Happy Holidays!

The holiday season is upon us, and we've been enjoying it immensely!  Well, kinda.  My company Christmas party was on the 11th, the same evening we got about 9 inches of snow and lightning.  Natalie was watching Felix that night, and was unable to leave because of the heavy snowfall.  We were snowbound until Sunday afternoon when the plows came and dug us out (again, kinda). 

To keep Felix from going stir crazy like the rest of us, I put together his Christmas present - vaguely called a "fold away climber".  The large plastic contraption has a platform, a slide, a basketball hoop, and a goal to kick balls into.  Felix so far LOVES it.  He will spend minutes (really big deal) shooting baskets, then going down the slide, then shooting more baskets.  He'll stop to cheer for himself now and then, before taking another shot.  He points at the basket and says "mit".  I'm not sure, but he may be saying "made it" or "missed it".


We are very excited about the holidays this year, because Felix is getting older and is starting to have an idea what's going on (he enjoys the tree, looking up and saying "dars!" [stars], touching all the "emmets" [ornaments] he can reach, and getting excited when he sees Christmas lights).  We are also going to the Rose Bowl!  Steve and Vicky are equally excited about having several straight days with Felix.

My decorated cube (I didn't do it!)

To all, whether we get to see you this holiday season or not, we wish you the very best for you and your family.  Enjoy the company of those you're with, and travel safely.  Have a wonderful rest of 2010 and all of 2011!

Felix: 17 mos

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, I am most thankful for my wonderful family! Nick and Felix are my world, my comfort, my joy. I am so thankful them, as well as my parents and sister, in-laws, and extended family. Without them, where would I be?

Felix's new tricks include saying "mutz" for "button", saying please ("pees!") or doing the sign (yay!), attempting to repeat everything we say (careful!), naming all the things he does know (this rainy evening, everything outside was "wet"), throwing things crazy hard (well, not so new), and claiming everything as "meine" (he's got a little German in him :o).

Felix: 16 mos

Say What?!

Felix's vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds, and he understands much more than he says.  (I've started cautioning Nick on his language during sporting events because of it.)

If you happen to find yourself around Felix anytime soon, please use this handy Fel-ish-English translation guide:

• "Ah Dah" = All Done
• "Ah-puh" = Apple
• "Ai" = Hi!
• "Bah" = Ball
• "Bock" = Box
• "Book" = Same
• "Bubbuh" = Bubble
• "Buppy" = Bucky (He said only once. Now he just calls him "Buh")
• "Bye" = Same
• "Go" = Same
• "Kah-kah" = Cracker
• "Kok" = Sock or Clock
• "Luka" = His friend, Lucas
• "Muh" = More
• "Muk" = Milk
• "My" = Mine
• "Nah-Nah" = Either banana or his friend Alana
• "Nek" = Neck
• "Nuk" = Pacifier, one I was hoping he wouldn't pick up on so quickly
• "No" = Same
• "Row" = Roll
• "Uh-Oh" = Same
• "Up" = Up, On or Off (haven't quite determined which, or else it might mean Light)
• "Wawa" = Water
• "Wock" = Watch (as in wrist)

He also attempts a quacking noise like a duck, but it sounds like he's clearing his throat.  Kid's got some German in him. :o)  He says "Rawr" when you put a puppet on his hand and he shoves it back in your face.  He raises one arm to mimic an elephant's trunk.  He will spin around and make himself dizzy if you say "spin".  I'm amazed that at this young age he understands a request like "put it back".  He likes playing with his little doctor kit, and actually attempts to use each item correctly.  His favorite book right now is the Go Badgers, My First Wisconsin Words book (probably because it has two pictures of Bucky in it).  He will give kisses when he's in the mood.  When I put him down for bed, he immediately turns over and points at the humidifier, my cue to plug it in.  My little, wonderful, amazing man.

Felix: 15 mos

Brains!

Halloween has come and gone.  Felix was definitely more aware of what was going on this year, but still very perplexed by the whole get-dressed-up, get-candy-from-people aspect.  I dressed him up in several Halloween costumes over the course of last week.

Felix's new daycare had a parents' night on the 28th.  Parents and children were invited to dress up, meet the teachers, collect artwork, and let their kids play around.  For this event, he was the cutest little lion.

On Friday, Felix's class was going trick-or-treating in the neighborhood around the daycare. Even though they made their own costumes (they were puppies), I sent him to Pooh Bear Daycare as a little Pooh Bear.  Aww!  Hopefully I'll get a picture of him in his puppy costume as well.

Finally, we all got dressed up on Halloween and scared the neighborhood as a family of zombies (Mama Zombie, Papa Zombie and Zombaby) on the loose.  Felix has got the undead stagger down, so it seemed fitting.  Nick and I enjoyed getting into costume as well.  Felix picked us out some nice candies, and we let him have a few baby-appropriate pieces. He did approve of the 3 Musketeers bar and Reese's peanut butter cup.

Felix: 15 mos

Just a Few Updates

A few things from recently:

Yesterday, Felix said "bye" to me for the first time when I dropped him off at daycare.  Aw.  He's starting to get the hang of when to use it, but isn't quite there.  Usually he says a big "buh-by-ee" after we've already shut the door on Nick and are walking to the car.

The kid is a natural mimic.  If you do something he hasn't seen you do before, there's a pretty good chance he will immediately want to do it.  We noticed it big time when I swept the floor a few weeks ago.  He HAD to have the broom and sweep (i.e., knock the handle into everything fragile in the area).  We've since put the broom in the garage where he can't get it.  His little Swiffer works just fine.

We've found the best way to tire him out at night.  He loves being chased, so Nick or I will pretend to be chasing him around our first floor.  It's a nice loop between the living room, hallway, kitchen and dining area.  We stomp behind him and almost catch him.  It's a nice workout for all of us.

Felix has five teeth and another that is just about to cut.

I'll be posting Halloween stuff soon.  Yay!

Felix: 15 mos

Playing in the Leaves

Last year, we got a great picture of Felix in the leaves.  I wanted to get something similar this year, so we bundled Felix up and took him over to the huge leaf pile next door.  He was... unimpressed.  The sound, the texture, everything seemed to put him off.  Or else he really just wanted to play with Nick's basketball.  Finally, some of the neighborhood kids came over to play in the leaves, too.  We finally got a few smiles when the kids started throwing leaves in the air.  Hooray!

Felix: 15 mos

Visitors

On Sunday, we had a visit from my uncle Steve, my aunt Lori, and their son, Eric. We'd never met Eric before, since Steve and Lori's last visit was before he was born. Luckily, we got to meet him on his first birthday!

Felix was napping when they arrived, so he was a little slow to warm up to our guests. Eric was right at home, eating Felix's crayons. To celebrate Eric's birthday, everybody got cake. Felix dove right into his, while Eric enjoyed smashing his. The boys got so dirty that we let them play in their diapers. By that time, they were feeling pretty comfortable with each other and started crawl-chasing each other around our dining table and "wrestling" on the floor.

Other than the Packers loss, it was a great visit - thanks again, guys! Hope to see you soon!

 Felix: 14 mos