3.14.2014

Tate- 12 months

Hhhhhooooowwwww is he 12 months old!!  I'm actually faring much better now that a week or so has passed.  But I did NOT HANDLE his 1st birthday well at all- lots of watery eyes throughout the few weeks leading up to March 4, 2014!

But guess what?!?  He's still JUST AS ADORABLE and PRECIOUS and AMAZING as ever now that he's 1... so I am going to survive after all!!!

I realize this post is about a week and a half late- but I just couldn't bring myself to write it until now.  
Once you write it on the blog, it's OFFICIAL!  Haha :)

Anyway- like I said.  He's still terribly cute and smart and loving.  He's added lots of new words: "Look!", "turtle" (he says it tuh-tuh.  so cute), "up", "bye-bye", "eyes", "duck", "quack quack" (he says a duck says "duck duck"- lol!) - and he can identify so many more things that you ask him about by pointing at/to them.  It really is amazing watching his brain grow with every tiny experience.

He nods and shakes his head for yes and no sometimes- his nod is to-die-for-adorable. 
Very very deliberate and smiley!

He gives high fives like it's his job.

He blows kisses- selectively.

He loves to sign "milk"- he does it the whole time he nurses.  He'll sign "more" and "all done" more often now, and is learning "water" & "thank you". "Please" is next!  I had taught him "sleepy" at one time but we've both quit using it.  There's no denying when he's tired, anyway!

He's been paying attention at Ada and Dax's soccer games- because he totally scales the couch or table and will kick a ball as he goes.  So cute.

He ADORES his big brother and sister.  Dax basically tortures the poor kid in the bathtub each night, and Tate just giggles and giggles.  Although he has begun biting and head butting some- and I'm sure that has stemmed as some sort of self-defense mechanism with the two bigs around!  Tate would follow Ada and Dax all over night and day if he could- just laughing and squealing all the way.  And when he can't, it's because I've picked him up and he does NOT hide his frustration from me for ruining his good time!  Enter that biting and head butting.

And did I mention that he started WALKING ON his ACTUAL BIRTHDAY!?!?  I'm attaching a video at the end of his pictures!  It is ssssoooo adorable.


He makes this face a lot!




Here's a video of TATE'S FOR REAL FIRST STEPS!
He's been taking one at a time for about a week... and we were at McDonald's playing and eating ice cream on the afternoon of his actual birthday- and I could just SEE IT IN HIS EYES he was about to unleash his walking powers... So I grabbed my phone and caught his ACTUAL FIRST STEPS on film!  So special!
You can see his high fiving skills at the end of the video, too! :)

Tate thinks sneezes are hilarious- and will do an empathy sneeze after you sneeze!  Here's a vid. My sneeze is fake, FYI :)

Here he is blowing precious kisses:

And, I cannot remember if I've posted these videos of him trying to do Itsy Bitsy Spider.  So I'm posting them just in case.
You probably think I'm crazy, but I can TOTALLY see the motions in there.  Maybe because we've done it so many times that I know which movements he's doing on purpose over and over!




3.09.2014

Stuff my Kids Say

I really want to be better about writing the things down the kids say! They keep me laughing 24/7! Here are a few things lately, and I'm planning on going through my Facebook wall soon to get a lot more- that's where I currently post a lot of it!

After we thought Dax had been asleep for an hour, he appears at the top of the stairs.
Dax: mom I need you.
Me: find him in the middle of his bed surrounded with books, his closet door all the way open for maximum light.
Dax: I have a problem. I can't read. 

Ada called Little Ceasars "Little Cheezers"

Tate thinks a duck says "duck duck". And he says turtle "tuh-tuh". So adorable.


Dax goes out in public in dress up clothes a lot.


3.03.2014

Tate's First Birthday Party

I have a new blog- I think you know- it's Adventures at Naptime!  
I'm posting any crafting or random thing on that blog now.  
Eventually with the hopes to monetize it- or put ads on it- after it gets some good traffic.
We're all about "passive income" in the Dowell house!  
Cuz we're lazy like that.
Anywho- the random non-personal parts of Tate's party are up on that blog now!
(You can click on the hyperlinked Adventures at Naptime to see it.)
I'll post family pictures, and Tate's 12 month photo shoot soon on this blog.
HOW is his first year going to be OVER TOMOROW!?!?
Wah!

2.18.2014

Dax's 2nd Birthday!

(sorry for posting this random post!!  I'm busy trying to move some of my old posts onto a new blog for more public viewing, and wanted to remove this one from it's original link- but didn't want to delete it completely, obviously!!  I'll post the new blog soon!)
I cannot believe that Dax is TWO YEARS OLD!!!!  He is so precious, spunky, smart, funny, busy, creative, and cute that it makes my heart almost pop.  Although he has feisty streaks, this kid has the biggest heart and sweetest soul I've ever seen!  I am so lucky to be his mommy.

How has it been two years since he was this little!?
Dax- 5 weeks old
And one year since his First Birthday Monster Bash!?!?!

Here are some pictures of Dax's birthday and Construction Party yesterday.  He had a blast, and really realized that it was HIS day when we all sang "Happy Birthday" around him and his TRUCK cake!  :) We have the world's greatest family, friends, and neighbors- who all showed up, had a blast, and brought amazing gifts for Dax AND Tate!  We are so blessed and lucky and spoiled.  :)

The bouncehouse people dropped the Monster Truck MoonWalk off nice and early- so the kids could be tortured all day waiting to go outside and play in it!! 
(The backyard got REALLY muddy somehow the night before so they had to stay inside or in the front yard all morning- I was devastated and hormonal, but Casey, MiMi and Steve saved the day by thinking of getting mulch to cover up the mud.  Not the most beautiful backyard, but it got the job done!  And kind of went with the party theme, ha!)

Dax getting his birthday presents when he woke up!  He was so excited, and totally didn't understand why he was being showered with gifts!


Getting ready for the party!

The party favors!




Dax is ALWAYS happy in Uncle Lu's arms!




The amazing cake made by MorMor!!!

 Tate even got in on the construction spirit!  :)

The cake demo!  Later Dax grabbed himself a fork and dug in.  I couldn't get a picture fast enough- but hey, it's his party!


The food table was really cute, but I didn't get a picture of it.  Oh well!







So happy in the bouncehouse!



Love this picture- Dax is body slamming himself!

His construction sign "2" shirt made by mommy :)

Tate and MiMi hanging out after the party!  


Itsy Bitsy Spider- Tate (Videos)

I sang Tate "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" for the first time about a week ago.  A few days later and a I SWEAR he knows the motions- just can't squeak them out perfectly with 11 month old motor skills!  Dax loved this song as a baby, too- I'll have to dig up a video!

This one's my fave! I mean, he really couldn't get much cuter....

2.06.2014

Tate- 11 months

Oh I can't believe my little baby is 11 months old.  I can't believe our next monthly photo shoot will be of a ONE YEAR OLD!  :*(

This little guy is the best baby ever.  He's so easy going, so funny, so cute, so smart, so everything.  He's the perfect fit for our family- he's totally cool hanging out in the background, but loves joining in the fun too.  He's super calm and laid back, but can definitely hold is own amongst the crazies.  He's quiet and cool but is not shy to make himself heard.  He's just the absolute best.

Here's what he's up to this month:
  • playing peek-a-boo
  • blowing kisses
  • more animal noises (dog, elephant, monkey, and sometimes cat)
  • considering walking (loves to walk holding hands, not so interested in letting go of the couch to try himself)
  • enjoys climbing things and pushing cars & trucks
  • still eats everything in sight
  • including his actual meals- this kid can put down some food
  • thinks Dax and Ada are the COOLEST
  • says "mama" and "dada"- usually in the middle of the night… or right as I'm about to lay him down to sleep because he totally knows it'll earn him at least 5 more minutes of snuggle time
  • loves bathtime and pounding things to make loud noises
  • loves to bee-bop.  I don't say dance, because bee-bop is a better descriptor
  • Favorite memory this month: Dax was banging on a metal bin, and Tate joined in.  Dax stopped so Tate could have a go at the whole box, and Tate grabbed Dax's sleeve and put his hands back on their "drum" so he would keep playing.  Heart melted!!  And Dax's did too :)
This kid is just seriously awesome, and we are all so lucky he's ours!!!  
So much for our "traditional" monthly photo shoot.  I mean, they've been unconventional since he was mobile almost 6 months ago… but now they're just ridiculous!  The sticker came off before I even made it 2 feet back to my camera...


 reaching for my camera- no sir!



 blurry but cute-







 blurry but too cute to omit --