Best Friends

We're sitting here watching Von show Kilian (our dog) a video of himself on Steve's ipod. How cute is that. He loves his dog.

I'll Get You

Watch out or Von will stick you with stickers. He loves to put stickers on and then pill them off. He put them all on Grandpa and then needed to take some back for his own shirt.

The Mad Hatter

Von would wear this hat around the hotel but he couldn't see very well in it so he would run into the walls. We thought it was funny watching him bump into everything.

I Can Do It

Von can blow his nose all by himself.

Hello

Von just had to say hi to all the little elephant bee's from Whinny the Poop's ride, even the one at the very top. Of course he thought he was going to climb up there all by himself, but I helped him in the end.

Again!

Von's Great, Great Uncle Keith would take Von's arm and do a trick on it while whistling. Von thought it was so funny. He would laugh and laugh then stick his arm up for Uncle Keith to do it again.

Candy Apples

Von and I were sharing a caramel apple, or trying to share. Von didn't want to share and when I would ask for a bite he would look at me and say "No". When he finally decided to share he started pulling the apple back as soon as I went to take a bite.

Dance Off

Von has a stuff monkey that hold his ipod. The music comes out of the monkey's headphones. Von will carry it around the house dancing.

I'm A Frog

Von has learned how to jump and now jumps on everything.

Tech Guy

This weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's house Von was found in the office at the computer typing away and using the mouse. He learns these things from his dad.

Watch Out

Von got one of Steve's old watches and was wearing it around the house. However, since it is too big he must hold his arm up to keep it from falling. He was very proud of it though.

Back Seat Driver

When Steve and Von are on the road together Steve will remove the front seat head rest so Von can see out the front window as they drive. Von loves it. He gets very excited when Steve first removes the head rest.

Buzz

Von got his first bee sting yesterday on his finger. Of course, I freaked out not knowing if he is allergic to bees yet or not. But he was fine. He came over to me crying and brought me to the bee to show me what hurt him. A movie and a snack made everything feel better.

Instrumental Uh Oh!

So Von and I are driving back from work tonight. I've got my iPhone on shuffle and a song from the soundtrack to Sweeney Todd comes on. The song progresses to a spot were there is about 15 bars of "cautioning" strings. You know, like when you know something is going to happen solely because of the feeling you get from the music. Well about 6 bars pass and then I hear "uh oh" from the back seat. I look back and Von is "uh oh"ing the music.

Semi

Von enjoys watching the big trucks at construction sites. He also yells "WOW" whenever a semi drives by us.

I Can Do It

Von put his hat on all by himself today.

Here Kitty, Kitty

Von loves cats and would have one if mom and dad allowed (which they don't). So when he was at the state fair he picked out a stuffed animal cat. He loves this cat. Likes to have it sit with him when he watched a movie.

Cat Got Your Tongue

Von and Uncle Mike like to sit and stick their tongues out at each other over the web cam. Mike and Steve chat so much over web cam that Von knows when he sees the screen come up it's Uncle Mike and he gets all excited.

Back Yard Driving

Von and I went to the local park today for some Labor Day Festivities. When we got back we played in the back yard for a while. Von decided to take his car for a drive.

Too Tired

Von was too tired to get comfortable. Most likely one of those early mornings (a 5 am wake up).

A Day At the Zoo With Mom

Von and I enjoy visiting the zoo. Today the otter was taking laps around his pool.

Chocolate!

Von didn't want to eat until the brownies showed up and then we couldn't keep up to him.

Drink, Please

Von has his own little refrigerator and sink for helping with cooking. He stores his drink in his refrigerator. This morning when he was thirsty he walked over to his refrigerator and opened it but it was empty so he had to come get me to fill up a cup for him.

He Knows

Von knows what we're saying even when he acts like he doesn't. Steve told him could not go outside until he put on his pants and shoes so he went looking for them all on his own.

Why So Sad?

The other night Von was walking around crying for no real reason. Steve asked him "Why are you so sad, Von?" And he replied by looking at Steve for a moment then giving him a big huge and kiss.

Words

At 18 months Von can say...
please (ease), no, go, stop, mom, dad, ouch, ah oh, growl, tickle tickle, wow, choo choo

His first phrase is...Here we go (earrr go)

Waves hi and bye.
Gives high five.

Study Hard

I was study for a quiz with flash cards so I gave Von a few of his own to color on. When she saw me read mine out loud he began to point to his flash cards one by one and talk about them. Need less to say I did get 100% on that quiz. I'm sure it was from all the support Von gave me.

Hair Cut

Von got his first hair cut from me and I accidentally cut off his side burns. I was so sad. I had been trying to grow his hair out just enough to wear either spiked or down. Spiked it is until it grows some (which doesn't take too long).

Jump

Von and I found a frog living in one of our flowers. Von loved to try and touch him as the frog jumped from leaf to leaf.

His John Hancock

I asked for Von to come over and sign his card to send Nana and Papa in Canada. He walked over, took the card and the pen, scribbled on both sides of the card, then handed the card and pen back to me.

Coloring

Von and I were coloring pictures to send to Nana and Papa. I tore out a picture of a construction worker and one of flowers. We started with the construction worker. Von colored all over the picture with blues, greens, and yellows. It was the most he had ever colored before. Then we went to color the flowers. Von picked up a pink crayon and colored on the pot of the flowers then put the crayon down and walked away. He was all done. Is that not just like a little boy or what?

Hello, Any Buddy There?

I didn't hear my cell phone ringing the other day because Von had gotten to it first. He answered the phone and chatted to Steve for a little bit and then hung up on him. A few seconds later Steve called back and I answered. His response was where's Von I was just talking to him.

My Little Helper

Von is such a good helper. Today we made egg salad together. He did the stirring and shook the pepper in. Yesterday, when I was taking the garbage out Von brought the trash can to me to add to the pile (even though it was an empty trash can). He also loves to mop the kitchen floor for me. Gotta teach them young.

Me and My Dad

Von adores his dad. When Steve gets home from work Von gets a big smile on his face, then runs and hides from his dad. Steve then hunts him down for some tickle torture, followed by a big hug and kiss.

Train Ride

Von spent two days playing with Gavin and his trains. Gavin, who is three, would build a train track and then Von would sit right in the middle of it or steal the trains. You could hear Gavin yelling "My friend took my train." Von just loved taking the trains through the tunnels, he played for hours with them. I think we'll be looking for a train set on Craigslist for him now.

They also enjoyed playing with the barn and all the farm animals together, making growling noises. Right now Von thinks everything growls, the includes kitties, fish and birds.

Two Peas In A Pod

Von and one of his friends, Collin, where caught taking the dog food and putting it in the dogs water when they both know they are not allow to. Then later Von had climbed up on a chair and gotten two bananas, one for Collin and one for himself. They were found eating they with the peel still on.

Von at 18 Months

At 18 Months I would describe Von as being very independent. He must do everything himself even if he gets really mad he does not want help. He is adventurous. He loves to climb, find rocks, pick the flowers apart. He will use anything to climb up on to get whatever it is he is reaching for. He also jumps off of everything, even if that means he going to face plant. He's fearless and has total trust that you'll be right there to catch him.

Morning Walks

When Papa came to visit us he would take Von for one to two walk a day. He was so spoiled. They walked all over the neighborhood and found a bunch of fun parks to play at.

New favorite...

Von's new favorite chair is his stroller. He loves just to sit in it while watching TV. The other day Nana and I were outside with Von when he disappeared. We found him in the garage just sitting in his stroller.

Fire, Fire, Fire!

Von got a new sprinkler for watering the flowers. It's very easy for him to turn on and off by himself and he loves it. He also thinks it funny to spray mommy and daddy or get water inside the house.

Strike!

We went to Bullwinkle's today and played the bowling game. Von loved it and then he realized when you put tokens in the games tickets come out. So he would go from game to game putting tokens in them waiting for the tickets to come out. Suzanne and I ended up playing lots of games.

Whiz Kid

After I finished putting away the clean dishes and began to refill the dishwasher Von came over and took the pasta bowl I had just place inside the dishwasher and put it away with all the other pasta bowls. Yes, I know, my baby is smarter than yours!

Mom!

Being gone for the weekend from Von I gave him a call one evening. When Grandma went to give Von the phone telling him mom was on it he ran over to a picture of me and brought it to her.

Rock-A-Bye Baby

Von wakes up in the morning to climb into the rocking chair with a book and rocks away.

See Ya!

Grandma came to pick Von up for the weekend as Steve and I were off to the coast. As soon as he got into the car with his DVD player playing Peter Pan he looked up at Steve and I with a big smile and waved good-bye.

Grandma stopped by to switch cars with us. Von ran to his side of the car to get in and go home with Grandma. When I went over to tell him he was going to spend the week with me at home he yelled "No, no, no!" He just wanted to go with Grandma.

Hugs

Von got a letter from Oma and Opa today. After Steve read it to him he gave it a big hug. It's his way of sending his love to his Oma and Opa in Canada.

I'm A Big Boy Now

Von got a potty today! After he decided to take off his diaper and go outside to pee we thought we should introduce the potty to him. He hasn't used it yet but he likes to sit on it and read his books.

Starbucks Please!

Von has now discovered Starbuck's Strawberries 'n' Creme Blend Creme. On hot days when Von and I have errands to run we drive through Starbucks for a cool beverage as my car does not have AC.

Off To Never, Neverland

Von often watches Peter Pan on our drive to and from Dallas. He now says "earrrr go!" for "Here we go, off to Never, Neverland."

Fireworks!

Von celebrated Canada Day and the 4th of July with party poppers. He was sad when they were all gone.