Halloween 2011

The dog door and more

Today Emerson learned what the dog door can really do for him. He has always enjoyed playing with it and sticking objects through it, or just his head out of it, but we never had to worry about him actually using it. So, early this morning he was playing in the laundry room brushing Bodie with a paint brush...the usual :)...I didn't notice how quiet it had gotten until I heard a faint "A, B, C, D....". I look out the back window and there he is, half way across the yard in nothing but a short sleeved T-shirt, sweats, and socks...50 degrees outside, dewy dirt and grass up to his ankles, heading right for the slide and singing all the way.  I opened the door right as he was situating himself on the platform for his descent.  I was trying my hardest not to look as amused as I was when I hollered "What on earth do you think you're doing?", but apparently I wasn't very convincing.  He grinned from ear to ear and proudly exclaimed "Emerson outside!". We haven't been able to keep him inside all day.  He got up from his afternoon nap on the couch and barely acknowledged me...right out the dog door.  We got home from the grocery store and he walked straight inside...and right out the dog door.  Needless to say, we're going to have to do something about the dog door. :)

Baby Merrick is still doing well. They continue to say that he feels like a pretty petite little guy, but nothing outside of normal.  We'll probably schedule an induction for December 14th which means we have just about 7 and 1/2 weeks to go!  Still no name and now nowhere for him to sleep as has Emerson decided to take up residence in the crib again (he had been doing well in the toddler bed for over a month and then just changed his mind), but for some reason we're really not that worried about it.  I'm sure we'll pull something off at the last minute.

Link to 20 month blog photos

https://picasaweb.google.com/Caitlin.Merrick/20Months27Weeks?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCImzxeDu3YCMYg&feat=directlink

20 months/24-28 weeks

Here are lots of pictures!  I'll write soon!

19 months/23 weeks

Everyone is happy and healthy!  Emerson is really starting to push his limits to see what he can get away with, but he still seems pretty easy.  I haven't had to leave a public place because of his behavior...yet :).  Actually, he's really on his best behavior in public.  There are people to say 'Hi" to and the scenery changes so he's perfectly content.  He starts trying to push our buttons when he's stuck inside because of the sweltering heat and bored to death. He's using 2 and 3 word sentences, but a lot of it is something only his mother would understand right now.  He did something the other day that gave us a good laugh.  He picked up the TV remote and held it to his ear and said "Hel-Lo"...he really puts emphasis on the "Lo" almost like he's getting a diva attitude with whoever is calling... he made some gibberish noises, then turned and looked at me and said "It's YaYa" so matter-of-fact-ly like, who else would it be Mom??  Then he turned his head away again, there was some more gibberish into the remote, then turned back to me and said "And CiCi".  

We had a follow up ultrasound today because they weren't able to adequately assess baby Merrick's stomach the first time, but everything looked perfect this time.  I put a hilarious ultrasound picture in the slide show. It's a frontal view of his face and that is his mouth wide open and almost smiling...he looks like a mardi gras mask or a little old cartoon man. He's just a little smaller than Emerson was in the womb and seems to be staying that way.  He was actually measuring for a due date of Dec 19th today, instead of the 17th, but that is not a big enough difference for them to change the actual due date.  He's still right on track. Emerson's due date was moved a whole week closer because of his initial size and then he kept measuring a little larger by a day or two as it progressed. Momma was eating too much and not exercising lol.  I'm happy to say I have only gained 10lbs so far this time, woohoo!

For those having trouble...

Some blog visitors have reported being unable to see the slide show/link to Picasa Web Albums in the previous post with Emerson's 17-18 month photos.  If you encounter this problem, try clicking the link below.

https://picasaweb.google.com/Caitlin.Merrick/1718Months?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLuG2c2QqInTngE&feat=directlink

Emerson is 18 months!

Emerson had his 18 month check up last week.  He is still on the same growth curve and a very healthy boy. I am always worried that he's getting too skinny, maybe because I see so many images of chubby babies as the norm, but the Dr. said he's just right and doesn't need to be any chubbier. He has a vocabulary of over 60 words, not including animal sounds/impressions :) and the Dr. said he is definitely ahead of the game verbally.  He made sure to point out that just because he is verbally advanced doesn't mean he will potty train any sooner or more easily hehe.  We do have a potty for him and we try to have conversations about it every chance we get, but we probably won't really start trying until he's closer to two.  Which means I'll have a newborn to feed and Scott will have to be the potty trainer hehe. These photos cover a several month span, but I made sure to keep them in chronological order.  Gosh he changes so much in such a short period of time! :(