18 Month Checkup

18 Month Checkup this morning (plus a flu shot). We were told the boys have a beautiful growth curve. We have a new doctor and we did not get an actual growth curve chart to take home from the office (though I didn't ask either and forgot to ask the percentages), but since the doc thought the curve looked great, that's good enough for us! The boys are otherwise in good health though Ethan has had a runny nose and his ear looks a little red. But not too bad given the season.

Mason: (grew 1 inch and about 1 pound since his 15 month checkup)
Height: 32 1/2 inches
Weight: 29 pounds 10 ounces

Ethan: (grew 1/4 inch and about a 1 pound and a half - though he was super squirmy when getting measured, so the nurse wasn't too sure she got a good measurement - but at least we are pretty sure he didn't shrink)
Height: 31 1/4 inches
Weight: 26 pounds 11 ounces

18 Months Today!

18 Months Old Today! And what a day we had!

We started off the day like any other... Diaper change x 2. Morning cups of milk. Read some books. Someone takes a book from someone else and someone cries (repeat, repeat, and repeat). Breakfast where someone most likely throws some food item on the floor and someone tries to repeatedly put their feet on the table. Change of clothes x 2. Play. Someone takes a toy from someone else and someone cries (repeat, repeat, and repeat). Diaper change x 2. Snack.

But then things got interesting...

We went over to check out our local YMCA's Fall Festival...

We started off with the "Trackless Train Ride"...







We made "choo-choo" sounds throughout the ride and then cried when the ride ended.

Then on to the petting zoo...














Where Mason loved chasing around the ducks and Ethan loved petting the chickies and the piggies in the big plastic containers. Mason tried to get into the animals drinking water and Ethan learned that you shouldn't pull a sheep's tail or they might take you for a ride (literally). And some random sheep really wanted to get into our photo op (see 7th photo above)


Then, our first Bouncy House experience...

See video here:










Ethan actually had a great time, but decided that the first bouncy house was enough for him. In the last photo you can see that Mason decided to tackle another one (with a little bit bigger kids) - and had such a good time that mom had to go in there and drag him out)

Then we had lunch, headed home for a nap, but first Diaper change x 2...then up from nap, Diaper change x 2, Change of clothes, Play (and I'm sure someone cried), then banging on the gate to the kitchen and yelling (which meant snack time).

And THEN...

We went back again!!!

First we went to the pumpkin patch and picked out a pumpkin to take home...








Then TWO more rides on the train...



And finally back home for Diaper change x 2 and Dinner where someone most likely threw some food item on the floor and someone tried repeatedly to put their feet on the table. Followed by some book reading. Diaper change x 2, Jammies, Evening cups of milk with part of a Thomas the Tank Engine episode. Teeth brushing. And bed.

And throw in a few other diapers changes in between there for good measure (for those instances when a change just could NOT wait).

And that was how we spent the day when we turned 18 months old!

Backyardigans in NYC

Mom got us Backyardigans 'Big Apple' T-shirts in NYC. We love Backyardigans. Guilt is a beautiful thing.

18 Month Portraits

Some of my favorite photos from the boys' 18 month photo session...

Being Silly

Mason wearing daddy's socks (which he thought was hilarious)



Ethan gives riding "bare"back a whole new meaning...(he was on the way to the bathtub and made a beeline for his zebra, so I had to make a beeline for the camera)

Swings in our own back yard!

Thank you to Dada and Grandpa for working so hard to build us our very own swingset (from scratch!) under the big shady tree out back! Now we can go swing in our PJs if we want to!!

Day Out With Thomas (and Grandma & Grandpa!)

Grandma and Grandpa were in for a visit and the visit luckily coincided with the big Day Out With Thomas event! Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa took the boys for this fun event (while Mommy took advantage of having 3 adults around to fly the coop for a few days to visit a close friend).

Mason had a great time!



Ethan was TERRIFIED and cried for
the entire 20 minute train ride :(




But outside of the train ride everyone had fun!