18 months with Miles

Whew! You guys. I don't know how two months got away from me, but here we are at the end of May. Between three weeks worth of visitors, having to get my computer repaired after it took a nasty fall, preparing to move home to North Carolina, and keeping up with a rambunctious toddler, the time for writing has been limited. I've got a ton of stuff to catch you up on, including our trips to Spain and Austria and some great books I've read, but I thought I'd jump back in with an update on our baby boy who just turned a whole year and a half old!

Here are a few things he's been up to lately...

Making teeth! His total count is up to 12 now that he's cut four mean molars.

Wants to do everything himself. Climbs in his stroller on his own and can almost get it buckled. Assembles his straw cups. Pretends to put his lotion on himself after baths. Tries to dress himself and will sit on the bottom stair in our apartment to try to put on his socks and shoes. 

Always requests to go outside. Loves spending afternoons at the park playing in the sand, going down the slide, and picking flowers in the grass.

Has gotten the hang of "riding" his little balance bike his Grammy bought him on her visit and cruises all over the house on it. Unless he's asleep or eating, this kid NEVER STOPS MOVING.

Is still a great eater and can now eat bigger versions of things - for example, he can take bites out of a whole sandwich instead of me tearing it up into bite-sized pieces for him. Has discovered the joys of "dipping" foods. Is a pro with a spoon. Prefers using a real fork to the toddler version.

Has a huge vocabulary - some favorites are "owside" (outside) "i keem" (ice cream - which he requests almost daily), "Monty" (who he asks to see anytime we FaceTime one of my parents), "airpane" (airplane - he's become slightly obsessed since our last flight), "pees" (please - usually more like a demand than a request), "Josh" (which he thinks is hilarious to call his daddy since he hears me saying it), and so many more. Recently added his elbows and knees to the list of body parts he can identify. Is slowly learning his colors and numbers, too!

Sings the "bom, bom, bom" line of Sweet Caroline and the "woohoo" part of the Duck Tales theme. These have been my proudest achievements in parenting thus far.

Also, can someone tell me how my baby has become such a big boy?! How do I slow it down? While I love this new stage of learning and getting to experience so much through his eyes, it all seems to be happening too quickly!

It's hard to believe that the next time I update on this dude, we'll be back in home sweet Carolina! Our house, our wonderful bed, our friends and families.... oh Germany, you've been so good, but I. AM. READY. 

Watch out for lots more posts coming soon (hopefully!), and enjoy this last expression I'll leave you with...

childhood milestones: miles's first haircut

Well, we made it more than 16 months, but after having nearly every stranger we've encountered for the last month think he was a she, I finally gave in and decided it was time for a trim. It was Josh who was initially hesitant for the cut when I wanted to do it around his first birthday, but I'll admit a pang of sadness overwhelmed me as I snipped away those sweet baby curls. What's next?! Kindergarten? College?!

Nap hair. Don't care.

Experienced in cutting Josh's hair, I decided to brave doing it myself. Admittedly, I was pretty nervous about how a toddler was going to cooperate as I wielded sharp metal instruments near his precious noggin and semi-essential features like his eyes and ears. Armed with snacks and Sesame Street with daddy in charge of keeping him cool in his highchair, I can honestly say it was not bad at all. Actually, it went more smoothly than I could have possibly hoped. 

My favorite. 

There was only one injury, which was me snipping my finger, and though I had to move much quicker than I normally would, I think the haircut turned out pretty good. Just look at my big boy!

8 great easter basket ideas for babies and toddlers

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I can't believe it's almost the end of March already! Spring is here, and here in Germany, the storefronts are filled with Easter decorations galore. As a parent, one of the most fun things is getting to celebrate all these holidays with Miles and implement traditions that he'll hopefully cherish long into adulthood.

My sweet baby boy last Easter... where oh where did the time go?!

Leading up to Easter Sunday when I was a kid, we'd dye eggs in plastic cups using the kit from the grocery store, and I'd get a new dress and ruffled socks to wear with a fresh pair of white Mary Janes. We'd head up to my grandparents house for lunch and an Easter egg hunt with all my cousins, usually followed up with shooting some basketball in the driveway, playing on the swingset, or running down the huge grassy hill (after we'd exchanged our Sunday bests for shorts and tees, of course). Most of the Easter baskets I received as a child involved plastic eggs filled with candy, a chocolate bunny, and loads of plastic green grass that would end up everywhere. But, seeing as Miles is only a little over a year old, candy's not yet in the cards, so I've learned to get more creative with ideas to fill his basket. Here are some of my favorites this year...

A sweet pair of Easter jammies from Hanna Andersson is always number one on my list. I got a pair with a more babyish pattern (seen in the photo up top) for my sweet little four month old last year, but this go-round, I'm loving this Peanuts pair. If you've never bought a pair of Hanna Andersson's pajamas, you (and your little one) are missing out. They hold up well to multiple washings and fit for a good long time because most are footless.

Freeze Dried Fruit is a great (and healthy) substitute for candy for really little ones. Unlike regular dried fruit which can be a choking hazard, freeze dried fruit dissolves quickly and is easy to chew with few teeth. Miles sees these as such a treat, and you don't have to feel bad about rotting their teeth out.

Egg Shaped Crayons are easy for little guys and gals to hold on to and fit perfectly with the theme of the holiday. My little guy has recently gotten the hang of crayons (and stopped trying to eat them) and loves to draw on a nice big sheet of paper on the floor.

I am utterly obsessed with these magnetic, wooden Tegu blocks. We got a set at Christmas for Miles, and they provide loads of entertainment. For younger toddlers, they're amused just by the magnets and putting the blocks into and out of the pouch. Now, at 16 months, the little dude is starting to get interested in actually building things. There are lots of variations available, but a bonus to this set is that they're the perfect size for travel and fit easily into a diaper bag.

A classic children's book is never a bad idea, and I just love this board book format with the original illustrations. We're currently in a real paper ripping phase, so books that can withstand a toddler boy are a must. If this one's already on your shelf, here's a whole plethora of Easter themed books to choose from.

I am a little obsessed with the multicolor look of this sweet, soft little bunny from Jellycat. I have so many friends who are not into stuffed animals for their kids, but around our house, we love 'em. Miles hugs them and kisses them and tickles them and talks to them, and it's just the cutest thing ever. 

Everyone has the alphabet magnets for their fridge, but how cute are these wooden farm animal magnets?! And I love that they come in a milk carton!

Once you've got the goods, of course you need an adorable basket to put it all in. We bought one last year here in Germany, but I'm a little obsessed with this cutie from Land of Nod. I would even be tempted to keep it out as a nursery decoration.

Just as a personal preference, I would totally not include ALL of these items in one Easter basket. Personally, I find it a little nuts how much folks spend on these things - sometimes literally hundreds of dollars! That's not our style (especially since anything we accumulate now will have to be moved back to the U.S. with us in just a few months), but if you're into that sort of thing, go for it!

What will you be including in your kids' Easter baskets? Do you have any fun traditions for the holiday? I'm always eager for new ideas!