new camera + 17 months.

I have been wanting to upgrade my camera body for a long time and finally decided to do it (right before my photo shoot with the Dunn family... pics coming soon!).  I was so pumped to start using the new one and decided to take Henry on a picnic to try it out.  He ate his cheese and then stepped on all the other food and proceeded to run around with my fork.  Maybe next time he will sit still for a bit longer... or not!

For his 17 month update: 

He continues to add words to his vocab and tries so hard to repeat what we are saying.  New body parts have been added to his repertoire (mouth, eye, ear, elbow, hair, knee) and he can point them all out.  He also loves to show anyone and everyone his "boo-boos".    

Four new teeth came in... Only four more to go and we are done with this teething crap.  I've bought 9 new pairs of shoes bc his feet never stop growing and I can't keep a pair on him for more than a month.   The upside to this is boys shoes are so fun to pick out... and I get to shop more :)  

He is getting a little obsessed with our vehicles (and everyone else that has a car).  He knows which one is momma's and which is dada's and will walk around them both, back and forth to continually remind us in case we forget :)  "Tars" and "Tucks" are definitely becoming his faves, as if this wasn't expected for a little boy.  

"HI" is currently his favorite word.  When we go shopping or to the grocery store, he says HI to every.single.person.ten.times.  I've even offered to let him sit at the front door @ Meijer to be the greeter... 

henry's first trip to the zoo + the igloo.

All of these "firsts" are so fun.  First time to the zoo, first time to the Igloo, first time in the pool etc.  Everything is so exciting when it's with your first kid...  I can only hope to take as many pictures of the next babe as I have w/ Henry.   

Last week I decided to head to Lafayette for a quick visit with Jamie & Holly (and the boys!) and also to see my grandparents & cousin visiting from Florida.  We started the day at my grandpa's pool for Henry's first time "swimming".  He liked to splash around and kick his feet.  I was just happy he enjoyed the water and hasn't developed any sort of fear from the two inches of bathwater he refuses to sit in :) 

After the pool, we met up with Jamie, Holly, Barrett & Eli for a tour of the Colombian Park Zoo and of course, some ice cream at the Igloo.  I couldn't believe how much they have changed the zoo since I was a kid.  My grandparents used to take us all of the time to the zoo and to fish.  I have so many great memories there!  I'm so happy they have updated things and kept it open so I can experience it all over again with Henry.

We loved all of the interactive areas that let the kids really enjoy and see the animals.  Henry was fearless when he got into the goat pen.  He was grabbing their tails and rubbing their backs... So funny to see them follow him around!   We also saw a llama, wallabies that could hop amongst us, roosters, sea otters & a blue tongued lizard. 

 It was such a great afternoon & I can't wait to plan our next gathering!  

^^I LOVE how excited Eli is for our group photo!!^^

UM-E-YUMS!

The first step is admitting you have a problem.  Henry is a M&M addict.  He goes WILD for the peanut butter ones.  We have a candy jar in the kitchen and as soon as he hears them rattle, we are attacked with um-e-yum, um-e-yum, um-e-yum.  It has been a great training tool to make him say please and also sit :)  

In other news, Henry is now 16 months old and still growing like a weed!  His vocabulary keeps expanding and it amazes us all how fast he picks up on new words.  We have been working on his colors and he can say pink, purple, blue, yellow, white, black, orange & green.  When we hold up the specific color crayon up, he usually says blue first but then quickly corrects himself with the right color.  He is much better at coloring now & also likes using stickers on his artwork. 

We think he might be a future soccer player b/c he loves kicking his big red ball around the yard.  He still loves the park, of course, as well as walks and bike rides to Centennial Park.  

Brushing his teeth has also become a popular activity.  He will carry his toothbrush around for the first hour of the day and also loves to steal my sonicare brush to hide in our bedroom.  Books are still a daily ritual as well, he is learning more parts to each one and his current fave is "Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom"

Every day he becomes a little more independent and definitely more sassy.