New Words

Christopher has started to say some new words lately - meow, cat, and dog. We like to read a book that has furry patches in it so he can touch the animals. He listens very closely to what I am saying and tries to repeat it. He also likes to use his toes to touch the fur. He has to use the toes on one foot first, then the other foot, then his fingers. He cracks me up!

A Long Weekend

Poor Christopher has had it rough lately. On Thursday he fell in the driveway, hit his head, and scraped his face. On Friday, he fell on the patio, hurt his foot and needed x-rays. He is fine, just bruised. On Sunday, he bumped his head while jumping on Nicholas' bed. Plus he has a stye on his eye which is worse this morning. My poor baby is always sick or hurt. Thank goodness he is so happy or things would really miserable around here!

The Pitcher

I think Christopher is destined to be a baseball player when he grows up. He throws things better than anyone I have ever met. Whether it is a ball or a chicken nugget, it goes flying through the air super fast and lands far away. I am trying to figure out how to channel this skill into something more positive than just throwing food to the dog or the remote at Nicholas' head. It's not working just yet, but practice makes perfect. He has quite an arm for a 16 month old!

Alli

Alli came running down the stairs today when she heard us come home. You are thinking that this happens everyday and you are right. Only today, Christopher flung his arms open and said "Alli" and then hugged her as tight as he could. It was the cutest moment ever.

The Best Hugs

Christopher threw his arms around my neck on Thursday and gave me the biggest hug for the first time! He just kept hugging and hugging and laughing! It was the best hug ever! Now he keeps running to me and throwing his arms around me all the time. I just love it when he learns new things!

Haircut

Christopher had a haircut yesterday. The woman was able to fix it up from the terrible haircut he was given by a certain person who did a horrible job. He held perfectly still until the very last trim. The poor woman clipped his ear and it started to bleed. I was very calm and Christopher did not even notice that it happened. I kept trying to down play it before Nicholas noticed. He gets very upset when his baby brother is hurt. You would think it happened to him. So the woman comes over with bandages and towels and wipes. Everyone must have thought his whole ear was taken off. She starts making a huge deal out of it and Nicholas starts to lose it. He has to see it, starts tearing up, it was horrible. I thought he was going to fall on the floor and faint at any second once he saw the blood. I finally get the woman to ring us up so we can leave and then some man is telling me how to put pressure on it. I must have said he's fine a hundred million times. Can't people take a hint? Do they not see the brother who is pale, shaking, and ready to faint???? Do they want Christopher to start crying, is not good enough that he's calm? A ridiculously too long of a time later we finally escaped. Nicholas checked the ear every chance he had when we came home. Finally, it has been forgotten by everyone but me. I think I am scarred for life!

Kisses

Nana came to visit for a few days this past week. Christopher spent lots of time with her and he loves her kisses. He would go running into her arms to get those hugs and kisses. If I was holding him, he would lean back so she could kiss his neck and then snuggle into me to get away from her. He would do it over and over! He just loves his Nana!

The Sweetest Thing

While Bash was here today he said that cutest thing to me -

Bash - "Miss Trisha, I love Christopher."
Me - "Christopher loves you, too, Bash."
Bash - "Christopher really misses me while I am gone, doesn't he?"
Me - "Yes, Bash, he does really miss you."
Bash - "I really miss him, too. He loves to come over and play at my house."
Me - "He sure does. He thinks your house is fun."
Bash - "I know he does."

Talking

Christopher is learning to talk so quickly. He is repeating everything Nicholas and I say, it's so cute! When I say something to Alli, he says it. When Nicholas tells Christopher no, he yells it right back! Even the teacher at Gymboree yesterday understood what he was saying. I love that he is learning so quickly I am just not sure what it is going to be like with two of them talking all the time!

The Snack Drawer

Christopher has discovered the snack drawer. There are two of them, filled with all kinds of delicious snacks. I think those drawers are the reason most people come over here. We are famous for our snacks. Now Christopher knows where to find them and he wants to eat all day long. His favorites are the fruit snacks - not the baby ones but the Spongebob and Lego fruitsnacks that Nicholas picks out. He also enjoys cookies, I try to switch the cookies with graham crackers or animal crackers, but even at one he knows the difference!

The Flu Typhoon

Christopher ended up with a stomach bug during our great snow vacation. The poor baby threw up for three days. His little germs spread from him to everyone - Uncle Markie, me, Aunt Wendy, Uncle Mike, Melonie, Heather, Mike, Grammie, Grampie, Uncle Andy, Aunt Marian, Aunt Missy, and Uncle John. No one was spared. I am sure a few people who were on the plane near Markie also caught it. He was sick the whole way home. Where do these germs come from and when will they come out with the stomach bug vaccine???

The Florida Baby

Mr. Christopher is not quite so sure about how he feels about the snow. As I was bundling him up with hat, gloves, boots, snowpants, snowjacket, he was crying. I finally got him outside and he stood there staring at us. When Nicholas dumped a bunch of snow on his head I thought it was all over. After an adjustment period, he seemed to like it but kept a strange look on his face. Maybe he'll be use to it during the next round this afternoon. Maybe if Uncle Markie takes him down the hill on the sled . . .

Another Nicholas?

Well, Christopher has become a screamer to get his way. I don't know if it's just instinct with my boys or if he learned it from Nicholas. There is so much screaming and yelling going on when someone doesn't get his way I can hardly stand it! Hopefully this is just from the frustration of learning to talk. I don't think I can take another Nicholas! Christopher is supposed to be the calm and easygoing one of the two!

Too Much Birthday

We went to Sebastien's 5th birthday party today. We all had a great time at Pump It Up. Christopher enjoyed almost two pieces of chocolate cake, tons of cheetos, juice, and a lollipop. This evening he threw up twice. I guess I need to monitor the cake intake a little bit better next time. Poor baby, at least he's peacefully sleeping now.

Back to Gymboree

We have been enrolled in Gymboree for quite some time but have only shown up there about a hand full of times. Poor Christopher absolutely loves it yet I never take him. So my goal is to be a better mother and get him there once a week. There is no reason to miss it and no excuse for such terrible behavior on part. There are six days week of classes and we should be able to make it to one! So there it is - my promise to Christopher.

A Clean Bill of Health

Christopher went for his post-op check up today. His ears are great, his hearing is perfect and all is right in his little world. He does have a little dried blood blocking the tube in the left ear but with a little peroxide over the next week, that too will be a thing of the past. He received a get well card from Uncle Andy and Aunt Marian and he carried it around opening it and closing it for a day. His walking has really improved, too. I thought his falling and leaning to the right was just learning to walk. Turns out, his walking was affected by the problems with his ears so now he is just running all around! He only falls down when Nicholas or Alli bump into him!

Hugs and Kisses

Christopher is just so lovable! He runs over to Nicholas and I all the time and flings himself at us so we will hug and kiss him. I even saw him do it to Hannah at playgroup last week. He just loves hugs and kisses. He even snuggles against Alli and gives her love!

Surgery

Christopher survived his ordeal rather nicely I must say. He had the tubes put in his ears, his adnoid taken out, and they checked his vocal chords. The first two days were not the piece of cake the doctors promised but I was not surprised by that. My little guy was such a trouper. Nana being here helped, too! Between the two of us he could be held and loved as much as he wanted. I think he is walking better, he doesn't seem to be as lopsided or clumsy as he was. He is also talking away. The words are becoming clearer and clearer. I am glad it's over though!

The Coffee Table Dancer

Christopher's loves to climb up on top of the coffee table and dance! He gets right up there and starts moving all around and shaking his head up and down. He just loves music and dancing! The best is when he climbs up there with only his diaper on and starts dancing. It makes wonder what his future career might be!

The Latest Trick

Christopher has decided that he loves brushing his teeth. When Nicholas and I brush, so does he. When we put our toothbrushes away, he keeps carrying his around! He brushes in the car, while playing with his toys, and even holds it while sleeping! Maybe this means he'll let me floss his teeth unlike his brother!