The Dodson Four: CHASE update

One might think that since I am STILL not working, that I might be on top of so many things - projects, cleaning, blog, pictures, losing weight, etc. I don't know where my time goes.... I take that back - I do know where my time goes. Watching after a rambunctious, smiley, busy 16 month old! And picking up toys, grocery shopping (and other shopping in general) along with dishes, laundry, the normal stuff.... and maybe a few too many naps while Chase still naps - GUILTY I am!

So, here goes both the 15 & 16 month update. I actually do keep notes on my phone to make these updates easier. I had numerous entries for the 15 month update that just never made it to the blog... so you all get to suffer through 2 months of a growing little boy.

Yes, Santa brought me a new backdrop and lights for Christmas, but I have yet to set it up and them a try - I have a feeling that there is a photo shoot in the near future in this house! For these updates you will get the oh so handy iPhone pics - I need to kill the obsession of taking so many. It's just so convenient to capture every moment that we will NEVER get back!

At 15 months YOU:

are my little climber - onto the couch and up onto the step stool (to brush teeth with your brother!)
have made cooking dinner the most - MOST - frustrating part of my day. When I get into the fridge, you want something from the fridge - NOW. When I get into the cupboard to get out ingredients for dinner, you want something from the cupboard - NOW. Doesn't matter if I have given you a snack, doesn't matter if you already have a cup of water. You also love to pull EVERYTHING out of the drawers that I have not locked so that while I am walking around trying to put together dinner or set the table, I trip every 3rd step over the lids, cups, etc. I smile while writing this, but OH I am not smiling while fixing dinner most nights. - I sure wish you liked TV a little more for about 20 minutes at dinnertime. Ok, I'll stop with that one.
LOVE books. You're finally at the cutest age where you find a book, turn around and back your little bottom up to my lap (or anyone lap) to sit and read a book. I love it probably just as much, if not more than you do.
want to eat with utensils. So the messy eating begins, but as I remember with Lance, you'll get the hang of it pretty soon.
got into a few presents before Christmas and had a few favorite ornaments that came off the tree EVERY day. :-)
tell me "nigh nigh" as I am closing the door after I lay you down for your naps or bedtime. Doesn't sound exactly like nigh nigh, but I know what you are trying to say.
found a love for a remote control car - and BOY do you love the horn on that toy. BEEP BEEP BEEP until the battery needs to be charged.
think it's fun to chase me or anyone around the kitchen island
just love to crawl through tunnels (and hide in them when it's time to go number 2)
have such a LOVE for your Daisy
babble all the time! Not too many words yet - I'll post all the words on the below 16 month update. You learned a lot from 15 to 16 months I must say.
DANCE DANCE DANCE and spin in circles. The way you dance is so .... smooth! You dip your little shoulders back and forth. A tiny bit of hip movement. And when you do it from your highchair - Oh my! If that doesn't make someone smile.... mark that as one of the cutest things ever I am going to miss so much.

At 16 months YOU:

nap twice a day still - we tried the 1 nap switch, but it's just not time yet. Like clockwork, you are ready for a morning nap around 9:30 ish, which lasts around 45 min to an hour. Then you are ready again around 1:30 ish for the afternoon nap that is usually around 2 or 2.5 hours. One lucky Mommy here. So ya, I should probably not nap so much and do something with that precious time. You're also down for bed no later than 7 and get up pretty much right at 7. Hasn't been too many night awakenings - one good little sleeper just like your brother. We are the luckiest parents!
are wearing size 6 shoes and into 18 month clothes
follow your brother everywhere and are starting to want to do everything he is. You love having him around so much, even though he doesn't always want you around.... you do like to knock down his towers, take his Lego's when he is trying to build. It's so tough, I know.
and your brother do the BEST hot dog dance (from Mickey clubhouse) EVER! Need to get that one on video - I'll add it to my list. The dip of the shoulders, the sway of your bottom, up on tip toes - Oh, it's the cutest!
eat a vitamin (just like your brother) every morning with breakfast. Mom is still worried about choking (even though you have almost 10 teeth in) So I cut it in half. But when you see me get out those vitamins, boy do you get excited!
are an EXPERT at turning around and sliding down the stairs - and when we get to the bottom, you love shutting the gate and clapping and chanting "YAY" for yourself. (I'm grinning big picturing you doing this!)
can do sign language for the following words: apple, cat, all done, book, fire truck (some of these might be our own sign we made up!), please, more, paci, thank you - just getting started on that one.
say the following words - and again, to clarify, a person off the street would probably not know what you are saying (with exception to the first few) but Mom and Dad know just what you are saying. The babbling is turning into talking: Dada, Ba Bye, shoes, Daisy, tractor, cracker (those two sound a lot alike), nigh night, brother (bubba), and the BIG ONE - that everyone understands and that you say ALL THE TIME. "UH oh" But it's more like uh ooohhhh, with the emphasis on the second part.
shrug your shoulders and hold your arms out with hands pointed up - saying "go?" asking where did it go? When you wake up from a nap, it's the first thing you do, asking where your brother is - so sweet!
are learning about emotions, mostly from a book and flashcards on the iPad. When we get to "crying" you seriously almost start crying ( I think because I am fake crying) but when you learned that "laughing" comes after crying, (and because I do a hilarious laughing impression" You get so excited and are quite the little actor with your laughing too! The best I must say though is your "SURPRISE!" Your eyes get so big and your mouth as wide as it can get. I just LOVE it
your favorite books are Good Night Gorilla (mostly because of the surprise page I think) and the set of 4 books that Lance loved too - just one picture and word per page (Colors, First Words, Trucks, Animals) You sit so still and bring one book after another.....
think its the best to drop Lance off at school and hang out in his classroom.
get into my bathroom drawers (yes, they need locks) and like to play with my headband. I put it on your head, but you like to put it under your chin like a necklace - makes me chuckle.
are just a happy, energized, on the go, curious, friendly little guy that makes me and so many people smile - especially the people at the stores when we shop. You wave and say Hi to everyone
CLIMB on anything and everything you think you can climb on! Which means ALL eyes must be on you constantly.

I guess I can end with that - although I am sure there is something I am missing. Honestly, such a fun age right now. Such personality - just a happy go lucky little guy. And what I love most is that you make everyone else smile :-) At the grocery store, at a restaurant waving, blowing kisses......

And now some pics to follow that LONG update!

"hellOOOOOOO"