14 months!

I can't believe it has been so long, but sometimes it only feels like yesterday that Miles joined us. And I couldn't imagine a life without our sweet little love.

Miles is growing up so fast and he is such a wonderful little guy. He is experimenting with exerting control and trying to test our boundaries. We find ourselves having to say "no" a bunch more, but trying to do it with explanations and reason.

It actually amazes me just how much he is absorbing right now. He absolutely knows items by name, even though he can't say it yet. In the mornings, I'll sit down on the floor in the play room and ask him if he wants me to read him a book. He will then go over to the book shelf, grab a favorite (he avoids others), and will bring it over to me. I then ask if he wants to sit on my lap and he will turn around, back up, and squat - though he misses my lap more often than not, I'll scoop him up and there we will sit until he is done - often after several times through!

Nothing is more fun right now than opening and closing cabinet drawers - unless it is to take out all of the stuff. He has full reign over the tupperware cabinet and his bottle drawer in the kitchen. Needless to say, the kitchen is a disaster area once he has been through. We are starting to work on putting things away, but that apparently isn't nearly as much fun.

He also is such a sweet little guy. He is full of hugs and kisses and reflects back to us the love we pour onto him. You can ask for a hug, and he'll come toddling over (most times) and put his little arms around your neck, and push his face against yours. Kisses are still slimy with a mouth wide open, but I wouldn't change them for the world.

It also amazes me how flexible and even keeled he is. He has no sense of stranger anxiety and is happy to be held by anyone and will often give hugs to people who are around for more than 30 minutes or so. He loves social interaction and is thrilled to walk around the park and watch / follow all the older kids. We are now looking at ways to get him more involved with other kids.

Though things in life are frantic right now, it is amazing just how fulfilled I am by my wonderful husband and my loving son.

Da Gota, Da Gota Go

Had to catch Miles' "Da Gota" on tape. He's been doing it for about 5 days now and we fear it will soon go away. Its so cute that we wanted to capture it for life.

Dirty Boy

Yesterday afternoon I caught Miles starting to crawl into our hamper. He caught my attention with a gleeful laugh as I was making his breakfast. I turned to find him half in the basket, looking at me thru the mesh side. He had his arms and head in, so I rushed to get the video camera to capture his further inward progress or his exit. By the time I got back (under 5 secs) this is what I found.

Hungry Miles?

This evening Miles was all a chatter, using his sign language to communicate with us. Pointing to your mouth is "Hungry, Food or Dinner", making gestures like you're blowing kisses is "Thank You" and rubbing your chest is "Please". Miles put the three together tonight to essentially say "I'm starving would you give me some dinner? Thank you...I mean please."




Note: He eats lefty but signs righty - I'm lost. Guess its up in the air :)

Good eating Mr. Mr.

This morning Miles practiced eating his breakfast using a spoon. He's getting better and better at it. Yummm...I mean Yaaaay Miles!



Looks like he may be a "Lefty" - like his Grandpa Reeth and Great Grandmother Carol.

Bath Time with Grandma - Boh

Miles and Grandma playing in the tub before bed.

Take this Dad! Poke....

Lina and I were sitting in our sun room on Sunday playing with Miles. He was being his usual happy self; walking, talking-ish, climbing all over the place...when out of nowhere - POKE! Miles jabbed Daddy straight in the eye. My eye was wide open. Boy did it HURT. Much to my surprise, Miles was able to hit my eyeball before I could flinch or blink...I never saw it coming. To think, I've caught in my eye lashes pieces of flying wood chips propelled from chain-saws, nats in mid flight, screaming dust particles from any number of gusty days, but I was unable to defend against his one inch finger.

My eye turned bloodshot, teared like I lost my dog (had I had one I cared about), my head pounded (requiring two Maximum Strength Excedrin), I had to go to the pharmacy to pick up eye drops with itch relief and even had to wear a patch thru the night. Man Miles what a shot.

He was great, however. He must have sensed something because he came to me three separate times to give me a hug. Makes it worth the pain actually. Though I might just pretend he gets me next time just for the hugs.