Happy Halloween!

Yoda says, have a safe and happy Halloween!

Now give me some candy -preferably a lollipop.

(p.s. do you see young Luke Skywalker in the background?)



This past weekend our condo building had their annual trick or treating -which is great for kids Callan's age -no need to climb stairs and bundle up in the cold, just hop in the elevator to get treats. Here's a picture of the kiddos before the madness (i.e. candy eating) started. Callan is the youngest in the group, but I think he fared pretty well. He didn't quite get the trick-or-treating part (he'd take candy and then put it back), which was fine with me since that meant less treats lying around the house for me to eat.

A little blast from the past, here's munchkin's first Halloween...



Little piggy

Adelia sent these pictures of you from last week. You got to have an afternoon treat and you were a big fan!

"Maar" aka more

Happy kid!

Dear Callan: 18 months (i.e. 1.5 years)

Dear Callan-

Guess what time it is? It's your month-birthday! We're only a few days late this time, but it's here! You are One and a HALF! That's crazy... and since I'm a few days late, that actually means that you're closer to T-W-O then you are to one... Argh! How is that possible?

Showing off your muscles at the playground -you love to do what the big kids do!

You've had such an amazing month (like always). Every day I'm amazed at this little person you're becoming. You're starting to talk more and it's so fun -although it's not always easy to tell what you're trying to tell us, so you still resort a lot to pointing, grunting (hmms) and my personal favorite, leading us by the hand to whatever you want. Your words are starting to pile up and it's so fun to hear you identify new things, but we should work on your pronunciation because you say some words like you have a Boston accent, like bear is be-ya and some words sound the same -somehow this, sit, teeth, keys and cheese all sound the same. You L-O-V-E pointing out boats, trains, buses and trucks and it melts my heart every time when I come into the living room and you and dada are sitting in the chair looking for boats, trains and trucks out the window.

On the lookout for boats

Speaking of your dada, you guys are having so much fun together on Mondays. You get to go on special field trips and hang out together. I'm not sure who enjoys it more, you or your dada. He also gets to go in to get you up in the mornings and it's very cute to watch you interact.

In addition to your expanding vocabulary, you've got an expanding array of facial expressions. You've got your scrunchy cheese face:


Your silly cheese face:

Your kissy face:

And your surprised/roar face:

You're also so affectionate. You love to give out hugs:


And kisses:

And will hold hands:


It melts my heart to see you like this. I hope you're always like this (at least to me), but I know that these days are probably numbered. You already like to assert your independence and will tell you no when you don't want to do something (like giving mama kisses when she leaves for work). We try to give you lots of freedom and choices while setting boundaries for you, but you do have a stubborn streak and often times if the boundaries interfere with what you want to do, then it usually results in tears and a mini tantrum. I guess it's hard being 18 months old!

Callan bubs, you're such an amazing little person. There are lots of changes coming your way, but we are going to have lots of exciting and fun time ahead.

Love,

Mama

Now please excuse me, I've got an important phone call to make:

Cheese!

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I have lots to tell you, but it'll have to wait for now. Instead here's a picture of Callan's "cheese" face.

Dear Callan:Month 17

Dear Callan-

Wow, is your mama behind! At this point these newsletters can barely be veiled as birthday letters because I have not hit your actual birthday yet! Maybe this month...yes... I'll set that as my goal.

You look sad here -is it because your newsletter is late?

Anyway, month 17 has come and gone and things around here are a-changing. Your dad stays home with you on Mondays now and that has been so much fun for both of you. I think you like him more now -which isn't to say you didn't before, but he definitely wasn't your favorite. Also, we've gotten into a new routine where your dad will come in and get you up in the morning. It's so fun to watch the two of you interact on the video monitor and it sometimes distracts mama from getting ready for work!

I don't know exactly when this started happening, but you make this scrunch face (usually when you're about to do something naughty) and when you're asked to smile for the camera. It's funny because I think every kid goes through it, but it's still adorable.

This past month you've also gotten much more affectionate. You're pretty good with giving out the hugs and you're kissing now with a pucker (before it was an open mouth one and it was like getting kissed by a basset hound). Now you go around kissing things, like your stuffed animals, pictures in your books, magazine pictures and of course, yourself.

You also have such a great sense of humor and sense of fun. You can turn ordinary things into a game/adventure and it's so fun to watch you discover things around you. You love being chased (although sometimes you get confused as to who's doing the chasing and you'll stop and wait for the person to catch you and then you'll run after them!) and of course peek-a-boo. You love doors and knocking and you definitely aren't afraid of the dark as you'll often times close yourself into the bathroom, waiting for someone to knock on the other side.

Every month I say how you're turning into such a little boy, but you really are! You're learning words every day and exerting your independence as often as you can. You try to keep up with the big kids at the park and you're desperate to communicate. I love how you'll take my hand (or your dad's) to lead us to whatever you want and to show us things (although sometimes all mama wants to do is lie on the couch and watch you play!). We've also started to let you watch tv. We let you watch one show and you lose your mind at Sesame Street and Thomas the train. You're such a boy and love pointing out the trucks and trains and every time we see one you have to catch our attention and point to it. It's funny too because once they go away you always ask for more, but sadly mama can't control the train/truck schedule for you.

Happy 17 months munchkin. You're almost a year and a half old! Where has the time gone?

Love,

Mama

Happy Monday!