The Start of a New Year!

Ashton has fully embraced toddler-hood.  He is into everything, he wants to do everything on his own, and he has more energy than I ever imagined him having!!  At his 18mo check up he was 29.2 lbs. (86%), 31.5 inches tall (83%), and his head is back up in the 99%!!  Needless to say, he is a big boy!!  He talks all the time...some things he loves to say are: Starbucks, waffles, blank, El's (reffering to Elway), neighbor, sheets, sit, all done, all gone, dada's, mama's, cars, and truck among many others.  He has recently shown an interest in dressing up...especially like daddy!  Here he is trying to walk in daddy's shoes (trying is the key word)

Brian was out of town for work a couple weeks ago and for approximately 2 days all he wanted to do was wear daddy's jacket

( Elway is always keeping an eye on him)

As you can see he decided my headband was a nice accessory as well.  One of his new favorite things is to build a fort on the couch.  This started out with us just propping up the pillows and throwing a blanket over the top...that was enough!  Well, that didn't last very long...

Now...it is a project!!  Including our own make shift slide!  Here is a shot of Ashton in the slide...

Ashton is a great eater!  Thank God!  However, he isn't very easy to feed anymore!  He wants to do everything himself, which isn't a bad thing...messy...but not bad!  Here he is enjoying an English muffin while running around the house, because sitting down to a meal just doesn't do it for him!

I have recently been trying to find ways to harness his energy and give him something to focus on.  I bought flash cards with shapes and colors so we could practice but he refuses to sit still to look at them...instead he likes to take the cards out one at a time and throw them as far as he can then he plays with the box.  I also bought him a coloring book for him to color...he hasn't really conquered this one yet.  I think he likes the idea of it but he will scribble for about 2 minutes (max) and if he doesn't try to eat them then the crayons quickly end up on the floor and He just wants to turn the pages back and forth as fast as he can...and I think in his mind he gets extra points if he rips the pages!!

Just the other day he found where I hid our left over wrapping paper from Christmas...he took no time at all to prove to me that my hiding place was a joke!

As most of you know, we have been having a crazy winter this year!  We haven't really been able to get out and play in the snow...mainly because we don't have any snow gear for Ashton (no waterproof clothes either) and he is growing so fast we keep putting it off...however, with the recent ice storm we took the opportunity to let Ashton get out in the cold and slide around for a bit...he loved it!

Ashton just got done with an antibiotic due to an ear infection and is doing much better now but medicine always leaves quite an impression on his rear so (against Brian's wishes) here is a picture of Ashton "airing out" his rash while spying on the neighbors...

One of my favorite things about him right now is how incredibly loving he is!!!  He loves to give kisses and hugs...he hugs everything including books (as I am reading them!)!  Here is a picture of him cuddling up with Mimi and uncle 'Sock' at our super bowl party.

We spent a couple days with Natalie and Lincoln this week...we went to the indoor play gym and we finally started our swim class!  Ashton is a natural in the water and I have never seen him happier!!  He was the only child in the class that insisted on clapping after every single song or activity, it was the cutest thing!  After class Lincoln came over to play for a little bit and Ashton's love fest continued...He hugged Lincoln every chance he got...

he is the sweetest little guy, he makes Brian and me smile everyday, and we can't wait to see what kind of person he grows up to be!