18 Months, Spring Time and Playing Outside

Happy Spring To All!!

It has been a long time since we have posted anything... wow, since Christmas!  Well we certainly hope everyone survived the rough winter we had and is now enjoying the warmer weather.  I know we sure are!

To get you caught up, Ty is now 19 months old and is getting big.  A few weeks ago we too Ty to his 18 month checkup and received an excellent report from the doctor.  He is 32 1/2 inches tall and weighs in just shy of 26 pounds.  Both near the 50 percentile, which translates that is is in the middle of the road for his growth.

Ty is certainly showing the traits of a little boy.  He loves to wrestle with dad and tourment mom.  :-) He loves being outside and playing with anything that looks round like a ball.  From Oranges to Easter Eggs to real play balls, Ty points and yells "Bull" (ball) at anything round. He also loves balloons!  I guess it is also the round shape that draws him to them.  But like a ball, when he sees one he also yells out "Baoon!"  So cute!

We made it through the winter with only a few sniffles and a few colds, but no major flu bug entered the Smith Household.  Thanks Goodness! 

However, we did have to make a visit to the doctor after the first batch of warm weather came through the area.  Ty had swelling and redness in both eyes and was constantly rubbing them.  Especially in the evening.  Poor little guy, at times it looked as if he was crying his eyes were watering so bad.  It turned out he had some allergies to the pollen and an infection in the his one eye.  The doctor prescribed us two sets of eyes drops and within a few days everything was back to normal.  We are hoping he does not have the allergy issues his father has! 

Ty has also come to enjoy more fruits in the past few weeks.  He loves strawberries and has started eating oranges.  He still loves his applesauce and bananas!  He loves graham crackers and enjoys a bite of ice cream here and there.  There are still evenings where he will only eat a few pieces of meat and veggies and immediately wants his fruit.  I guess we can't complain too much! 

Hopefully next time, it will not take us too long to update posts!

Merry Christmas!

Sledding and Playing in the Snow!

With over 12 inches of fresh powdery snow on the ground, Ty finally got to try out his new sled that Aunt Andrea, Uncle Jeremy and Cousin Zoe gave him for his birthday!

Needless to say, Ty like Mommy pulling him through the neighborhood! She pulled him around the block, just over a mile total and by the end Ty was digging it!  Check out that smile!

He even enjoyed walking around in the snow...  Doesn't he look like a little marshmellow man?  So cute!!!

Hope everyone is safe and sound after digging out from the snow storm.  At least it will be a White Christmas!!  :-)

Ty and his balloons watching it snow!

Santa, 15 Months, Walking and Talking

Next week along with Santa coming to town, Ty turns 15 months old and he has officially become a toddler! He is walking around everywhere, growing fast and becoming too smart for his britches. But he is still one of the happiest and well behaved little boys around.

Just within the last month or two his learning curve has accelerated as fast he scoots around the house with those little legs of his. He has finally said “mum” which makes Lori giddy, but still prefers “da!” He also says “ba” for ball but does not usually say it in front of anyone except mom and dad. He knows where his nose and ears are and can identify pretty much any Sesame Street character in a book when he hears the name.

Ty is fascinated with balloons and balls. If the object is round, bounces and/or can be thrown, it is usually in Ty hands or being launched into the air. Anytime we go somewhere and a balloon is in the air, he points, shouts and gets all excited. Needless to say, that is the majority of his toys!

He enjoys story time with both mom and dad, although mom seems to be favored. He loves watching Blue’s Clues in the morning while eating his Cheerios and drinking his milk. By the way, did anyone ever know Blue is a girl? A blue dog turns out to be a girl? *shrug* Anyways, watching Sesame Street with dad and a drinking his milk has become his evening routine before bed.

Ty also enjoys shopping with mom and/or dad. He loves being out and about to watch people and loves to show off his big cheesy smile! He even went with dad on Black Friday to the Outlets in Leesburg, Virginia while mom did some shopping on her own at the local malls. Ty was such a good boy he got McDonald’s for lunch, but not before dad bought him his first Redskins beanie at the Redskins Store!

Recently Ty got to meet Santa for the first time at the Chambersburg Mall. Ty was actually very good for his first time on Santa’s lap and even warmed up to Santa by the time he finished his list!

Lori and Ty have been getting together with some other moms and their kids on a bi-weekly basis for a play group. Ty is one of the oldest and likes to try and pick up the other kids, but generally does a great job interacting with his new friends.

Lori continues to do a great job as a stay at home mom and house wife. I cannot say it enough that she is the best mom and the best wife a guy can ever ask for. She is the best and I am very grateful for her! Without her, our house would not be Home!

In closing, we want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Healthy New Year! Be safe in all of your travels and enjoy the love and company of family and friends… that is what the holidays are all about! Merry Christmas to all…

Cool Videos

Below are some fun videos of Ty! Hope you enjoy!

Walking, Pointing, Bottles and Food

Ty is quickly becoming a toddler and the process for his mom and I has been very enjoyable. He continues to be a very good boy and seems to listen pretty well, for the most part. He does like to test us from time to time but he certainly understands what the word "NO" means.

He has been taking baby steps and seems only days or at the very least weeks away from walking around the house full time. He tends to use an object to steady himself. It could be furniture, a wall or a toy, but he is getting the idea.

He is curious about everything and constantly points his index finger at everything and leaves out the cutest little "eh" sound as if to say "Look Mom!" It could be the cuckoo clock, the TV, something outside or just a toy on the floor but the finger is out and pointing at something!

As of last week, Ty no longer drinks his milk out of bottles. All milk and water is now consumed out of sippy cups. Mom was happy and sad at this development at the same time. Happy that he did not want the bottle on his own and sad that she could no longer give her baby boy a bottle before bed, something she loved so much.

However, this transition did not come without some tears. Ty seems to like one particular sippy cup for his morning milk and a completely different designed cup for his evening milk. If we try to give him his morning sippy cup in the evening, he throws a big tempter tantrum and will not

drink his milk until it is tranfered to the cup he likes. Once that is done, the tears are turned off and all is well.

Ty also has completely graduated from baby food and is eating adult/table food. He loves spaghetti as you can see in the photo! He also loves chicken, rice, mixed veggies and pizza. The new theme around the house has become "Mikey Likes It!" For those of you who may remember the old cereal commerical!

We do have a few videos to post and will be doing that very soon!

Crawling, The Word "No", Ocean City, First Birthday & 12 Month Checkup

The past month has been very busy for the Smith Family as it has been a big month of development for Ty.

As you seen in a previous post, Ty is now crawling. It only took him a few days to get the hang of it and BAM, he was gone. Ty is also now pulling himself up and walking around furniture while still holding on. If you hold on to his hands and walk he will walk with you. Only a matter time and this little guy will be walking on his own.

Along with the crawling also comes the word “NO!” Ty has gone from opening the cupboards to opening drawers to getting into the trash can and playing in the toilet! EW! Since Uncle Ryan came over and helped make the house baby proof, Ty has shown his frustration several times. But he has also found other things to get into and make us say “NO” more often. Laughing at him when saying NO does not help either… I knew Lori and I would have problems with that!

A few weeks ago we loaded up the truck, picked up Nan and headed south to Ocean City. The weather, for the most part, was nice. Not quite warm enough for swimming outside but nice enough to take Ty to the beach and see how he likes the sand. Well, he tasted it and seemed to like the gritty feel…. But he certainly did not like sitting in it. We tried twice and both times he would anchor his butt down and lift both of his legs about an inch off the ground so the sand would not stick to his legs. Ty did enjoy all of the walks up and down the boardwalk and enjoy watching all the crazy people! We were kinda hesitant about the long travel, but the 4+ hours in the car did not affect him too much. Towards the end he was getting antsy and wanted out of his seat, but otherwise, he did great. And I have to say, it was a very relaxing trip.

This past weekend we had some family and friends over to our home for a cookout and to celebrate Ty’s first birthday. Wow, a year already? Yes, he is now officially 1 year old! Hard to believe! But the party was great and the gifts were great as well. We want to thank EVERYONE for the gifts and sharing Ty’s special day with him! Ty did not like his first taste of cake and ice cream, which surprised everyone. Instead he fussed because his hands were messy! On Monday evening after dinner, he did enjoy a few bites of cake and ice cream. When we refused to give him more, he dropped to the ground and cried! I guess he likes it now!

Yesterday was Ty’s 12-month checkup and according to Doc Colli, he is very healthy. We also learned Dr. Colli is a big Redskins fan and really liked Ty’s Redskins Jersey!


Ty is 29 inches tall (10-25%) and weighs 20 pounds 14 ounces (10-25%). Of course his head is still big at 47 cm (50-75%). But the good news is Ty can be turned around in his baby seat and see mommy and daddy now!


Even though we got good news, Ty's visit included 4 shots plus one flu shot. He cried throughout the shots, which went very quick and stopped crying about a minute after. Such a good boy as he always is! We go back at the end of October or beginning of November to get his second flu shot and hopefully first of two N1H1 shots.

He's Crawling, He's Crawling!!!!

Ty finally did it!!! He is now crawling! It is slow and somewhat hesitant, but I am sure that will change soon! Hope everyone has a great Labor Day Weekend!!

Laid Back, Standing Up, Teething, Food & The Pool

Tomorrow Ty turns 11 months old and he is well on his way to becoming a toddler.

Ty's has definately developed a personality over the last few months. As we have said before, he is so fun to be around and that has continued. He is so laid back and willing to pretty much go anywhere or do anything... pretty much like a little rag doll. Again and again he surprises us at how well he does when we go places and he misses a nap or has that food given to him just a little later then normal. Lori's new favorite thing to do is going to yard sales and Ty seems to enjoy that... as long as mommy keeps pushing him in the stroller!

Ty also now stands on his own for about a minute at a time and really enjoys it, unlike tummy time! He is not yet able to pull himself up however, with some helping hands, he stands right up and smiles from ear to ear! He really likes to sit up on his knees and grab for something in his sight.

His front bottom tooth was the first to come in but his two top front teeth are coming in and it appears as though the two teeth next to those are coming in as well. Hopefully by the time his birthday party rolls around on September 20, he will be showing some pearly whites to everyone! :-}

Speaking of birthdays.... check out Ty's First Birthday Invitation!!! I took about 11 pictures that day of Ty in this outfit and the first one was the best! I was so happy the way it turned out. When I first took a look at the picture on the computer, I cried for a few minutes, thinking how much Ty's smile and facial expression reminded me of my late father. I know my dad would absolutely love him!

Ty is also starting to eat a lot of other grown up foods like fresh peaches, bananas, shredded cheese, steamed broccoli, toast, chicken and every kids favorite, mac and cheese! He is enjoying those foods more and more and we believe the baby food will soon be a thing of the past because he is starting to bat at the spoon and refuse it. Ha ha, after you had some good food why would you want to go back to that other stuff?

We have made two visits to a local pool and Ty loves it. We were not too sure about putting him in the big kids pool, but we just put him in his floaty and he plays with his duckies and watches the kids jump in the pool. I believe the first time was almost 2 straight hours in the water and the second time was about an hour and a half.

Just last weekend Ty got to meet Jeremy and Andrea's new pride and joy, and possibly Ty's future girlfriend/wife, Zoe. It was a good visit with the Bowersox family and the kids did very well.

This weekend Lori and I have date night for the first time in months and are certainly looking forward to it! Ty's Aunt Tracey and little cousin's are coming to babysit while we go enjoy a nice dinner and evening out on the town.

Next week Lori, Aunt Tracey and Aunt Patty are taking a bus ride to New York City and I get Ty all to myself, from the time he wakes up until he goes to bed! Should be an interesting day! Actually, I am excited, hopefully it will goes well.

In about three weeks Lori, Ty and I along with Nan Smith pack up the car and head to Ocean City for a nice 4-day weekend at the beach.... Maybe Ty will get his first taste of Thrasher's French Fries and maybe even an Alantic Stand Double Cheese Burger!!! And if not, I'll be sure to eat his share! :-) I will be sure to post some photos live from the beach!

Zoe Marissa Bowersox has Arrived!!!

Congratulations goes out to our best friends Jeremy and Andrea!

Zoe came into the world on Saturday at 8:47 AM! She is 8 pounds 1.1
ounces, 20 inches long and is beautiful!

Congrats J&A, we love you and your beautiful newborn daughter!

Lunch Time @ Applebee's

Ty is enjoying lunch with mom and dad at Applebee's today! ;-)

Ut Oh - First Tooth

It looks and feels like Ty's first tooth is coming in!!! So far so good, he is not giving us any trouble... let's hope it stays that way!

Also please keep Jeremy and Andrea Bowersox in your thoughts and prayers as they prepare to have their first child in the coming days. Andrea is full term and Baby B can come any day now! Hopefully naturally instead of by eviction like Ty!

9 Months Old and Doing Great

Last week Ty turned 9 months old and he is growing like a weed. He now weighs in at 19 pounds 10 ounces, measures over 27 inches long and according to the pediatrition is very healthy!!

No teeth yet, but the doctor says they are close. We are in no hurry for teeth with the exception of introducing new foods... we believe he is starting to get a little board with his baby food. If I had to eat sweet potatoes and squash pretty much all the time, I would get tired of it too...

No crawling yet, but he is learning to turn around while sitting on his butt and quickly reaching for things he wants. We also are in no hurry for this because once he starts to go, he will never stop!

He is progressing well with his motor skills and also his speech. He has now said "NanNan" or "NaNa" which he obviously does not understand that is for his grandmother... He likes to say "DaDaDa" a lot but then follows with "NanNanNan" then Lori usually says, "What about "MomMomMom"? :-)

As parents we have been very blessed to have such a good little boy. He really and truely is a joy to be around. He is happy and very seldom does he give us trouble. His smile is infectous and his laugh is just adorable. We could not have asked for a better little boy. For instance, the video below... how can you not laugh at this little guy having fun at the doctor's office!?!?

A few weeks back the Keyser Family, from Myrtle Beach, SC traveled to the Waynesboro area to visit family and stopped out one evening for a visit. Their young man, Jakob, came along for the ride as well and had a great time playing with Ty.

Jakob was due exactly one month after Ty, but ended up arriving 1 week earlier then Ty. Jakob already has 6 teeth and crawls very well and is all but ready to walk... mean while, Ty is still sitting still!

As the evening went on, both boys became tired and decided to have some fun in the tub... oh what fun we will have with this photo in about 16 years! :-)

Ty went to bed in his crib while Jakob crashed on the floor! They both were very good boys that evening and had loads of fun! No doubt about that! Too bad the Keyser's do not live closer, I believe Ty and Jakob could become great friends!

As you can see on the right side of the blog, we have a new family picture! We went to Sears a few weeks back for our first family portrait and photos.

Of course, Ty surprised both of us again!

For only having a 10 minute morning nap, he was all smiles for the camera and the photographer... of course, by this time in his short life, the little guy should be used to flash bulb!

Recently Ty's Great Uncle Lewie found a nice new toy for Ty to play with... It is a fuzzy Rocking Horse with wheels on it. Although Ty does not quite have his balance perfected, he does enjoy playing on it from time to time!

Usually children are very afraid of things that make a lot of noise.... like a lawn mower. No, not Ty, he loves sitting just inside the front door and watching dad mow the lawn! Mean while, dad is counting down the days until he can watch Ty mow the lawn!! :-)

Last week we took Ty to the Bowersox Farm in Waynesboro. They have two horses along with a few head of cattle. At first Ty was a bit intimidated by these huge animals, but by the end of the evening he was reaching out to pet them. For being so big, the horses were very gentle and very lovable. Ty also enjoyed playing with the hay, as you can see in one of the pics on the right side of the blog. We can't wait to take Ty out again soon.

Our latest adventure was having some more fun in the sun by playing in our new baby pool this past Saturday. Although he did not enjoy the first 60 seconds in the pool the other 19 minutes weren't so bad.

We put Ty in the pool and we were just getting settled when he decided to reach for one of his rubber duckies... Oh no, wrong move buddy!!! He went from his butt to his belly in a blink of an eye, meanwhile taking in a nice swallow of water and some up his nose. He managed to push his face out of the water and look at us as we practically jumped in the water to save him. I believe he would have been ok but we pulled him from the water so fast and sat him down on a towel that he freaked out. A few minutes later we put him back in and he was fine and dandy as you can tell by the video! :-)

So as you can see we are all doing well, especially Ty! We are just enjoying the fun and the sun of summer! Hopefully it will not be a month until I post again.

8 Months Old... Wow!

Today Ty turned 8 months old. Wow... how time flies! It is amazing to see how much he has changed since he was born and to think in 4 months he will turn 1 year. What does the next 4 months hold for us? I am sure a lot of firsts!!!

There is not too much to report besides the fact Ty loves going outside. Whether it is to swing or take a walk with mom or just walk around the house, grab leaves and coo at butterflies, he loves the sun and the warm weather... don't we all!

We figured since there is not much to report we would just mainly post a photo update this time around... :-) We hope you enjoy!

Vacation, Swing, Words & 7 Months Old

We have made it back from vacation in Myrtle Beach and I believe we all had a great time. We arrived back at home on Tuesday morning around 4:30 AM after a long drive home. Doesn't always seem like the ride home is longer then the ride to? We want to thank the Kipe family for taking us in and allowing us to stay with them while in town. It was a pleasure and we sincerely thank them for a good time!

Ty was again an excellent boy on the trip home. We only heard a few whimpers from him and that was because he wanted his binky. Otherwise, he slept the entire time. Honestly, we could not have asked for a better behaving child while on vacation. Sometimes babies act strange when they are in a new place but not Ty. We did not have any trouble with him eating, sleeping or fussing. He was such a joy to be around, as he usually is! :-)

Ty also took advantage of the family time and gave us a few more "firsts." Along with his first vacation and long car ride, he enjoyed his first time swinging, first time at the beach, and his first word.


The Kipe family recently purchased a swing set for their daughters and Ty was more then eager to try it out.... OK, OK, mom and dad were more then eager for Ty to try it out. :-) It went very well and to say the least, Ty enjoyed himself. We are looking to purchasing a swing that we can hang from a branch on one of the large trees we have in our back yard.






Ty also had a great time one his first beach trips. Last Thursday while the Kipe family was working, we decided to take a ride and ended up at the beach. we broke out the new walking stroller and strapped Ty in and enjoyed the cool ocean breeze and warm sun. Ty enjoyed himself and showed it by sticking out his tongue, giggling and kicking his little legs. We did not set foot on the sand but just walked around.

On Sunday, we along with the Kipe family made another trip to the beach, this time setting up camp for a few hours on the sand and near the surf. It was overcast and a bit breezy but Ty did not care. He again showed his joy by laughing, showing his tongue (we have no idea where this came from) and kicking his little legs. We think he enjoyed the sound of the waves and watching the water...


As I reported a few weeks ago, Ty likes to say "Ba"... well, that BA turned to DA and then DADA... so along with the Kipe's we have decided that Ty has officially said his first.... "Dada!" We are not sure if he knows what it means, but he does seem to look at me sometimes when he says it.... of course, a minute later, he looks at Lori and says it too! :-D

We took a lot of photos while on our vacation, but most of them were of the kids... so I took a few photos and made a collage. I think it turned out great... pictured are Ty, Layna & Abbi (Kipe) and Jakob Keyser.

Yesterday, April 22, Ty turned 7 months old. It does not seem like 7 months since Ty has been born but he is quickly approaching 1 year old... Wow, time flies and so did the last week!

We Made It to SC

We rolled out of our driveway around 7:45 PM and rolled into the Kipe's Driveway at 4:20 AM. It was a great trip with a little rain and a little traffic here and there but nothing major.

We were all pretty pooped out except Ty who slept the entire trip. We never heard a peep out of him the entire time in the car. He awoke when we got him out of the car and seemed to be wide awake for about 45 minutes. But then he gave in and passed out along with mom and dad.

This morning he was sampling the jumper that the Kipe's have and just passed out sleeping... it was such a funny site, we had to just post a picture... he was so cute. He would snap out of his snooze and bounce a few times and then close his eyes again. :-)

The weather is beautiful down here. After a morning filled with drizzle and clouds, the sky cleared and it is presently around 74 degrees.

Can't wait to visit tonight with the entire Kipe Family and this weekend with the Keyser Family.

Happy Easter & 6 Month Checkup News

First off, Ty along with Lori and I would like to send everyone Spring Time Warmth and Happy Easter wishes! It is that time of the year where we see snow in the morning and 60 degree temps by late afternoon... oh the joy of south central PA weather! :-) Come on warm weather!

As mentioned in the last post, we went to see Nan Smith and the Easter Bunny at the Candy Store. For the most part it went well. Ty was a little unsure of the bunny and was not willing to smile but was good enough for us to snap a few pics.

Ty now says "Ba" on a routine basis. We have no idea what it means, but he loves to say it and he loves when mom and dad say it too. It is fun to hear him talk and babble as if he were carrying on a conversation with us.

Ty had his 6 month check up today and everything seems to be going great. He measured out at 26 1/2 inches long (50 percentile) and 16 lbs 9.5 ounces (25-50 percentile). Doctor Colli was very happy with Ty's progress and his playfulness. Ty was not too happy with the nurse who gave him 3 shots of meds in the leg. He cried for a few minutes and then was pretty much OK.

We are definitely ready for our trip to Myrtle Beach and our visit with the Kipe & Keyser Families next week. For our sake and Ty's, we have decided to pull an all-nighter and drive throughout the night. We are leaving for South Carolina Tuesday night and will leave to come home the following Monday night. We figured that it would be a lot easier on everyone if Ty could just sleep (we are hoping) throughout the trip. If we leave around 8 PM on Tuesday evening, we should make it to our destination around 5 or 6 AM without issue.

If mother nature cooperates I hope to post a few pics of Ty relaxing on the beach next week!

Ty & Nan at the Candy Store... :-)

Big News!!

This week we have two things to report!

First off, we have new face, Lori and I call it "Snoot" face. Ty smiles and then rinkles up his nose and squints his eyes! So darn cute!



Secondly, Ty has now rolled over 3 seperate times from his belly to his back... and we have video!! :-)

Today, we are going to visit the Candy Store where Nan Smith works. It is their Spring Open House and the Easter Bunny will be there to greet the kiddies. Hopefully, we are able to post a cute photo of Ty and the Easter Bunny sometime this week! :-)

6 Months Young, Likes/Dislikes & Fun Times

Tomorrow Ty will celebrate his 6 month birthday! Lori and I have been so amazed at how fast time flies and especially these last 6 months! During that time Ty has been such a joy in our lives and has changed so much. We have truly been blessed with a fine little boy.



Throughout the past 6 months, Ty certainly has developed some likes and some dislikes. Here are just a few of each!

Dislikes:

- Vacuum Cleaner - screams at the top of his lungs at the sound
- Tummy Time - he does it but not for long
- Drying his Hair and clothes over his head - especially before bedtime
- Waiting too long to be fed - when this little guy wants a bottle, he wants it now!
- End of his bottle - when his bottle is empty, occasionally we get a little upset!
- Staying in one position/place for too long - wants a different view so very often

Likes:

- Itzy Bitzy Spider - he loves it and smiles or laughs every time
- Changing Table - still one of the best places in the evening before bedtime
- Being Nosey - always wants to see what that noise was or who is talking
- Walks with Mommy - enjoys getting some fresh air and having mommy do all the work
- Attention - wants to be held, carried or played with constantly
- Being Scared - never saw a baby like to be scared, but he smiles and laughs every time

Within the last few weeks Ty has began to recognize his name and look at anyone who calls his name. Normally he looks and ackowledges with a smile or grin. :-)

Lori is certainly enjoying her new life at home with Ty and is doing a great job. She has also take Ty on a few shopping excursions and visits with family and friends, pretty much without incident and with Ty being a good little boy.

This past week, we purchased two new items for Ty, an Excersaucer and a Jogging Stroller. Needless to say, Ty loves his excersaucer. He seems to love all the toys on it and seems to enjoy pressing the many buttons as well! :-)

Lori and Ty have not yet used the stroller but I am sure when the weather turns warm, it will be used daily! With the rubber, bike like tires, I am sure it will be much easier to push on the road.

Ty is eating well, he loves most of the first foods with the exception of carrots. He's not too keen on those! But overall, he loves his fruit and veggies! We are excited to see how much he has grown since his last doctor's visit back in February.

Fun times are ahead in the next month. On April 9th, Ty will have his 6 month checkup where I am sure more immunizations await. A joy for any child at any age!

On April 15th, we take a week long trip to Myrtle Beach to visit the Kipe Family and see Ty enjoy his first beach experience. The past few weeks we have been preparing by purchasing some summer clothes for Ty... as you can see, he is going to be one cool dude at the beach!