Guy @ 14 mos!

14 months old is CRAZY!  I definitely do not have a baby here anymore, which is kind of sad, knowing that Gavin is the last dude to join our family, but it's also kind of really exciting.  Not that I don't love the cuddliness of a baby...or the excitement of the first year and watching all of the milestones happen so quickly, but it will be nice in a way to move on to the next season of family life...the one where we get to do bigger kid stuff and ALL of the boys enjoy it.

Side note example:  we went to Monkey Joe's a couple times last week for our Buddy Walk kick-off parties with the DSAC.  While there, all 3 boys independently played on the inflatables!  They all wandered around, decided what they wanted to do, and did it.  Granted, Guy needed some help getting to the top of the biggest slide there, but for the most part, it was hands-free play time.  Side note to the side note:  Chase can get up to the top of the very biggest slide, the one that Ian was afraid of until he was five, and goes down it with a giant scared smile on his face, culminating with a loud "Again?!"

Anyway.  Guy at 14 months:
*Walks everywhere.  Quickly.
*Wants to do his own thing.  Always.
*Loves to play with other kids.
*Pushes cars around on the floor.
*Chases other kids if I tell him to "Go get so and so....!"
*Makes a roaring sound when he sees a dinosaur.
*Loves bath time
*Loves Monkey
*Loves his pacifier (trying to limit it to naps/bedtime)
*Is a daredevil- climbs on top of chairs/couches/playground slides, etc.
*Signs milk, all done, more, eat, water, bath, please
*Says (in Guy-language) milk, monkey, paci, more, bath, slide, bar, no-no, night night, up up up!, mama (yelled, repeatedly), thank you, music, uh-oh, Daddy, ball, book
*Still super happy as long as you don't try to make him nap when he doesn't feel like napping.
*Loves books and songs
*Does that awesome baby-bounce dancing whenever he hears music.
*Plays outside in the water table and baby pool almost every day, and doesn't even mind it when Chase dumps cups of water directly on his head.
*Loves going up and down stairs.
*Still has to-die-for hair
*Has 4 top teeth and 2 bottom ones.
*Is hooked on Yo Gabba Gabba, thanks to Chase's habit.

Honestly, I think this is the very cutest stage yet...I love hanging out with this little dude.  Even though I had grand plans of going back to teaching this year, I am secretly grateful for the crappy job market out there.  I am so happy that I am not missing any of his life...sure it may be a little hectic here, what with the daycare kiddos and all, but I know that I am supposed to be here right now.  This time is too good to miss.  And that goes for Ian and Chase, too (for when they eventually read this blog in 10 years and wonder why I only want to be home because of Gavin!).  I do my share of complaining, but I wouldn't have it any other way...watching them all grow up, being here for every milestone, and creating a safe haven and a fun place for them to live and learn and play is truly, truly amazing.  End sappy mom-musings :)