Dear Shep,

What a month! You are so incredibly smart and learning new things faster than I can keep track of them. This month we celebrated Halloween, enjoyed the last bit of sunshine, learned that you are a pro at bounce houses, and discovered that trains are in fact your new favorite thing – Thomas specifically.

For Halloween, you were our little penguin. You were such a trooper while Trick or Treating at Dece and Shep’s neighborhood and even made your way into peoples’ homes after snatching candy. The first house you plopped your little penguin self down and the bowl and took your precious time picking out the perfect roll(s) of smarties before leaving your cookie behind on their floor and saying “bye byes” to the homeowner. What a ham! Apart from that, we attempted to make frankenstein rice krispies as a family, but let’s face it…..your mom and any type of dessert making, even the foolproof two ingredient types, simply aren’t going to get along. It’s going to be a rough patch in your life so get used to it kiddo.

For outdoor fun, we’ve had a lot of success watching you give us heart attacks at local playgrounds. You have zero fear of the slide these days and your pregnant mommy runs around the play sets like a chicken with her head cut off attempting to be there in the event that you decide to try and jump out of one of the thousand random holes in those things. I’ve been looking for an upcoming Black Friday deal on baby bubbles so don’t hate me if next month’s update includes your new protective wrapping. Hi! My name is Sunny Jones and I am a helicopter mom.

Other than playgrounds, Daddy is a huge fan of taking you to Treetop (TreetopS as I say and drive him mad mispronouncing). Not only do you swoosh down the bounce house slide like butter, but Daddy has taught you to jump and bounce finally to which you have added the sound effect “yah yah yah” and hold your arms out in enthusiasm. The fact that you two have moved this game to the couch at home when I’m not around is not beyond me, but not unknown…..

TRAINS! “shoooo shooooo” All. Day. Long. Thomas the train, chugga chugga choo choo youtube songs, chicka chicka chicka sounds, and the frustration that sometimes comes with getting things setup properly have all begun. Shep, it WILL be okay if a train moves on it’s own without you, if the track doesn’t fit the first time around, and if a train doesn’t have a magnet on it’s end to attach to another. It will. I promise. Whew! You are 100% learning how to deal with frustration with your new found love and it’s amazing to see you learn and obey through a little help from mommy and daddy. Connecting the trains has been such a huge milestone for your fine motor skills and we are so amazed at how quickly you’ve learned to piece puzzles together and manipulate toys to work in the way that they should. You’re a genius….it’s true.

New phrases? Well we can forget about please (peas). You still do it when we ask, and I’m having to remind you that it’s important to not only sign it but to say it, but man alive, when you want something you have begun to reach out and insist that you guide us to whatever it is you think you want. Lately? Your kitchen cabinet. We keep all of your snacks in one orange bowl in an upper cabinet and insist that we carry you there to allow you to choose what you need. You make a selection, hook your arms around me neck, and we head back to snack on (or tear apart) whatever you chose. I ask “do you want this?” and your response is “yeah yeah yeah” and then I sit and have you say “yes” while signing please. One of these days you’ll get that down 😉 Something else new? Embarrassing yes, but any time I let you roam without a diaper and you tee tee, you giggle and go get a rag to wipe it up while cracking up to yourself. I can’t get enough of watching you wipe up and giggle while looking at my out the corner of your eye. You’re a sneaky little booger and bring so much joy to me even while pottying on my newly mopped floors.

Who says what?

cow – moo || dog – woo woo || duck – qua qua || snake – sssssss || train – shoo shoo || elephant – wooooooo || car – vvvvvv || lion – RAWR ||

Favorite foods?

WHO KNOWS?! haha. You are eating so much better and killing it when it comes to using silverware and big boy plates, but let’s face it. I will never be able to guess what it is that you want to eat until you are able to tell me. The latest fun meal has been sharing a bowl of cereal with me in the morning. You will sit right next to me on the sofa and dangle your precious little legs off the end while you ask for more before swallowing the bite that’s already in your mouth. I love those moments so much.

Milestones?

CLIMBING! You are becoming the “boy” I dreaded was in you. Every single thing is a stair, or a trampoline, or slide. Add that to the fact that I’m 9 months pregnant with a bad back and not exactly quick on my feet and you’ll see that now was probably the worst time for you to bust out the dare devil side. So far, not major injuries to speak of (cue the hallelujah chorus).

I am so tempted to sit here and cry my eyes out thinking that the next few weeks are our last as a family of three, but instead, I’ll simply let you know that you are my world. You make everything so much more important than it was before and are constantly reminding me of my Heavenly Father’s love for me. I adore you.

Mommy Xx

Stats:

1. diaper size 4
2. weight – abt 22.5 pounds
3. sleep – 7:30-7:30
4. nap – 12:45-2:00
5. teeth – all 4 molars are officially in
6. hair – long and tangly 😉