Oh, what he can do!

Literally a couple days after my last post, Silas started walking!! He had taken a couple steps about a month or two ago and then nothing. Nada. Then one day I set him down on his feet and he took off. I can't believe how much this little man has changed just in the last week. He has started talking and I mean TALKING. Jibberish of course, but he goes to town. He loves taking my phone and holding it up to his neck (it's close enough to the ear, right?) and talking complete jibberish. We often tell him to call his Aunt Kellee or (his future bride) Vivian. Who knows who he thinks he's talking to, but they're definitely getting an ear-full.

Yesterday he started saying "ball" but it comes about "bole" and in slow motion which is pretty funny. And today he was playing peek-a-boo with Jake and started saying "boo", again in slow motion with the ooooo really drawn out. So cute!! So far Silas knows how to say ball, boo, bye bye, hi, mama, mom, dad, dada, and hi. He often greets people at restaurants or in public when they walk in the door with "hi" and says "bye" when they leave. He waves to cars as they go by when we're out in the driveway and says hi or bye.

I'm really amazed at words that he understands. When he can't verbalize what he wants, he points. When we talk about Jamis and Max, he looks directly at the one we're talking about. He knows blankie, drink (and where it's located, which is in the fridge), puppy, no, sit down, stand up. He coughs and laughs on demand and when he does something and we tell him to do it again, he usually does. Silas loves opening doors, turning lights on and off and doing pretty much anything independently.

He goes up and down the stairs effortlessly and has no fear when it comes to slides. In fact, he walks right up slides, turns himself around, and goes down feet first and did that without us even showing him! Much to Jake's liking, he has taken to his golf clubs and loves hitting little plastic balls around the house.

Silas LOVES being outside. The other day we were playing in the driveway and he kept wanting to crawl around in the garage. Since it's so dirty, I kept bringing him back out until he starting getting frustrated. I picked up and asked him what he wanted in the garage. He kept pointing to his stroller so I put him and took him for a walk. He had a grin on his face the entire time as if that was exactly what he'd been wanting all along. What a smart kid!!

This morning the three of us went down to the farmer's market. It was about 11:30am, the sun was shining and it was really warming up. Silas was sweaty and tired threw one of his first "tamtrums" - as in fussing, kicking, wiggling, etc. Jake and I looked at each other and just had to laugh. Who was this kid? We were loving the jibberish talk that he started this week but what's with the throwing fits? This is a new thing for him - when he doesn't get his way or something is taken away from him, he goes into fit mode. Oooooh boy. I'd heard people say after their child's first birthday, it was like a switch was turned on and suddenly they had a very different child. We are not ready for this stage, but I don't think we really have a choice. :)

So family and friends, please pray for Jake and I as parents. God has placed this truly amazing child in our care and we want nothing more to raise a polite, sweet, respectful, and God-fearing child. I know he will test every last bit of patience in us (me in particular, I'm not an overly abundant patient person) and push us to our limit at times so please pray for patience, wisdom, and guidance. :)

13 months old

Silas just keeps getting better and better! Jake and I are frequently saying how smart he is and are impressed daily with what he figures out, learns, and does. He still isn't quite walking although he runs while holding our fingers, stands on his own, walks easily with all his walking toys (usually one-handed)...every time we let go to have him walk on his own though he sits down and crawls. Crawling just gets him there faster I guess. He has resorted to walking on his hands and feet when we're outside (and occasionally inside) on the concrete. It's so funny seeing his little butt raised in the air as he gets around the drive way and through the grass.

Jake and I took him to the zoo last week (yes, it is SO nice having Jake around more!). I had forgotten how small the Blank Park Zoo was - it took us just as long to drive across town as it did to go through the zoo but it was cheap and Silas had a good time. He got to pet the goats and loved watching the giraffe.





Silas really has a fascination with animals. When we're out and sees a dog, he yells "Da! Da! DAAA!" at the top of his lungs, attempting to get the dog's attention. Once he's up close and personal with the dog, he does get a little shy (which I am totally okay with) but loves to touch animals on the nose. Who knows why, but it's sure cute! He loves kissing animals too - he is constantly trying to kiss Jamis (and ride her), kiss animals in books, stuffed animals, etc. It's precious to see this side of him.


We've been loving the warmer weather and have been taking every opportunity to be outside. Silas figured out how to ride his 4-wheeler my himself yesterday and thinks he is hot stuff. He still can't steer so we stick close by, but he is definitely proud of himself!







Silas moved up the the "big boy" room last week at daycare....and I am LOVING it. I think he probably is too. They have big boy toys, a sensory table, they go outside, have schedule nap time for all the kids so he able to get a full nap in. They sent home Mother's Day gifts (a sweet poem with his hand prints) and a book about his first week there.

I leave with with this funny picture of Silas.....I'm telling ya, this kid has a sense of humor!