Growing up too Fast!

I recently had to face the facts:  I have a toddler.  I've given in and accepted that I now need to shop in the toddler section.  24 month clothes just aren't cutting it for Frankie anymore.  He's also becoming more and more independent.  For example, last week I found him sitting on the kitchen floor eating a box of crackers.  Roasted Garlic crackers.  He's also discovered that he likes my Black Olive and Feta Pita Crackers.  What kid likes that kind of stuff?  He nows goes right into the pantry, pulls down the box of his choice and digs in. 

 

Frankie is still all about Daddy.  As soon as he sees Daddy's car pull up, he's all "Da-Da!  Da-Da!"  The other day Frankie even tried walking in Daddy's shoes.   

 

*I think he's teething again, hence the massive drool on his shirt

Every now and then I'll get a "Ma" and sometimes even a "Ma-Ma" if I'm lucky.  His vocabulary is definitely starting to expand and he makes an effort to repeat what you say, so we've got to start being cognizant of the words we use around him!  Some of his new words that he says and actually understands:  up, down, keys, car, jump, more, help, nose, and...the dreaded "no".  He's done a good job learning his body parts and knows where his nose, teeth, mouth, eyes, ears, head, hair, feet, toes, belly, hands and fingers are.  And he really understands what you say to him.  He listens when he wants.  And he throws.  I mean, this boy has an arm on him.  We're really working to teach him that you don't throw your food, cup, plate, spoon or fork while you're eating.  He hasn't quite grasped the concept yet.  We do make him help clean up when he's done, but he actually seems to enjoy picking up his spoon, for example, and bringing it to the sink. 

 

Frankie is a strong little guy, too.  Just yesterday we went to Costco and he insisted on not riding in the cart.  Instead he wanted to push the cart.  Those things are BIG.  And once you start throwing Costco-sized things in there, they get heavy.  But, he insisted.  And he could do it!  People couldn't believe it and we kept hearing "Wow, he's strong."  We, of course, helped navigate, but he had a blast helping us. 

 

He also loves to dance.  I haven't taken him to his music class but according to Maria, he loves it.  We listen to the same songs at home and in the car and he knows the words and movements to them.  Although, I'm pretty confident this dance did not come from class:

 

(It looks suspiciously similiar to some of Frank's moves at our wedding.)

 

We tried Play-doh about a month ago, which he thought was a meal.  This morning after he discovered that he could climb into the dining room chair on his own, I decided to break it out again. We were much more successful today and he only ended up taste-testing a few times.   

 

He was really cheesing for the camera!

Frankie certainly keeps us on our toes.  This is an awesome age - watching him learn and being able to interact with him is so much fun!

My Sick Patient

Here's a first you never look forward to:  First antibiotics.  This past Tuesday night, Frankie was up from 1-5am and was essentially inconsolable.  He wasn't screaming the entire time, but very whiny and had the toughest time going back to sleep.  His temperature was just over 100 so I made a doctor appointment for him that morning to find out he had a very bad ear infection.  In the doctor's words, "Well, that's a cool ear drum."  My poor guy had a blister on his ear drum and droplets of blood!  Thankfully as soon as we got the amoxicillin in him, it started working almost immediately.  A better night's sleep and no fever the next day. 

 

I made my patient homemade soup and he insisted on eating out of a mug just like mommy. Once I figured out that's what he wanted, he gobbled the soup up!

Sunshine State

We've certainly taken quite a few road trips with Frankie and have traveling by car down pat, but traveling by plane - with a toddler - was something completely foreign - and intimidating for us!  A few years ago, Frank's great aunt & uncle moved to Florida and we've been meaning to pay them a visit for quite some time - and finally pulled the trigger in February.  After much planning and anxiety - the whole trip went off without a hitch!  It turns out that flying with a child really isn't that bad (as long as you have endless snacks, activities and energy)!  We had such a great visit and Frankie was amazing on the plane (minus a short crying stint on the flight down - which happened to be smack during his nap time).  Aunt Marlene and Uncle Carl live in a delightful retirement community, where I'm pretty sure owning a small dog is a requirement for residency.  Everyone has little dogs.  And Frankie was in heaven.  He also thoroughly enjoyed their pool - and was in it for two straight hours one day.  He even got up the courage to 'jump' to Daddy from the side. 

 

Here's looking at you, kid.

Frank's cousin, Steven, and his family, live about 15 minutes from Aunt Marlene & Uncle Carl, so we also got to spend time with them.  They hosted dinner in their beautiful home one evening and his wife, Robin, took us to Boca Grande beach one day with their two children.  Guess what?  Frankie likes to eat sand.  Although, after I fed him actual food for lunch, he seemed to each less. :)  Guess what else?  He's scared of the ocean.  Which will make for an interesting Nags Head vacation this year.  Eek. 

Frank and I both had such a relaxing time and really enjoyed the time we got to spend with family that we don't get to see that often.  They are in a beautiful part of Florida which almost had Frank and I thinking of moving down there.  Almost. 

Valentine's Day

You know when sometimes, as you're planning something out, you build an image in your head of how great it's going to be? You picture smiling faces and laughter...sunshines and rainbows. Well, that's how I had envisioned making Valentines cards with Frankie. It was going to be great!  

Do you also know how sometimes, even with great planning, an event just doesn't go as planned? Factors take over that are simply beyond your control. Well, that's how making Valentines cards with Frankie went.   

My son puts everything in his mouth. Everything. How did I not foresee him eating the finger paints? Or crying when I wouldn't let him? Or rubbing the paint through his hair? Or all over me? Turns out 16 months might be a bit too young for homemade Valentines. 

Happy belated Valentines Day!

 

Even the pictures didn't come out good!

Doesn't it look like he's having fun?

Morning Fun

Frankie is very interested in 'helping' me in the kitchen. He is intrigued by what I do on top of the stove. Occasionally, I will pick him up and let him help me stir or give him his own bowl on the floor to mix. One morning, I decided to bring his foot stool into the kitchen and give him some cool whip to mix. After mixing for a few minutes, the chef sampled his recipe and fell in love. Cool whip at 9:00 in the morning isn't that bad, right?

Laughter is the Best Sound

 Frankie recently discovered how much fun throwing things down the stairs can be. He gets the biggest kick out of it...Oh, and we're working on that listening thing, too. :)