  Tyndall James looooooooooves being outside.  He likes it even more if he's not wearing clothes.  Sometimes we feel very redneck.  We have had lots of wonderful days at the nearby parks, at the beach, at the pool.  Tyndall doesn't love water as much as he used to, but we are hoping that will change.  We're going to keep trying.  He does love walking around outside, going down slides, riding in his cars or on his trucks and chasing Zoe.  

(Last year's first beach trip compared to this year's first beach trip.)

Hanging in the bounce house with the Peterson cousins. :)

 In June, Matt, Tyndall and Uncle Steven flew to California for a family reunion for Matt's dad's side of the family.  So Tyndall had his first plane ride and first full week away from Mommy.  We survived, but it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.  I think Tyndall was in heaven, though, because he had LOTS of doting aunts, uncles, and cousins t walk around with outside, and he was without clothes for most of the pictures I've seen. :) 

We are enjoying our adventurous, tenacious, mini-but-mighty, loveable, fun-loving 18 month old.  He's starting to repeat a lot of words and respond to our questions.  He has the sweetest, softest but sometimes scratchy sounding voice, and I'm loving that he says new words almost everyday.  

The emotions are intense. The moods are quick to change, and this stage of parenting is one that I didn't know to expect.  But, it's an honor and a privilege to be raising this awesome boy, and we continue to be thankful that God chose us to be his parents.