Lunch sack

Raleigh loves carrying the little bag we put his lunch in. He carries it to and from his classroom, in the car, an today he carried it in HEB, too!

End of Summer

We are sad the summer has come to an end, but thankful for all the extra time we got to spend with Raleigh. (Sorry, Raleigh, if it makes your first days back at school harder).

Raleigh has become quite the chatterbox, and continues to amaze us with how much he knows. We just realized Raleigh knows where everything is in Goodnight Moon, but insists the bowl of mush is a hat. (He smiles when he does this, so he might just be giving us a hard time!)  He also knows that the windows are outside. Hats and outside - two of Raleigh's favorite things!

When we met with Raleigh's teachers last Wednesday - we had two goals for Raleigh - learning the difference between bowls and hats and between yes and no.

Erik and Raleigh went swimming Saturday, and we think this video captures how much Raleigh has learned in the pool.

First Day of School

Raleigh started his new school today. (We don't have a picture in front of the school because the teachers get the students out of the cars). So here's a picture of Raleigh in the car seat...




Raleigh didn't have the best day ever. He did well in the morning, but didn't nap very well, and then we hear it was downhill from there. Mom didn't enjoy not getting much of a nap at work today either, so she left to get Raleigh a little early. By the time she got there, Raleigh was having so much fun at school, he hardly even noticed her and was upset to have to leave. Hopefully, that means tomorrow won't be as hard. Mondays are always the worst...

16 Months

We are enjoying much of August at home with Raleigh, as we pulled him out of daycare a few weeks before his new daycare starts.

Raleigh has become much better at eating solids, probably because mom and dad have become much better at cooking veggies until they are mushy.

Raleigh's most reliable trick is that almost everything is a hat--if Raleigh can touch it to his head, it is a hat. Bowls, Tupperware, spoons, toys, wipes, diapers, and balls are all hats. Sometimes hats are hats, too.

Raleigh still loves going outside, and the first things he says after we tell him we are going outside are "hat" and "shoes" because he needs these to go outside.

Raleigh grabbers away all day long. "Sentences" often end with "mamadada". Tonight, he strung two words together in a more meaningful way and said "Raleigh's hat". Of course, he was putting a bath toy on his head, not a hat hat.

"No" is quickly becoming Raleigh's favorite word, or maybe just the default answer to questions: "Raleigh, would you like some water?" "No." (Then he screams as we move the water further from him). Raleigh does say "thank you" when we hand him something, or at least something he wanted. He picked that one up on his own. We are working on please now.

He has also figured out "mine" and says it as he hugs something, like a toy.

So, in short, Raleigh learned "no" and "mine" when he was at home with us. Good job, mom and dad...

Walk

Our walk yesterday was more like exploring other people's yards than walking. Luckily, Raleigh is so cute, no one seemed to mind. :)

Bright-Eyed

We have good news! Today Raleigh's ophthalmologist cancelled the surgery to open Raleigh's tear ducts, which would have been next week. Erik popped the right one open just before Raleigh's first birthday. Then about two weeks ago, we noticed Raleigh's left eye was clear all of a sudden. The doctor said both eyes look great now.

We were supposed to schedule the surgery around Raleigh's first birthday, but didn't. Finally, our procrastination pays off! :)

Portrait

Raleigh was didn't want to get into his car seat. I guess he wanted to stand next to this tree and have his mommy take a picture.

Waterworks

Leanne broke away from work for a bit to watch Raleigh's last Waterworks. Maybe we can build something like that for Raleigh in the backyard... :)