Boom, Boom

Shonn took Beckett to the small circus that visited Mattoon tonight!  Beckett rode a small Shetland Pony for about three steps and then wanted Dad to take him off of it. Then, they went to see the elephant.  Beckett says, "Boom, boom" for elephants, and one day I mentioned it to Shonn.  I said I thought it was so cute how Beckett came up with that, and I wondered how.  Shonn said, "Oh, I taught him to say that."  I was so surprised, and I asked him why.  Shonn told me, "Well, that's what I said when I was little."  Cute.

So, Beckett got to feed the Boom Boom tonight.

Shonn said he liked it...until the trunk kept searching for more food.  And then he was done. :)

Steak and Shake

We had lunch at Steak and Shake after church on Sunday.  Beckett loved the banana shake!

Routine

 

A great part of school starting is getting back into a routine.  Beckett is such a little learner right now - exploring everything and so curious.  I'm excited to see what this year has in store for him!

 

I created this two-page daily log sheet so that I have a record of his learning and growth to share with him (or his future wife) someday.  Plus, it makes me feel more a part of his daily life.  Grandparents did this last year, and I've already loved looking through it, even though it was only a year ago.  :)

 

Here's the front page of the new log!   Beckett's Busy Day

School's Out Forever

Well, August 1 marked the first time Shonn hasn't begun preparing for back-to-school since he was 5 years old!  I am so proud of him for making his dream a reality and for the hard work he does for our family.  He is so amazing at managing people, meeting with customers, designing creative outdoor spaces, and making landscapes more beautiful. He has an excellent reputation for kindness, going above-and-beyond, being trustworthy and a hard worker, as well as doing excellent work. We have a lot of long-range plans for the business and I have no doubt he will make it a success.  Here are a just a few pictures of the numerous jobs he has designed, managed, and implemented this year.

You can see more at www.hildlandscaping.com!

Back to School Interview

Shonn and I "interviewed" each other about Beckett with the hope that we will answer these questions each year, based on what we know about him at the time.  Enjoy!

Question: Beckett’s…	Shonn’s Answer	Christy’s Answer
Favorite Word?	Mama	Down (which is used for down and up)
Favorite Toy	Tractors	Mommy’s phone
Favorite Game	Tickle Wrestling	Chase
Favorite Food	Cookies	Chicken
Favorite Drink	Milk	Anything with a straw
Least Favorite Activity	Sleeping	Going to sleep
One word to describe him	Happy	Sweet
I think he will be…	A Doctor	A Musician
My favorite trait	Cuddly	Happy and cuddly (I couldn’t pick just one.)
Funniest Habit	Wrinkling his nose and making funny faces	Starts bouncing when music comes on
In school, he will…	Be smart	Be nice to everyone

15-Month Inventory!

I say this every month, but I can't believe he is 15 months old! For his Bright Starts evaluation, Beckett was on or beyond all gross and fine motor skills, and he was above on language.  I didn't get as much advice on what to do next with him as I would have liked, but I wasn't sure if I should stand there while she assessed him or if I should participate or just make myself scare...  The CDS didn't really seem to interested in me, so I just hung out in the kitchen area while she evaluated him.  He easily colored, stacked blocks, kicked a ball, walked backwards, and waved when prompted.  He was very interested in her new books as well as her bag with the zipper. :)

For his 15-month doctor's appointment, Beckett had to get three shots (EEEK) and it wasn't fun.  The nurses normally give shots in both legs simultaneously, but they didn't coordinate, which made Beckett tighten his quad, and then the third shot came out and she had to stick him twice!  It was horrible!  After I picked him up and cuddled him for a little while, he was back to his normal happy self.  He was in the 47th percentile for weight, at 24.5 pounds, and at the 49th percentile for height, at 30 inches.  Right in the middle! 

What the numbers and assessments can't measure is how beautiful his smile is, or how his curiosity helps us see the world in a new way.  No one can quantify the joy he brings into our lives, or put a percentile on how many times a day he surprises us or makes us laugh.  These fifteen months have been awe-inspiring and a reminder of what a tremendous gift life is.

Cookie Monster!

Someone has discovered cookies... And Cookie Monster.  He loves both. :)