My son, the artist

This week, Will drew his first piece of artwork in his new classroom at day care. So here it is ... the first piece of "kid art" on our refrigerator! (Mommy is so proud.)Also, Will has now turned 14 months old. This past month has seen big changes in Will. He really understands what you are saying -- and often chooses to ignore it! :) When Will starts to do something he knows he isn't supposed to, he shakes his head back and forth (as in "no"). Its too funny - but also tells me that he does understand now what he is and is not allowed to do. With this new understanding, he is also testing limits for sure (which makes Mommy a bit crazy sometimes).

Will loves to make funny faces in the mirror and laugh at himself, which is adorable. After bathtime, I put the hippo towel on him (it has a hood that has the eyes, ears and nose of a hippo) and he just laughs when he sees himself with it.

Will was talking lots but I've noticed fewer words over the last week or two. The funniest one is "think think think." Will loves My Friends Tigger and Pooh on the Disney channel, and it has this "Think Think Think" song in the middle of each episode that he always dances too. The other weekend, at the end of the song, that boy said "think think think!" And then did it again when I sang the song back to him.

It appears that Will's first word - Daddy - doesn't really mean Ellis anymore. Daddy has become the generic word for pictures of anything and anyone. He'll point at the pictures on the fridge and say "Daddy" - or pictures in a book - or pictures of other family members - ... you get the idea. Can't say I mind too much because he refuses to say "Mommy", so at least I don't feel left out anymore.

Of course, the change to the Toddler 1 class has been a big move this month. Will continues to make the adjustment very well, and I think he really enjoys all of the play time he gets to have now. And - get this - not only has Will slept on his mat every day - yesterday, he took an almost 2 hour nap on the mat!! Go Will!!

I just love this little booger.

This just in ...

Ellis called to tell me that Will fell asleep within 5 minutes on his mat on the floor for nap time today!! He really is such a big boy. I can't wait to pick him up today and see how his day went.

Home Sweet Home

I had a great trip to Brazil - it was wonderful spending so much time with my brother and visiting with our grandmother. It was also awesome to come home to little Will who I missed terribly. It was a bit harder to say goodbye to him at the airport then I thought! When I saw him Friday afternoon, I swore he was bigger. I think I turned him back into a baby in my mind. But everyday, Will is less like a baby and more and more like a toddler.

As I promised to him, as soon as I got back, we turned his car seat around. He loves it! (And we do too!)

And tomorrow marks a momentous day for Will. He moves out of the nursery and into the Toddler 1 classroom!!!!! I think he is more than ready - he has visted the classroom lots over the last couple of weeks - its just mom who is nervous! I know he will start to really pick up "big boy" habits now. For example, in his new class, he will take naps on a mat rather than in a crib! It will be interesting to see and hear how he adjusts!

Traveling ...

Tomorrow I am heading to Brazil with my brother and dad to visit my grandmother for the week. I'm very nervous about leaving my boys behind. Daddy has pneumonia (yes, you read that right -- he has PNEUMONIA!), and possibly even picked up pink eye. Will has a bad chest cold but the doctor's visit yesterday confirmed that that is all he has (thank goodness). I know I will enjoy the trip once I meet up with my brother in Atlanta and we fly down to Brazil, but I am already feeling separation anxiety at the idea of not kissing little Will for a whole week, and now I have to worry about their health too!

Thank goodness for blackberrys that work overseas and grandmothers who are staying close. (Nanny will be visiting all weekend and Grandma is on call.)

Y'all say a little prayer for my boys (and me!) that all works out fine.

Will's First Haircut!

I finally gave in to the fact that Will had to get a little trim. He doesn't have much hair in the front and it was starting to get a bit "busy" in the back ... if you know what I mean. So, Saturday, we went to get his haircut!

Before:
After:
I am so pleased with the haircut he got. He looks even cuter because he has this little boy haircut now! And, you know what? Will did wonderfully! He was getting all upset and rowdy in the waiting room that I thought for sure we were doomed. So, I used the ol' pacifier and Will kept perfectly still the entire time and didn't make a sound. I think he was just mesmerized by the whole experience.

I got a couple shots without his pacifier. But all Will would do is stare, dumbfounded, at the guy getting his haircut next to us.

Afterwards, as a reward for his wonderful behavior, we went to the Children's Garden at Clemson Extension where Will had a blast!

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