15 months and 16 weeks

Caroline is 15 months old and I am 16 (almost 17) weeks pregnant, so here are some updates...

First, Caroline...

I think parenting a toddler might be the most fun job EVER. I absolutely LOVE this age. Caroline's personality is certainly coming out in full force and she makes us laugh constantly. The best part is watching her learn and figure things out. She's like a little sponge! I am often amazed at how much she understands when we talk to her. And I am ALWAYS amazed at how quickly she is learning new words. I started making a list and I keep adding to it every day!

My apologies for the following, but the Mommy and Speech Pathologist in me wants to document her language development :) We have had a bit of a "language explosion" lately!

She has about 40 or so words that she uses (or imitates) consistently:

Daddy
Mama (FINALLY!!!!)
Luci
Mimi
Grammy
Minnie
Papa (which refers to all 3 grandfathers :))
Paul
banana
apple
blueberry
milk
snack
orange
cracker
dog/doggie
baby
shoes
boots
ball
car
bow
spoon
diaper
bone (as in Luci's bone)
blanket (bubba...love that one)
phone
hi
bye bye
night night
more
uh oh
go
up
down
out
no
all gone/all done
thank you
open
off/on (she says "ah" and it means either off or on...always a guessing game :))

She can identify some body parts (nose and tummy are her faves), she makes LOTS of animal noises (dog (of course!), horse, cow, pig, and monkey are her best ones...but the most hilarious is turkey :)) , and can follow simple directions. She seems to understand EVERYTHING we say to her which is wonderful and very scary all at the same time.

Her favorite thing is to be outside. It doesn't matter what she is doing, she just loves to be out there! She is VERY independent these days...

She loves to "go." My mom has been teasing me this week, that C feels happiest when she is in the car on her way to go shopping. This might actually be true. At the mall yesterday, she waved and said Hi to everyone we passed. Luckily, people almost always smile and wave back :)

Caroline always finds a little perch to sit on. Whether it be steps, the fridge, and chair, where ever the action is...she wants a front row seat!
I know every parent thinks this , but seriously...Jon and I are convinced she is the cutest, smartest, and most hilarious baby ever. At night, we look at each other and are just amazed at what a gift she is. I just can't get over it. She is the best.
(Check out her baby "ugg" boots...got them on sale at Sears. So stinkin' cute! She LOVES to wear them, so I guess she is already trendier than her Mom ;))


Next, The Bean...

Hard to believe I am 16 weeks along already! Actually, I will be 17 weeks on Wednesday, but who's counting, right? ;) We were in Italy when I was 16 weeks pregnant with Caroline...SIGH. Good times. Anyway, I am plugging along and feeling okay.

-I had thrown up a total of 3 times, which is not bad at all, until yesterday. I had 3 "reversals" (as Jon calls them) yesterday ALONE. Terrible! I think sickness in your 2nd trimester should be outlawed.

-My appetite is still a bit "iffy" at times, but I think it is improving. I am craving Arby's roast beef sandwiches all of a sudden. And craisins. Weird.

-I had gained weight for the first time at my last appt. I am still down a few pounds overall, but things are moving in the right direction.

-I am starting to wear maternity clothes. I can still wear a few pairs of my non-maternity "fat" jeans (which are a size bigger than my "skinny" jeans), but the maternity jeans are starting to feel much more comfy :) I don't think I really look like I have a bump yet...more like I ate a big lunch ;)

-At my appt last week, the heart rate was in the 150's.

-I have started feeling little flutters of movement! This is the BEST part of being pregnant. I love feeling the baby move!!!

-We have made some progress on names. We have both of the middle names nailed down for sure...Ann for a girl (after Jon's mom) and Jon for a boy (obviously after Jon, who was named after his uncle, who was named after his uncle, etc, etc, etc.). We have a short list of first names, but nothing set in stone. We have tabled our discussion until after Dec. 23rd, but I will keep you posted :)

-The countdown is on til we have our big ultrasound! I am sooooo curious to find out what we are having!!! It's less than a month away, but Dec. 23rd just can't come soon enough!

Big News for the Erickson Crew!

There has been quite a flurry of BIG announcements around the Erickson Family recently...



Paige and Jon are expecting baby # 2 May 12th

Diane and Steven are expecting baby # 3 June 18th

Elizabeth and Bryce are expecting baby # 2 June 20th

Brittany and Clark are expecting baby #2 July 14th

In case, you lost count there...ALL four of the Erickson boys and their wives will be having babies this summer!!!! I just can't believe we are all pregnant at the exact same time. What a treat and a blessing!!!!

Come summer, Grammy and Grandpa are REALLY going to have their hands full :)

Memorial Day '09, with the fabulous 5...

can't believe we are going to make it 9!?!?!

Christmas Ideas?

I am looking for ideas for Caroline's "big" gift for Christmas this year. Since so many of you have little ones close in age to Miss C, I thought I'd throw this out there...

What is Santa bringing your little ones for Christmas?

BAY-LOR!

Last weekend, we had to pleasure of going to Kansas City, MO to visit Steven and Diane.

Our Bears were facing off against their Tigers on Saturday, so that was the main event of the weekend. Saturday morning we piled in the car and hit the road to Columbia!

A little pregame tailgating...

Jon and Steven reliving their playing days
Jon, Paige, Diane, Steven
Steven, Uncle Jon, Jon

I must admit, I had one foot off the Baylor Football bandwagon. After such a disappointing season, I was ready to give up my spot.

BUT, then it happened...


Baylor beat Mizzou!

And what a sweet victory it was! I still can't believe it happened and we were there!

The entire weekend was so much fun. I wish I had taken more pics, especially of S and D's beautiful new house...And of my precious niece and nephew!

We had such a blast hanging out with the KC Erickson's, thanks for having us!!!!

First Day of School

Today was Caroline's first day at Mother's Day Out!

I was both excited and nervous about it, but Caroline was like, "No worries, Mom, I got this."

Posing with her school bag, packed and ready to go...

Caroline cried a little bit when I left, but she was happy by the time I made it down the hall to the front office.

I cried a little bit when I pulled out of the parking lot, but I was happy by the time I made it to Target :)

Her teachers were very impressed with how much she is talking, which pleased her [Speech Pathologist] Mommy very much ;)

They were also impressed with what a good eater she is, which pleased her Daddy very much.

All in all, it was a great day for everyone...I still can't believe my little pumpkin is growing up so fast!

Quack, Quack, Quack!

Here are the pics that Carly took at our Picture Party!

As usual, she did an amazing job. She is so great at capturing Caroline's personality!!

Thanks again, Carly!!!!

(and thanks to my mom for finding her super-cute duck costume :))

Happy Halloween!

We kicked off our Halloween festivities on Friday night, with a party at the club in our neighborhood. Our friends, Susan and David were nice enough to invite us along, and we had a great time!

Susan and Gavin, Me and Caroline

Daddy Duty

David and Gavin, Jon and Caroline, Justin and Reese

Pony ride! Caroline was VERY interested in the horses (she barked at them, of course). She kept following them everywhere, but when it was her turn, she preferred to just sit on the pony. She did not like the idea of the pony moving...I am pretty sure her expression is an equal mix of sheer terror and sheer delight :)

Uncle Justin came to visit us this weekend, which was SUCH a treat! Saturday, Jon headed to Waco to tailgate for the Nebraska/BU game. Uncle Justin, Caroline, and I watched the game on TV, and relaxed all afternoon :)

When Jon got home, we went to our neighborhood block party!

Peek a Boo!


Caroline loved waddling around in her ducky costume.

She did the "Candied Apple Walk" with Daddy...too bad they didn't win :(

She didn't like standing on the little numbered spots around the circle. It was WAY more fun to stand in the middle of the circle....That way everyone could see her ;)

Checking things out with Mommy

Our neighbors set up a really elaborate Halloween display in their yard. Complete with flashing lights and music. Caroline has LOVED checking it out everyday. After the block party, we went over for one more look...

She was dancing to the spooky music.

We relaxed and played a little b-ball with Uncle J.

We love Uncle Justin!

We didn't end up actually trick or treating. It got too late, and she was tired and cranky! Oh well, better luck next year :)

We put C to bed, and cooked out with the Lehr's and the Hogeboom's. It was fun to watch the game, hand out candy, and relax with great friends!!!

Happy Halloween!!!