Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Happy 18 months, Kyle Dakota!

Last Saturday Kyle turned one and a half! I thought I'd journal about what he's into lately.

Kyle loves to, "Go, go go!" His favorite places are the "raj" with Papa and "Mimi's" (Grammie's) house. He lights up like a firefly when either place is mentioned let alone visited. Kyle is a big "helper" and loves to do anything we are doing. He intently watches everything we do and likes to show us repeatedly, I mean repeatedly that he knows how to do such and such. He absolutely loves to imitate Papa and then report back to us just exactly what Papa did. Everything that Papa has touched, be it a lamp that was fixed, or a toy made/repaired, to something that Papa owns or always does, results in Kyle pointing emphatically and exclaiming, "Papa!" as if he's so proud of his dad. :)

Kyle is a climber. There really isn't anything he can't climb onto. His latest (probably about a month or two ago) conquests are his changing table, high chair, our desk, and any chair, bed, etc. There isn't anything safe and he keeps us all on our toes. He's got such upper body strength as evidenced by this short video...


We love that our little man is such an adventurer and seemingly unafraid of anything (except really loud machine-type noises) and yet is so, so very gentle in spirit. He is quite a lover and gives tons of hugs and kisses. We are really proud of the fact that he seems (to us) to be really bright. Most amazing (again, to us) are the 2 to 3 step associations he constantly makes. Everywhere we go, all day long, he loves to point out everything he knows and connect it to a person or experience he's had. We marvel at the connections he makes to things we've said or done and are so proud of all the learning that's going on inside his little head!

Here are some of Kyle's favorites:
Number: 8 (loves to point out and say "eight" with a big smile)
Color: blue (he prefers the blue marker at least! :)
Friend: Nick and Will (brothers down the street he sees often)
Book: llama llama red pajama by Anna Dewdney
Songs to sing along to: E-I-E-I-O and Bob Marley's "Rebel Music" (similar, wouldn't ya say?)
Object/activity: keys, locks, or any hole to put a key in
Indoor activities: coloring, playing with his cars, getting the mail at his cardboard house, imitating Papa, helping Mommy in the kitchen, reading, and climbing.
Outdoor activities: working with his play tools in the garage with dad, getting the real mail, driving/pushing his wheels, going to Papa's truck to play, bike riding, playing at the park, digging in the sand at the beach.
Anywhere activity: peek-a-boo
Movie: Baby Signing Time videos and a sing-a-long song video at Mimi's house.
Music: reggae, and anything with a good beat he can bounce to
Treat: cookie (pronounced "kee-ko")
Handedness: left

Kyle's favorites in picture form:
The cardboard house with a mail/key box and a couple of peek a boo windows on the sides.
Kyle's house made out of a door Ru cut to K's size. Ru set out to find a used door and came back with one 15 minutes later. He's amazing. After a little bit, Kyle had his own house, Apt. #24 1/2, inside the raj, with a door that latches and has its own keys so he can lock it! (we have a spare and the roof isn't fully enclosed) He opens/closes it repeatedly, knocks, and enthusiastically comes out to greet us!
Have to showcase some more of Ru's creativity with this homemade t-ball stand. Kyle loves the smaller one GG brought for him (it makes noise) but is also very, very proud of his Papa's creation, made out of PVC, some gasket repair rubber, and other hardware.
Favorites toys: Matchbox car garage and the vintage Fisher Price Little People Parking Garage. Ru had such good memories of it and said Kyle had to have the original so he found it on eBay with the cars and little people too!

He's saying, "Mommy!" which means, "Here's your car. Play with us!"
Grammie's house and the "Kyle corner." This desk used to be mine when I was little. I begged my parents to save it for my future children... and now it finally gets used! :) Kyle loves it! Thanks Mom and Dad for storing it all these years.
A tentative look most people see...
...and the big smile he saves for us! :)
Kyle loves to color and generously offers to share (or insists we do it with him!).
Kyle and his best buddy, Nick. It's too cute. They have a great time together and after we part, Kyle calls for Nick repeatedly. If we tell him we're going to Nick's house, he gets super excited and starts to run. We love having dinners with this family because the adults get to enjoy their meal together while the kids entertain themselves in bliss. It definitely brings to mind the advantages for having a sibling for Kyle! ;) Interestingly, this picture shows Kyle looking bigger than Nick, but really Kyle is just "tall in the saddle" and Nick is actually taller than Kyle.
Keys + opening doors = timeless fun!!
Kyle pretend shaves (no blade here), lifts up his shirt to try to put deodorant on and walks around in Papa's shoes, to name a few things.
Boy does he love climbing up on the chair and typing/mousing around on the computer.
He loves the mouse and watching the cursor move over the screen.
Gio and the swing are still a huge hit.

And we were trying to summarize...!!! :)
Happy 18 months, Kyle! We couldn't be any more smitten with you!

1 comment:

  1. Isn't it crazy how fast they grow up. When all the older ladies see you with your newborn and tell you not to blink because they grow up so fast they are right!! What a little cutie you have!

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