What's New with Will

I realized I haven't posted an update on Will in awhile. Between 6 and 18 months, there's so much going on - so many firsts and exciting new developments. Now he's just growing up... and way too fast! This age is particularly fun just because he's getting much smarter and able to communicate better. It's so neat to watch him learn and explore his world. He's like a sponge with all that he's absorbing and he has an incredible memory.

Will is speaking in sentences most of the time now and repeating EVERYTHING. He sometimes calls us by our first names because he hears us calling each other that. He even called Craig "babe" once. Craig & I laugh almost daily about some of the things he says and does. I've even started keeping a little notebook of funny/interesting/special things like that. I figure it's easier than journaling a long story about each thing, and the baby books simply don't have enough space for these little "tidbits". So it should be fun to look back on one day.

For example, I recently walked out to the living room to see Will holding his Mickey Mouse stuffed animal up to his belly button. When I asked him what he was doing, he said "feed Mickey". :) I guess the boys and girls anatomy discussion isn't too far off, huh? He also pointed to his nipples after a bath and asked "boob?" (Can you tell he's seen me feeding Sophie quite often?) And he now refers to his privates as his "junk", thanks to Craig. I was fine with calling the whole area his "bottom" until we started potty training, but apparently Craig thought otherwise.

Another funny Will moment was when we caught him checking himself out in our full-length bathroom mirror. I had been talking about feelings with him around that time and we'd practiced making happy/sad/angry faces. So he appeared to be doing those in the mirror, but also sort of flirting with himself with his facial expressions. And he didn't seem to care that we were in the room and quietly laughing at him. It was hysterical!

In other news, Will seems taller and thinner to me just in the last couple weeks. Kids have a funny way of growing up and then out, and then up and then out, etc. Well he'd seemed to be getting a little hefty to us for awhile there and now he looks taller and a little more slender. Also, since he turned 2 he's been climbing the stairs upright and holding onto the railing. He does a very good job usually, though we have to remind him all the time not to carry his toys with him. We often let him go UP alone while we watch, but I still like to hold his hand or stay within arms reach coming DOWN. I probably don't need to - he's doing really well.

This past week, he had the opportunity to go to the Ottawa County Fair a couple times with our families. And let me just say folks... I think our son is pretty much guaranteed to grow up to be a farmer. I don't think any other profession stands a chance... well, except maybe a fireman. On Monday afternoon, he went with my mom and brother to see grandpa's horse race. He ate dinner with Aunt Shirley's family at their camper and got to see lots of people he knows. And, of course, there were the animals. You should have seen his face light up that night during his bath and bedtime routine as he told me all about them. We always recap the day when we say prayers at night - I think that helps him to remember all the fun stuff he did and to be thankful for it. So he just talked and talked and talked about the animals! Then on Thursday, instead of going to the sitters, Craig dropped him off at Grandma and Grandpa Riedeman's house and he went back to the fair for another fun filled day. Aunt Kelly and Uncle "Steve Munoz" (Will calls Steve by his first AND last name now) were there too and Will even stayed overnight with them in their camper! Apparently, he got to ride around on Grandpa's back all morning while visiting the animal barns, stomped in puddles, ate almost an entire quarter pound hamburger on his own, and tried to convince "Steve Munoz" into buying a llama for THEIR farm! The llama was a big deal - we have a million animal books at home and he'd read about them before but never saw one up that close - and Kelly had to take him back to see the llama numerous times to say hello, goodnight, etc. I missed him a lot since he was gone overnight, but those are life experiences I want my child to have and that he will remember for as long as a 2-year-old possibly can.

Okay, now for some pictures.
Craig bought Will and himself matching Nike sweatbands (yes, I know, that's SO two decades ago, right?)




And these are his new shades from Grandma Riedeman. They don't stay on for long, but when mommy slipped hers on for our bike ride, Will decided he'd try them out too.

You'll notice: Will's wearing the same outfit in both sets of pictures even though they were taken on two different weekends. Fun fact: EVERY time Craig is responsible for dressing his son, Will wears the Ohio State jersey. Typical dad. With my dad, my sister and I wore Detroit Tigers t-shirts with ratty hair and candy necklaces. Will's jersey is a Chris "Beanie" Wells replica and Craig has nicknamed him "Beanie Wills" since Will has a big head too (like "Beanie"). :)