18 month well-check, and a few other things...

Pearce, you turned 18 months old on July 25th!  We went to the doctor for your well-check on Monday. 

18 month stats:

Weight:  24 lbs, 12 oz (60th percentile)

Height:  33 in (75th percentile)

Head Circum:  47.5 cm (55th percentile)

  I LOVE taking you to the doctor for these visits.  You kept saying "dahter" on the way there.  You walked right with me down the hall to the exam room.  You said "HI!" to everyone you saw...so sweet!  Our regular doctor was out on this day, so we saw Dr. Lam.  You were so still as she looked in your eyes, nose, mouth and ears.  You were never afraid.  Dr. Lam talked very sweetly to you and you babbled away to her at that point.  She asked if you could say more than 3 words....YES!  I honestly have lost count as to how many words you can say.  She asked me if you had started putting two words together.  I was very proud to be able to say yes!  These are your two-word phrases:

Oh chew:  Hold you

He doe:  Here you go

Ah done:  All done

Tay to Mommy:  Thank you mommy (3 words!!)

Dr. Lam also went through a checklist that would give red flags to having Autism.  Thank God, you passed that.  Things like that make me soooooooo thankful that you are so happy and healthy.  She asked if you could jump and if your feet go off the ground.  If I ask you to jump, you squat down and come up fast, but your feet don't come off the ground yet.  She asked if you jumped off of furniture or a curb....well, maybe if I let you, but I still hold your hand a lot.  I figure you will learn how to jump on your own time...no need to push that!  

You repeat or try to repeat anything we ask you to.  The other day you were pointing to the refrigerator and said "oden."  At first I didn't know what you were saying and then realized you were saying "open!"  I opened the fridge and you pointed to the watermelon :)  You have a funny way of saying watermelon...I don't think I would even know to type it, but that is something you love now!  You had to get one shot, and man, that was so sad :(  I had to lay you down and hold your arms while you got your Hepatitis shot in your thigh.  You cried really hard, but I picked you right up and loved on you and then gave you "Bebe" as you like to call your blankie.  You layed your head down on my shoulder and loved on Bebe and then you were just fine!  You got to choose a toy out of the treasure chest and you chose a squeaky fish.

Because you are now 18 months old, I want to start getting you used to sitting on the big potty and sitting on a little potty chair.  We are not starting to train yet, just getting used to it.  You loved this little potty seat I got.  You also loved yanking the toilet paper off the roll!

Mommy got you one more thing for your 18 month birthday....a learning tower!  One of my friend's husbands built this for you and I painted it.  I can adjust the ledge to go lower as you get taller.  Today you ate your lunch from the counter.  I think it will be so fun for you to "help" Daddy and I cook or just let you play with the water in the sink.

Pearce, how did we get so lucky with you?  I love you so much, sometimes I just can't believe it.  Happy 18 months little guy!!

Just horsing around.

Sunday night we went to Michael Keck's house, which is Chris's boss.  They invited us over for dinner.  They have a daughter named Corinna who is sooo sweet with Pearce, and Pearce loved her!  She just took care of him the entire night.  They have horses out back and Corinna wanted to take Pearce to see them.  Pearce is just like his mommy and daddy, he loves all animals.  These horses were so gentle and enjoyed the extra kisses and petting, I think :)  He got to sit on top of them, feed them hay, and he kissed them on the nose I don't know how many times! 

Isle of Palms Beach, S. Carolina

We just got back from a week long vacation at Isle of Palms Beach.  Once again, Pearce did great on the plane.  I had tons of snacks, games, toys, and books to keep him occupied, but I found out I really didn't need all of that.  I think it really helped to have him in is own car seat.  Although he really doesn't like riding in it in the car, it was familiar to him on the plane and I was just happy he did so well!  So, back to the beach...I LOVED this beach!  It was such a cute little beach town with plantation style houses.  Chris's friend, Sully invited us to stay with their family...actually several families.  We were with Sully, his wife Jill and their 3 year old, Ava; Jill's sister Dina and her two boys, Gavin (7) and Colton (2); Jill and Dina's parents and Sully's mom...a full house!  The weather was great and Pearce had so much fun playing with Colton and Gavin!  Unfortunately, several people got a stomach bug while we were there.  Pearce was the first to throw up.  He threw up several times, but never acted like he felt bad.  Then Chris and Ava and Gavin got it.  Chris was only sick for about 12 hours, but Gavin and Ava were really bad off.  I felt terrible for them.  Surprisingly, I never got it!  Despite all of that, we still had a great time!   Tons of pics ahead...

 We had to borrow a pack 'n play from Dina, but they were late getting to the house and Pearce was desperately in need of a nap, so we just put Pearce to bed in one of the twin beds with pillows all around.  I wasn't sure if he would actually stay on the bed or actually go to sleep, but he did! 

One of Pearce's favorite things to do after going to the beach...hosing off :)

Pearce did great on the plane rides home.  On the first one he was out before we even took off!

We had a 3 hour layover in Houston and Daddy surprised Pearce with this Southwest Airlines plane....man, did he LOVE it!!!  He had so much fun playing with it and flying it in the air.  This boy loves "a-panes!"

I thought this was so funny....during dinner he kept putting his fingers in his ears....I guess he discovered that when you do that you can't hear anything.  So cute!!  We got back late Saturday night and Pearce slept in until 10:00 this morning! 

Girl's trip/Mama and Papa's house

This past weekend, me, Ashley, and Marla drove to Fayetteville to have a girl's weekend with our friends Adriana, Allison, and Marla S.  We have all been looking so forward to this little getaway!  It was like a mini-high school reunion!  I went to Dallas on Thursday and then we left Friday morning to go to Fayetteville.  Mama and Papa kept Pearce for me and I know they could not wait for us to get on the road!  Nathan and Charlotte got to "help" Mama and Papa take care of Pearce on Friday until Wayne got home from work.  All 3 of them play so well together and have so much fun together!

Uh Oh!  Someone snuck into the pantry and tried to get a Sprite!

We are on our way!  We had so much fun talking and reminiscing about high school!  Adriana has 4 cute, sweet kids.  The fourth is brand new and we all had fun taking turns holding him.  It was fun to play with them....and also fun to know that I was not going to have to get up with any kids :)  Sleeping in was fantastic!

The whole gang together.  These girls are the sweetest girls.  We decided we need to get together a LOT more often!

Me, Ashley, Allison, Marla S., Marla F., Adriana

We went out to dinner one night and it was the best dinner I have ever had.  I was quite the big spender on my dinner....$85.00!!!!!!!!  I wasn't even paying attention to prices....or drinks....or anything!  Oh well, totally worth it!!

 We came back Sunday and I spent one more night in Dallas.  We all had fun watching Pearce run around outside and play with the hose.  Mom and Dad said he always asked to go on the golf cart.  He can actually say golf cart!  One time, Mom was getting the vacuum out of the garage and when she went to close the door, there was Pearce sitting in the golf cart ready to go on a ride :)  Of course, Papa took him...again!

 

On one golf cart ride, Papa brought his fishing pole to try to catch a fish for Pearce....of course he did!  Pearce was very interested in it and even touched it!

Mom and Dad, thanks for watching Pearce for me while I had my girl's weekend.  Pearce always has fun with his Mama and Papa.  Hopefully you have recuperated by now!