Those Eyebrows

Von has the Waterbury eyebrows down pat. (my grandfather's eyebrows)

Mom or Me

The stare down. Von wins, of course!

Cheese!

This is Von's cheese smile!

Push Me

Von loves to swing. He's even happy just to sit there in the swing without even moving. 

Blankets

Von thinks all the blankets are his. If you are using one he'll come over, get it and take it to his seat. If you get another one he'll take that one too. For the longest time Von didn't like blankets. Now he wants them all.

My GaGa (Grandma)

Von has a growth chart in his room that has pictures of his family on it. He'll go into his room and say hi to his Grandma, talk to her picture and then when he leaves the room says bye-bye.

Nana Came To Visit

When Von saw Nana get off the plane he got a big smile on his face. He then spent the rest of the week playing, cuddling, showing Nana all his toys, and being spoiled. (We all were spoiled.) He'll be sad to see her go but Christmas is just around the corner.

The Big Toy

Von was so brave and went up into the big toy at McDonald's. He loves to be able to go and play there. It's our little treat. We'll meet Steve during his lunch so Von can play and we get to see him.

Talking Away The Afternoon

Von sat on the stump in the middle of Grandma and Grandpa's front yard and talked to Grandma as she cleaned out her car. Von is a total chatter. He gets it from his Grandma Angel.

Word On The Street

It seems like Von is adding words to his vocabulary everyday. Some words you have to be around him lots to understand but others are as clear as day. Like Bye Bye and Go Away, which are his favorite words right now. He loves to say, "Bye, Bye" to everyone at the store, at the museum, to all the animals at the zoo, wherever we are. "Go away" is what he says to our dog when Kilian is trying to steal one of Von's snacks. 

Fort Barker

Von made his first fort the other day with two places to hide in. When Nana saw the pictures her comment was, "The Barker Boys make the best forts!". I must agree. 

Open Wide

Today at the dentist Von was so good. He let the dentist look at all his teeth.

When Von was called into the doctor's office he got up and walk right in all by himself, down the hall and onto the scale to be weighted. Future Doctor?

Guardian Angel

Von found a locket of mine when I was little of my Grandma and Grandpa Angel. He has been carrying it around the house with him. 

Cookies

Von and I have been baking this week. We've make zucchini bread and chocolate chip cookies. Both had lots of chocolate chips in them. 

Kitty, Kitty

Von has adopted the neighbor cat or so he thinks. The cat comes over periodically and Von loves to try and tickle him.

Cuddlier

Von is a total cuddlier. In the mornings we get up, get our bowl of cereal to share and sit on the couch together watching a movie. I must sit right next to Von and share a blanket with him. Once we're done eating he wants to hold my hand while we watch our movie. If I kiss Von on the hand he will keep bring his hand up to my lips to kiss again. He also loves to sit on my lap and if he wants a kiss, he'll take my face with both hands and kiss it. 

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.