Let's go, Butler

For whatever, reason, it's not letting me upload a video so I'm posting a few pics of Cal in his Butler gear. When the blog stops giving me fits, I'll upload the video, too.

Shuffle Step

Seventeen Months

So, here we are, seventeen months along. What's new around here? Well, Cal is attempting speech more and more. Some things are clearer than others but the number of syllables and inflection is usually there. He had a speech evaluation a couple of weeks ago. We finally heard back on Friday about that. I guess they had to confirm that it was OK for him to receive services at the babysitter since she's in a different county than where we live. So, that's taken care of and we've submitted our preferences as far as agencies. The next step is for them to check on available therapists and us to make a final choice and get a schedule set up. I'm excited for him to get started!

What's going on in other aspects of Cal's life? He is mobile and has recently started climbing up on things (like the toy bins in the playroom) and climbing back down. This can get a bit dicey at times as he's still working on the idea of not just launching himself off face first. If he climbs on the couch or chair, he seems to understand that he should turn around and lower himself back to the ground. The bins in the toy room appear to be another story sometimes. We're letting him walk into and out of places more and more (stores, restaurants, babysitter's house). It's strange for us because we're so used to carrying him everywhere. I'm sure we would have been doing this for a long time now if we hadn't had such an icy/snowy winter where it was a bit dangerous for him to navigate on his own.

He still eats most things and still is not a big fan of meat. His preferences can change from day to day (loving carrots one day and not the next) but I'm sure some of that is just expressing control over the few things he can. Still a huge fan of all things peanut butter - on toast, in sandwich form, on crackers. Starting to figure out the concept of dunking - bites of pancake in syrup recently though mostly keeps things pure and condiment-free. Would drink a gallon of milk per day if we let him.

Enjoys books before bed. Favorites are still Five Little Ladybugs, Ten Shiny Snails, and Goodnight Gorilla but will sit and listen to most anything that isn't too long. Loves, loves, loves turning the pages but can get a bit ahead of you if you let him. I usually have a pretty firm grip on the upcoming page and only release it once I've finished the page so he can't turn too early.

I'm sure there are a million things I'm forgetting but things are just cruising right along. Loving every minute of it!

Just hanging around in the playroom before the speech evaluation

Silly, silly hat

This was me dunking pancakes in syrup before I decided to put the syrup in my hair. I thought it looked great!

A little gift from Grandma and Grandpa Fox. They visited us on their way back from Texas.

Mom and Dad finally turned the car seat around so I can see what's going on!

My race bib for Race for the Cure

Look - how cool!

I don't get my own t-shirt so Daddy let me try on his for size.

Just helping out around the house (this one's actually from today - 17 months!)

Helping Daddy in the kitchen

I went to visit Grams and Papaw this week. Mom and Dad dropped me off Thursday night and picked me up Saturday right before mass. We went to mass together and then out for Mexican. Yum!

Playing with the stacking game and Grams' and Papaw's house

Putting Lamby in Grams' dryer

Papaw gave me a piece of donut

Wearing my pajamas at Dairy Queen - Grams and Papaw are so fun!

Last week, Daddy had to have school on Saturday. Crazy, huh? So, Mommy and I went to have lunch with him to cheer him up.

Isn't Daddy silly?

Just like Daddy

Hanging out waiting for the kiddos to wash their hands before lunch

Checking out a desk

I Can't Stop Laughing

So, I looked over tonight and Cal was doing whatever this is and I could not stop laughing. He did this for a while before I grabbed the camera and started recording. He continued doing it for a long time afterward, too. It was hard to hold the camera still because I was trying not to laugh.

Birthdays and Relaxation

Isn't the best pic of my son and I? Yeah. . .not really. This was the best we could get before we headed out for dinner.

Cal is all dressed up for Papaw's birthday celebration at Maggiano's. It was delicious and everyone had a great time. Cal chowed down and even ate some calamari.

Let's just relax, Dad, and watch this awesome episode of Spongebob Squarepants.

Cal is still such a peanut that his wipes container makes a perfect seat.

Just enjoying some ice cream.

Tea Time

Two of Cal's favorite toys these days are his singing birthday cake and teapot. Here he is dancing to the tunes, playing at the same time, of course.

Reading

Cal has been doing a lot of "reading" lately. Usually, he babbles while turning the pages, reading it to us. Of course, whenever I point the camera at him, he's silent. Still pretty cute.