Keeping Busy

School is back in session and we are back into our routines. We have been trying to enjoy these winter months by keeping our schedules filled with fun outings. We got a zoo membership, started going to story time at the library, and have had fun get-togethers with friends.  

Collin is growing up so fast. He is almost 17 months now, and has learned so much in the last couple of months! I understand why parents always think their kid is a genius. It's so amazing to watch him learn to do something he couldn't do the day before. He started out as a tiny newborn who couldn't do much, and has quickly turned into a little person who can run around and understand words and communicate. It blows my mind how he can learn to speak words or mimic things I do. It's because he is a genius. Here are some things he's learned lately:

• He can do the sign for "more." We had attempted to teach him this a long time ago, but didn't try that hard. Then after not trying for a few weeks, one day I asked if he wanted more of something and he did the sign on his own! Now he does the sign and says "me!"
• He can say the following words: ball ("ba!"), kitty ("deedee"), binky ("beebee"), more ("me"), ducky ("dagaa"), cheese ("szees"), uh-oh, shoes ("szoos"), fish ("ish"), panda ("babaa"), peas ("bee"), bus ("bu-ye"), peek-a-boo ("ga-gaa!"), and of course Daddy and Mama. He also mimics and says the first sound of words often.
• He is good at following directions when we ask him to bring us something, put it back, shut the door, throw it away, stand up/sit down, go down the slide, etc, or ask him where something is. He also knows when I ask him to bring me a diaper, but he ignores that one and tries to run away.
• He helps me with the laundry. I give him clothes and he throws them in the washer/dryer.
• He is still a good eater and his new favorite snack is frozen peas. He gets so excited to see them and clears his tray and asks for more over and over again. He doesn't care much about sweets yet (he must take after Rob). He also loves to climb on the chairs and help himself to any food that's left on the table. 
• He sometimes gives kisses, which is the sweetest thing ever.
• He thinks it's hilarious to tickle people. Also he thinks it's hilarious to knock over the block towers Rob builds. 
• He is a little bit obsessed with our friends' cat. I think he knows how to get to their apartment from ours. When we go inside, he rushes to find the "deedee!" He loves playing with the kitty, but I don't think the feeling is mutual. :)
• He's starting to love books and his very favorite is called "Hooray for Fish!" Several times a day, he picks that book from the shelf and hands it to one of us saying "ish!" and sits in our lap. 
• While he used to just pull all the DVDs off the shelf all day long, now he only goes for one: The Simpsons Movie. He's never seen it, but no matter where we put it on the shelf, he finds it and pulls it out.

Here's a video of him doing the sign to ask for more peas. With a surprise ending! haha.

He thought it was hilarious to throw my keys down the slide one day. He has the best laugh!

And now an overload of pictures from January and February.

Zoo day

We had a little gourmet grilled cheese night with some friends who were here during the break. Complete with a menu Rob came up with.

This boy learned early how to put olives on his fingers.

He loves this slide.

We had a little snow one day in January. Collin just walked around with his hands out, and cried when it was time to go inside.

Playing with the bubbles at the library story time.

Collin came down with Bronchiolitis and we had to give him breathing treatments. He got a hold of it one day and kept pulling my face towards him and sticking it on me.

Asian night! With our awesome friends who served Asian missions, and. . . us. The Ottos brought a Korean dish, the Wallaces brought Thai food, and we made the sushi.

We also made some dessert sushi cupcakes!

Collin and his friend Adam

Chiro dads! Rob, Nathan, and Reed with their boys.

Hooray for Fish!

After putting his sweatshirt on him one morning, he insisted on wearing his other jacket as well.

Cupcake!

We went on our Valentine's date the Saturday before, since Rob had midterms all week. We went out to dinner and went to our stake's sweetheart ball. It brought us back to our old stake dance days and I loved it!

Kari and I made cupcakes on V-day, with plans to surprise our husbands with them at school. That did not happen. But they were delicious anyway!

Enjoying his Valentine's treat from Daddy.