Early Christmas

Since we will be gone for Christmas Eve, we celebrated with Daddy's family on Sunday. Here's a picture of me unwrapping one present. Mommy thinks I got spoiled, but I guess that's the beauty of being the baby!!! Doesn't Daddy have a nice family? That's me hiding way in the back!!!!
Here I am with all my cousins.

I head out to New Jersey tomorrow morning. I can't wait. I know G&G are very excited to see me and I am very excited to see them!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!

Potty training

So no pictures or videos for this post.... But I surprised Mommy Friday night by wanting to use the toilet. Even more surprising, at least to Mommy is that I was actually successful in my attempt. So Saturday morning Mommy tried again with no success. But later that day when we were at the bookstore i found a Elmo Potty book that I would not let go off. I really wanted to take it out of the store, so Mommy caved in and figured she would read it to me and try again Sunday. I was successful twice before church Sunday, then again just before we left the church, and before and after my nap. So according to Mommy I am officially starting potty training. I am not always successful and so definitely aren't getting rid of the diapers too soon. But as long as I am interested and having some success, Mommy figures she needs to encourage me.
However, once Mommy got out the potty my size, I really just wanted to sit on it and play with it. So actually I am more success on the big toilet (i guess because I know it's not a toy!!!) With Mommy having the rest of this week and most of next week off for Christmas, we'll see how far I get in this adventure!!

Santa

I went to visit Santa today at Daddy's work. There were also clowns playing games, people making balloon animals (or in my case a cute hat), a gaint mouse and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. I got to eat a cookie and drink some punch before going to sit on Santa's lap. He was very nice and jolly. He even gave me a Tickle Me Cookie Monster. On the way home all I could talk about was Santa (at least that was the only word M&D could understand!!). He made my day, especially considering I am trying to push my "jaw" teeth through. One popped through Thursday morning, so now only 3 more.

Day at the museum

On Sunday I went to go the Denver Nature and Science museum with a few of my friends. We had a lot of fun. I got to see dinosaurs, gems and animals. There was a lot of interactive things for me to do also. I put a bone puzzle together, rode a llama in the hallway, climbed up to see the bear and even had the stroller protect me from a walking dinosaur strolling the halls. Quite a busy day...it's a good thing I had a nap on the drive down there.

The best part about the whole day was my discovery of drinking fountains. Mommy forgot my cup and both my friends had theirs, so I kept asking for a drink. Mommy finally let me try a drinking fountain to get a little water. I couldn't get enough.

I kept asking for MORE. Although towards the end Mommy couldn't tell if more water was getting in my mouth or on my shirt!!!

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Snow Days

It has finally snowed in Loveland. I have been enjoying the snow immensely. I even went to the park the other week in my snowsuit.
Last weekend we enjoyed a weekend in a cabin at the YMCA. (One of Mommy's perks for working is getting 7 comp nights a year.) There wasn't much snow,but I found a good spot to learn to sled.
I even helped M&D shovel the drive the other night.

18 month pictures (a little early...)

On Tuesday night M&D took me to get my picture taken. If I do say so myself, I'm pretty cute. Here is just a select sampling, most of which we didn't purchase in prints (but got the CD+copyright permission of all 55 poses FREE for purchasing 6 poses in prints).

Notice my shirt reads "Daddy's girl." He's my best bud and is really fun to play with. He knows all sorts of fun games, like Tickle Brileigh, Going to get you..., Horse-riding, and Chase the Dog. I like spending each late afternoon with him before Mommy gets home from work!

A lot of my pictures ended up being action shots. Come on...I'm way too busy to sit or stand still for a photo. One of the best pictures (at least in Mommy's opinion) is of me running full boar towards her with my big smile, although they only purchased one 10x13 in B&W. This is my run when I want to be picked up and raised high in the air. A few times Mommy tried in vain to keep me still. But then after all that work i just had to lounge and relax. Notice my ear grab...that's my tired sign. It's hard work being this cute all the time!!

Being silly

As I’ve mentioned before I am a big help around the house. Recently Daddy was eating leftover Halloween candy downstairs. He had the nerve not to share it with me; Mommy says I couldn’t have eaten it even if he had offered—something about it being too hard for me—but that’s not the point. Anyhow, Daddy was just piling his wrappers up on the footstool so he could throw them away later. I figured I would be helpful and throw them away for him. It took me 4 trips (Mommy only got 3 on video)!

Mommy also got my facination with dipping sauces on video. We had chicken nuggets and french fries the other night, so Mommy gave me ketchup. However, Mommy likes eating them with ranch and Daddy with BBQ sauce, plus the ketchup for the fries. So when I saw M&D using the different sauces, I wanted them too. Once they were on my plate, I couldn't make up my mind which one to use, so I just used them all at once.

Animal sounds....

Animals are so much fun. I especially love cats, dogs, ducks, sheep and horses. I am just beginning to learn all the different sounds they make. Here’s a video of Daddy teaching me. I point to an animal in my book and then Daddy makes the sound.
It is even more fun when he adds a little head-butting and tickling while making the cat and dog sounds.
Dogs are my favorite! Anytime I’m outside and hear a dog barking I always have to stop what I’m doing and look for it. The past 3 weeks I enjoyed playing with Val while M&D were at work; she would share her toys with me and let me play giddy-up! I also learned how to open the doggy door at L&L
when we stayed there for a night. It’s a good thing M&D do not have a latching baby gate, because I think I would have figured it out already. Sometimes M&D tell me that I am too smart for my own good!

Mommy started decorating for Christmas. She put animated deer outside on our lawn, which I get to help Daddy plug in each night. After playing in the park Saturday late afternoon, Mommy and I plugged the deer in before heading into the house. I just had to give each of them a hug bye-bye before I could leave.

Yesterday, my cousin had a theme birthday party and I got to dress up in a poodle skirt. Don't I look cute? Too bad I was born half a century too late--I really think I could have pulled that look off!!

Gaither concert

Recently I went to my first concert! When Mommy was 5 months pregnant with me, M&D along with L&L and G&P went to a Signature Sound concert and I just absolutely loved it. I was kicking and dancing the whole time; so when Gaither Homecoming concert series was coming to Colorado, M&D decided that I would enjoy it. I love southern gospel music. Shortly after Mommy went back to work and Daddy started picking me up from daycare, Mommy would come home to Gaither music blaring from the TV. Daddy said it helped to calm me on those days when I was just a little fussier than usual. He would turn it on and bounce with me in time to the music. Anyhow last Friday I finally got to go see them in person. It was lots of fun. It helped that the few chairs around us were empty, so I could run up and down the aisle. I did finally fall asleep for the second half of the concert, but woke up as we were leaving. M&D had fun also. Daddy thought it was the best one he had ever been too since the quartets were featured more than the family groups. Mommy also thought it was good but after 4 1/2 hours (the last two holding a sleeping girl!), she was ready for it to be over. We got back to L&L house about 12:20and I finally fell back to sleep by 1. It's not my fault that M&D woke me up putting my coat on and then took me out into the cold windy night. It is only logical that I woke up and that it took me a while to fall back to sleep.

In the morning when I woke up I was digging through the suitcase and my diaper bag and came across two fussies. I usually only get them for my nap or when I wake up "too early" (according to Mommy) and she is trying to get me to sleep for another hour, so I took advantage of my find and stuck both in my mouth at the same time. I guess Mommy thought it was funny!!

Fun filled Saturday

Daddy took me swimming on Saturday. Mommy was supposed to go with us, but she forgot her suit, so she just had to sit and watch all our fun. I climbed in and out of the baby pool and then walked all around the hot tub. It was tons of fun.

Later that day Mommy and I went to a neighborhood potluck. It was tons of fun with lots of good food. I got to play with my friends while Mommy talked. However, Mommy thinks I am a little bit of a bully--I say I was just trying to give love. There were 2 eleven-month olds at the potluck. I was so excited to give them love, that I would run up to them whether they were sitting or standing and give them hugs. Sometimes my hugs would result in both of us falling down. I even went so far as to pick up one of the girls to help her get into her bouncer toy. Mommy caught me pretty fast, so I didn't get far with her. Luckily both their Mommy's were very understanding to my love-giving. I just don't quite know my own strength, especially when I am twice the size. I'm used to running around trying to keep up with my older cousins, I forget that sometimes (now that I'm almost 17 months) I am the older one. Mommy soon sent me in to play with the older kids and I played blocks, read books and got along quite well with the 2 year old.

Getting ready for supper!

I am a big help around the house.I help Mommy with supper every night. I can set the table.I also call Daddy to the table every night. In this video I also show Mommy where her chair is (cause sometimes I think she forgets!) Before we eat we have to say our prayers. It is fairly long, so I always just shorten it to "Jesus."I also have dinner entertainment. Daddy is always so funny.

Happy Halloween

The whole concept of putting things into a bag is very cool. I love moving things, but almost more enjoy putting things in and out. So this whole trick-or-treating thing was right up my alley. We went over to Uncle L's house for a birthday/costume party. After eating supper, my cousins and I went to get candy! The first house I wasn't really sure what to do, but Mommy went up with me to help. Once they put the candy in my bag, I was hooked. The third house was nice enough to give me the candy so that I could put it in the bag myself. On the way back to Uncle L's house, Mommy asked me if I wanted to go trick-or-treating to Gramma. I stopped, looked at her and said, "Tric tret?" and started dragging my bag behind me. Here's a video of me trick-or-treating to Aunt J.

sorry it is so dark and sideways, but it was the best one Mommy took.

I dressed up as a Bronco cheerleader all day. Don't I look cute?

Phew-wee....

Recently I have started telling M&D when I have a dirty diaper by plugging my nose and saying "phew-wee." Then it is time for my bath! I help get all my toys into the tub. Some of my favorite toys are the cars that squirt water at me. I also really like my duckies and just putting all my toys into a big bucket and dumping them back out.

Cars, Horses and Shoes

Mommy says I have her sense of humor--the love of slapstick! You tell me what could be funnier than Daddy causing 2 cars to crash. It was even funny the second time around when I was helping Mommy pick out the videos for the blog. Mommy had to play this clip for me 3 times, because I just couldn't stop laughing!!!

I had fun the other day putting on Mommy's shoes.
I couldn't quite get them on, but I sure was trying.

Last week while M&D were setting up for Sunday School, Pastor let me play with the organ. SO now I think that I just have to play it anytime we're at the church.
I even figured out how to use the different tones--Mommy thinks it is just because I like to move things!

I have gotten much better at playing with my rocking horse.
Everytime I go in my room I have to ride it at least once through the gallop.

When I'm not busy playing I sometimes sit down long enough to look at my books.

Listen up....

Well Mommy can't say that I never listen to her... Sunday after church M&D raced home to get me lunch before I fell asleep. We got home right at noon and Mommy quickly fixed lunch. I was busy eating and talking to Mommy all during lunch. When I was almost done, Mommy got up to rinse out my rag and while at the sink told me that I just had to finish eating and then I could take a nap. Just at that moment Daddy came up from downstairs (he had been watching the football game while eating), so Mommy stayed at the sink talking to him for 2 minutes while he got out chips & dip. When Mommy turned around, this is what she found......me asleep in my high chair. HEY, she just told me i just had to finish eating, she didn't say anything about having to be put down in my crib!!! So after Mommy finished laughing, she put down my rag, grabbed the camera, took a quick picture and then put me down in my crib where I would be more comfortable! When she looked at the clock she realized it was 12:29 (I usually lay down for my nap sometime between noon and 12:30). I definitely like to stay on schedule...and since M&D were busy talking I just took it upon myself to do what I was told!

Fun times

This past week has been very busy and exciting. Mommy was offered free tickets to the Thursday night Avs game and M&D decided to take me. I fell asleep on the way to the game, so I was ready to go once we got there! It was very fun to watch everything that was going on--from the ice to the people around me--although I wasn't too sure what was going on when the Avs scored the first goal; all that noise from the fog horn and people cheering! I made friends with the 7-month behind me and even tried to exchange my Elmo musical toy for her bottle!! I had fun until mid-way through the 3rd period and then I started getting restless, so Mommy and I walked the whole stadium and then went to change into my jammies, so I could sleep comfortably on the way home. However I was so excited about everything I had just seen that I talked halfway home!!

Friday, once I woke up M&D and I headed to the hospital to give Gramma wishes before her surgery. I spent the next few hours walking the hospital halls (all the way from the surgery center to the gift shop & back and then to the cafeteria), walking in and out of the sliding doors, watching the fish and just being busy. When Mommy took me home for a nap, I don't know who was more tired--her or me?? After nap we headed back to the hospital to wait for Gramma to get out of the recovery room and up to her room. But good news--Gramma's surgery went very well and she got home from the hospital today.

Then Saturday after visiting Gramma, M&D took me to the Denver Zoo. I liked the animals best when they were close to the fence and moving. The emu and gorilla was the most interesting, until the gorilla ran at me and stopped by the glass. That was a little too close for my comfort.

On Sunday, Daddy had to run to the store to get a gift for my cousin's birthday, so while he was there he picked up a new toy for me. Mommy had noticed that lately I've been getting really mad at my blocks because they wouldn't stick together. But now, I have Legos to play with!

I have also been busy exploring other things around me, like my own crib. Mommy came into my room one evening last week when I wouldn't settle down right away and found me with one leg over the side. So needless to say, Mommy lowered my mattress two notches. Her theory--lower the side before I figured out that I could get out. She's not quite ready for me to be that mobile!!!

Irish duckies?

The first time I wore this outfit Mommy got a comment at the park that I looked like a little Irish girl. I will let you decide--what with the green shirt and red hair.

The other night I found duckies on my pajama's. While Mommy was helping me get my arms in my pjs she was telling me about the design. So when she told me that they were rubber duckies like I play with in my bath, I just had to look and then go show Daddy. The next night when Mommy asked if I wanted to put my pjs on, I started pointing to my arm where the duckies were the night before.

Playing dress-up

The other day, Mommy and I played dress-up. I would bring a doll to Mommy and she would put its clothes on and my socks on it. Then I would hug it and give it back to Mommy so that she could undress it and start all over again. It was lots of fun.
On a side note Mommy says she has created a ketchup monster. She gave me ketchup about 2 weeks ago with fries. Once I got a taste of it, I kept pointing to the bottle and asking "pease". Since then I have gotten other dipping sauces--BBQ and sweet&sour. They are all good. Well 2 days ago, Daddy was offering me some of his lunch and had dipped the first couple of nugget pieces in ketchup before giving them to me. So when he put a few more on my tray WITHOUT ketchup, I just had to hand one back to him and say "ketchup". Mommy says that I am truly a Leivestad! However, after I am done with ketchup, sometimes Mommy gets to play dress-up with my clothes depending on if she remembered to put a bib on me or not!!!!

Being Silly

Last weekend, M&D went out ATV riding. They took me along so that I could play outside. I found the dog kennel in our friends' camper a very fun place to play. I kept going in & out.

The dogs were a little suspicious of me and kept watching me very closly everytime I went near their sleeping quarters. But I had fun.

My new talent is jumping! I get on our footstool and jump off. I also figured out how to dump all my toys out
and use the toybox as a jumping block also. Sometimes my "jump" is more a big step off. I usually fall onto my stomach but get right back up and do it again!

I have started posing for pictures. I scrunch up my eyes and smile big. Mommy just laughs at me. However, she claims it doesn't make very good pictures, since my eyes are shut. But she just had to share them, since they are cute.

I still enjoy dancing to any music. I have added a few new dance steps. Here Daddy is singing for me and I am twirling around. I have to look over my shoulder so I can see where I am going, so it makes me very dizzy.

Growing up!

I am growing up so fast. Last week at my 15 month appointment I was 31 1/2 inches long and 19.7 pounds. I am learning new things everyday like putting my shoes on.I haven't quite accomplished that feat to the point where I can walk around with my shoes on, but not for lack of trying!

Last night I slept all night--more than 10 hours (from 8:10-6:20). I have been sleeping consisently to after 5:20 and then fall back to sleep for another hour. But last night made Mommy proud! Now I just have to do that every night!

I have learned quite a few body parts and can point them out when asked. I can find my nose, ears, hair, tongue, belly button and toes. I can also point them out on M&D. Daddy thinks it is funny when we are in public to ask me where my belly button is, because after I show mine I try to lift up Mommy's shirt to point out hers. Daddy laughs and Mommy just rolls her eyes at him!

Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday, M&D took me to the pumpkin patch in town. I got to enjoy the petting zoo, a hayride and pick out my own pumpkin. It was quite fun. In the petting zoo were sheep, goats, a pony & donkey and fowls (chickens, ducks & a turkey).
I went straight to the sheep when I got in the zoo. Then Mommy helped me pet the horse and goats. We then went into the bird cage. The ducks weren't too friendly to me, but the chickens liked being held. We stayed there for a while and then went back to the farm animals. Just before leaving I wanted to go back into the chickens. I was in the corner petting one little chicken, when I saw the turkey move out of the corner of my eye. Then the boy next to me let go of his chicken and it fluttered its wings right in front of me. That was just too much and I ran crying to Mommy. Turkeys are scary animals!!
After the petting zoo, we went on the hayride. I kept pointing the tractor out to M&D. I also enjoyed sitting on the hay. However, the wind was blowing and irriated the cold I got the night before. So besides my nose being runny, my eyes got all red and watery.
So after the hay ride, we quickly went to find a pumpkin. I found one just my size, however I wasn't quite sure what you do with a pumpkin once you find it. The whole time I held the pumpkin I kept scratching at it and saying "Pease" (verbal, sign language "please"). Mommy thinks it was because I was trying to peel it (like an orange) to eat it.

New Discoveries

As I discover more and more about this world around me I have come to the conclusion that God did a pretty amazing job in His creation.I recently discovered that we have bunnies in our yard. Now Daddy has been trying to get rid of them for years, but I find that they are pretty cute. I even tried to chase one the other night, pulling Mommy behind me of course. I wasn't going to go near it without some support!!

I also discovered the world of forward facing carseats. I had been trying to see out the car windows whenever I could. This involved leaning as far farward in my seat as I could, then raising my butt up and twisting my head so that I could see out the side windows. So Mommy decided I was probably heavy enough (I am old enough & tall enough and needed to be 20 pounds) to turn around forward facing. The first morning I was still enjoying my bottle as we pulled up to the stoplight. But I just had to put my bottle down and let my jaw drop as I watched all the traffic go by, IN FRONT OF ME!!!! I got very excited and started pointing all the cars out to Mommy.

Mommy has given me a job to do every morning--get the newspaper from the driveway while she finishes putting everything in the car. So she opens the garage door for me, carries me down the stairs and lets me walk over to the newspaper. Once I pick it up I start walking back up to the garage and Mommy either takes my hand or picks me up (depending on the rush she is in!) and takes me back to the house door, so that I can throw the newspaper on the kitchen floor. One morning the newspaper was here before Daddy went to work, so he picked it up and confused me. I walked down the driveway and kept looking around at the lawn and rock bed for it.

Mommy got a little time to herself this week. A few ladies in the neighborhood have started getting together to do projects, crafts and just talk after putting the kids down for the night. She thought it was nice to get to know a few more mothers in the neighborhood, plus get a little time away. Besides she could walk and get back home in less than 5 minutes, so had more time to spend at the destination without staying out all night (she was home and in bed by 9:30).

Yesterday, I also discovered the reality that life doesn't last forever. I attended my first funeral for a member of our church. I did fairly well, but Mommy did have to take me out to the foyer when I started getting a little restless. There I found a few other friends to play with who were with their Daddy's, although I wasn't quite sure with the little fella who kept crawling up to me. I'm not used to kids younger than me! Mommy could still hear and see through the foyer windows. She thought the most moving part was when Amazing Grace was played with bagpipes and son & son-in-law stood up to salute the casket (was an Army vetran and both "sons" are currently in the military).

So I have decided that I am going to live life to the fullest and spend every waking moment exploring the world around me. I have more waking moments now to spend. I made the transition to one nap a day last week. So now I have almost 6 hours in the morning, then a 2 hour nap, then almost 6 hours more in the afternoon to explore everything around me. The transition was fairly smooth however, I do get fussy that last hour before nap and bedtime. But I am sleeping even better now at night, however still not quite 10 hours. Sunday morning I decided 5:45 was morning and would not go back to sleep even though Mommy rocked me for almost an hour. So the first time I woke I was up for the day--that's sleeping through the night as far as I am concerned.

Pictures of Me

Here's a great picture of me helping Mommy with dishes. I also picked flowers for Mommy earlier this week. Aren't they pretty?



A week ago M&D took me swimming at the public pool. There was a play area that had fountains, slides and other fun water park activities. I had a blast.


Bronco game time!

Here's a cute picture of me holding all my toys.