November and December 2016 (25 and 26 months)

Crew is changing more and more everyday and his personality is coming through and he is stubborn as hell.  He is starting to get put in time outs more and more because he hasn't learned that yelling and telling your parents "No" isn't going to fly in this house.  New words that I have noticed are house (housch), IPad, .......  Loves to gallop around the house (which is the cutest little gallop I've ever seen) and constantly is chasing/bullying the dog (pour Penny).  Is a kissing machine and sure loves his daddy.  Refers to Brayden and Owen as “b” and “o” and calls Tate “ta-te”. 

In November Crew got to enjoy his first  (the first one he was too small and I think they cancelled it last year due to weather) GC Christmas Lighted Parade.  It was so cold but he enjoyed himself snuggling up with Erin.  He really loved watching all the lights of the floats going by and even got a glimpse of Santa Clause.  He had a great time!

December was busy as always but Crew kept up like a trooper.  We took everyone to Chicago at the beginning of December to celebrate Brayden’s birthday and went to Medieval Times.  Crew didn’t enjoy it as much as the other boys but we made it through.  Crew did however love the swimming at the pool.  No fear and jumps right in like a pro.
 
With Crew being yet another year older he really started getting into the opening of gifts.  He understood how to unwrap at a slow pace and enjoyed the toys he got.  A couple of his favorites this year were a blow up ball pit from Uncle Chris and family and a John Deere bicycle from Grandma and Grandpa Vetter.    He had a great xmas and kept up with everyone.

Crew is all boy at this stage.  He loves to roughhouse with his brothers and dad and terrorizing the poor dog is he favorite hobby.  He continues to bring news words into his vocabulary but still very difficult to understand.  Those close to him can understand most of what he is saying but he is far from sentences.  He does, however, understand the majority of what we say to him and follows direction well.  Last night we were looking at pictures on my phone and he was able to tell the difference between mommies (girls), daddies (boys) and grandpas (older men).  I love to watch him learn a new skill.  He watches YouTube all the time and the other day I caught him counting to five.  I try ot encourage him to count while we are in the bathtub but he is VERY stubborn and will only do something on his own terms.  Rarely repeats things I say to him so no alphabet yet which would worry me if this was my first child.  I have learned to not worry so much and know that all kids develop at different rates and it doesn’t make much of a difference in the end.   Crew loves to take a bath, loves to play outside, loves to wrestle with dad, loves to cuddle with mom and loves to run like crazy.  One cute thing that he does is when we are in the card and we arrive at a destination Crew will yell “YEA!”  from the backseat, because he is excited to get out of his car seat for his next adventure.

September and October 2016 (23 Months and 24 Months)

September was a busy month for the older boys and of course Crew had to come along for the ride.  He is a trooper when it comes to traveling and hanging out for soccer games and football games.


Starting to try to copy more and more words.  He is finally trying to talk.  Loves dancing.  A wrestling machine and loves to play super rough.  A little dare devil and always trying to stand up and balancing on items.  Says two work sentences and seems to say alot of people's names by saying the first letter (E for Edie(Grandma) T for Tim, O for Owen and Brayden.)

Crew had his second birthday on October 9^th and he had an awesome day.  Grandma Vetter, Auntie Sydney and Alex all joined us for a day trip to Radar Farms.  Crew loved the little train and playing in the play houses.  He had fun but skipped a nap so had a difficult time staying happy.  We got home and Daddy, Grandma E and Papaw came  in from the field to help us sing Happy Birthday for Crew and have some cake.  He loved it and got to enjoy it a little more then last year.

Our two year appointment with Dr. Delost was in the beginning of October.  He is a healthy growing boy.  He is now 31 lbs. and 35.5 inches tall. (Tate at this age was 25 lbs and 34 inches)  Crew is in the about the 80% for height and about 90% for weight.  Comparisons in our family is that he is much bigger then Tate was at this age but seems to

be growing like he is going to be built like David.  Crew is a sturdy kid and it tough.  He is wearing size 3T shirts and 2T pants and his shoes are size 8 (Tate was in 18 months and wearing a size 6.5 shoe)

We ended October with our annual trick-or-treating!  We had awesome weather.  Beautiful and about 60 degrees!  Couldn't ask for anything better.  This year field work was busy so grandpa Vetter didn't come with us but we did have grandma Vetter, Daddy, mommy and Tate.  After watching Tate a couple of houses Crew was all about it for about 5 houses and then he hit a road block.  He wanted a sucker and wanted to be carried for the rest of time.  Luckily we had the stroller in the car and all was well.  We got lots of Candy, saw a couple of friends along the way and had a great time.  Crew entered a sugar coma about 9 and talked himself to sleep/ 

Your boy will likely be 6 ft. 2 in. at age 18.

Young men often continue to grow a little past 18 until they reach 21, but their height at age 18 is very close to their final adult height. This prediction is a "best guess" but it's still just that -- a guess. Based on the formula we used* there is a 50 percent chance that your boy's full-grown height will be within 0.8 inches (above or below) of this prediction, and a 90 percent chance that it will be within 2.1 inches.

July and August 2016 (21 and 22 months)

Crew experienced his 2nd 4th of July this year.  He was pretty good this  year considering he was without a nap for most of the day.  He started his day off by riding on the ranger in the parade with the boys.  Technically, he fell asleep right before it was our turn to go but he was tired and the 10 minute nap did him some good.  We spent the rest of the day hanging out at the lake with the Fords.  Crew hung out and played and watched all the sites.  It was a good day and he really didn't have any major breakdowns.  The fireworks came and he was a little scared this year.  He snuggled as close as he could to Daddy and let out a few wimpers and whines but survived and fell asleep on the way home.

Most of the rest of our July was spent enjoying the outside weather.  Crew is becoming quite the swimmer.  He does great swimming by himself and jumping into the water.  He loves taking ride in the ranger and sits and buckles himself up.

In August Crew took his second trip tot he Ozarks.  This one was much better then last year.  He fit in his life jacket much better and was very comfortable in it.  He loved to go swimming off the boat and in the pool with the boys.  By Wednesday he started running a temperature but was such a trooper.  By Friday he was back to himself and he was able to enjoy his last day on the lake.

Crew is growing so much and wearing size 2T pants and 3T shirts.  He runs everywhere he goes and has no fear.  Loves to stand on top of things and try to balance....like the side of the couch.  He is following directions very well.  Can tell him to sit down to put shoes on, its time for a bath, time to eat.  The cute thing he does now is when he is in his car seat and we arive at our destination you can always here from the back seat "YEAH!"  Cute.  He is saying alot of words but most of them are not recognizable by anyone but us.  He calls Grandma "E", I'm assuming because Tate calls grandma Edie,  

May and June of 2016 (19 and 20 months)

May 2016 and our little one is already 19 months old.  How did he get so big.  Looking more and more like a big boy every day.

At 19 months his eye teeth are starting to come in full force and the teething process has begun...again.  Pooping like crazy and screaming in the middle of night because they are bothering him.  At this point in Crew's life he is really starting to communicate.  We can’t understand everything he says but he understands a lot of what we say to him.  If we ask him to throw something away, or to sit down and put his shoes on or to come over and get his diaper changed.  He understands.  Still loves playing outside with all his bikes and his brothers.  He does pretty good about staying on the patio.  His eating habits are still good but sometimes he eats a ton and sometimes he is not as hungry.  Might be the teeth issue.  Loves to eat apples….this is the new thing.  He will stand at the refrigerator door and just repeat apple, apple, apple.  Loves going on rides with grandpa Stroh in his truck and loves to relax on the ranger for a ride.  Absolutely obsessed with Paw Patrol.  You want to watch it ALL the time and will scream if I even try to mix it up with a Bubble Guppies.  Love to play with the Ipad and will hunt it down no matter how I try to hide it.

Started to get in the water this month and he is a FISH.  Loves being in the water and jumping in and swimming by himself.  No fear at all.  Will put your face in the water and fine with it.

March and April of 2016 (17 and 18 months)

Our munchkin is growing more and more everyday.  He is becoming quite the little stinker.  He is knowing more and more how to throw a temper tantrum.  Throwing himself on the floor when he is upset and screeching when he doesn’t get his way.  Not fun for mom and dad.  His love for reading books and throwing balls continues.  He is starting to throw with his left hand more and more so I am hoping that he will not be left handed.  He loves watching his brother Owen throw the ball against the wall and retrieving it and has copied him by standing on our bed and throwing the ball again the headboard.  Super smart kid!  He is learning more and more words.  He doesn't seem to be saying much besides mama, dada, no, dog and now hot.  But he does understand alot such as take off your coat or put on your shoes and socks or it time for a tubby or do you want to go to bed? He is starting to use No against us.  Like if throws food at the dog, which happens often when he is done with dinner, we say NO and he will turn to us and say NO with the same tone.  Its hilarious but we try not to laugh and try to get serious about it.  Last night he even got a spanking for doing it but it really didn't seem to bother him.  We might have a stubborn one on our hands.

At 18 Months crew is starting to talk like crazy.  The words aren't quite there but he is finally making tons of noises trying to talk.  Some of the new words lately include bubbles, tractor, .....  His new trick is we will read Goodnight Moon and he will say the "Hush" part.  His four molars are fully in now and I don't dare to put my finger in there to check in any other teeth are on their way in.  We are playing outside when the weather allows for it and Crew loves it.  If we get him out of the car we can't put him down in the garage because he wants to stay outside and play and will throw a fit if we try to go inside.  He is becoming more active with his older age when means more bumps and bruises.  He had his 18 month pictures scheduled in April but we had to reschedule for May because his face was so scratched up with multiple falls that Photoshop couldn’t even save us.  Crew ended the month with his fourth haircut and same ole, same ole.  As soon as we walked into the shop and Crew heard Leanne say hi, he started to cry and cried through the whole thing.  Crew is also really starting to test us out with discipline.  He will listen to me when I say NO and will often sit down in shame but there are times I will tell him NO then he will turn to me and say NO and try to hit me.  Its crazy how fast they learn that stuff.  I have a feeling the upcoming months will be a war of wills.

18 month check up (April 25, 2016): 28.6 lbs and 34 inches (90%)

15 and 16 months (January and February)

January started with Crew having 8 teeth total.  Apparently a few popped in without me documenting them in December but now he has 8.  He is running like a champ.  Started going up and down the stairs.  Loves when the boys leave the gate to the basement so he can join them downstairs while they play games.  If the gate is closed, he will stand at the top of the stairs and yell for the boys if they leave him up stairs.  Sad and cute all at the same time.  Is beginning to enjoy reading books.  Will bring us books to read and particularly enjoys "Goodnight Moon".  Had three of his molar behind the eye teeth come in.  Starting to follow directions such as time for bed, put on your shoes, put on your socks, take off your coat or time to eat.   Still loves to wrestle and hit the ball off a tee but now is starting to play basketball.  

Words:  That, Tate ("tah tah"), up, down, shakes his head yes and no although I'm pretty sure he has no idea what they mean.

Will use sign language for "more" thanks to Auntie Sydney. and "milk"

Crew's 15 month appointment:  26.8 lbs, 32.6 inches / 90% percentile.

One year check up and 13 and 14 months

 
We had our one-year check up and Crew did great.  He is growing like a weed.  He is now 25 lbs (90%), 31.5 inches (90%) and his head circumference is in the 50%.  We are now able to put him on milk and take away the bottle.  So we have successfully cut out bottles and Crew was completely fine with that.

He is trying to talk a ton.  Lots of Dadadadada and mamamama.  He loves to talk on the phone, or at least he puts every phone up to his ear and says "da?".  Still infatuated with Grandpa Louie.  Every time he sees him he will get the biggest smile and do whatever he can to get to him.  Loves to sit in his fire engine and have the boys push him around.  Walking like a pro and the walk has turned into a run at times.  Can clap his hands together when we say "Yea".  Likes to climb his new to him slide, in fact, likes to climb all the time.  Likes to give kisses when requested and sometimes mommy even gets one without asking when she picks him up from the babysitter.  It must be love.

11/1/2015 - 5th tooth on bottom left of middle two.

11/24/2015 - Told Crew mommy had to put on her socks and Crew pointed to his foot.

12/7/2015 - Says Grandpa and up and Down and Out very well.  Will bark like a dog if he hears a dog outside or sees one on tv.