Puddle jumping (or swimming)

Harrison loves to jump in puddles! Gentle jumps and splashes, quickly turned into puddle swimming. This cute guy was so happy and soaked. 

Harrison at 16 Months

- Harrison understands most things that we say to him. If we tell him that we are going on a walk, he walks towards the door. If we tell him that it is time for a bath, he walks to the bathroom. He is picking up on everything we say and do, which makes us feel like we need to clean up our acts! He is also mimicking lots of things we do. Here is a picture of him "shaving his legs" in the tub, just like mommy does.

- Our little man understand most things we say to him, but he does not know how to vocalize his words quite yet. He can say: Dad, Hi, and Bye. He usually refers to most people as "Dah" or "Dad." Since he doesn't know how to say "Momma" yet, he lovingly calls me "Dad."

- We have a framed picture of Jesus on our wall. One time during family prayers, we thanked Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. We immediately heard, from the corner of the family room, Harrison say "Dah" as he pointed to the picture on the wall.

- After spending close to three weeks in Oregon over the Christmas holiday with Jonny's family, Harrison picked up on a few things from his cousins. One thing that he picked up from his cousin Mason is putting his little feet in our big shoes and walking around.

- His favorite toy right now is his Little Tikes car that Nona and Grandpa got him for Christmas. We take him on walks around the apartment complex or to the park, and he successfully steers us there! There have been plenty of times where I come into the room and Harrison is sitting in his car, driving.

- He was loving his vegetables for two months: peas, corn, steamed carrots, and string beans. I felt like such a good mom! Now, he would prefer to have nothing to do with them. He mostly prefers eating Grandma Kristi's chocolate chip oatmeal cookies!

- He knows where his nose and belly button are and proudly points to each when we ask him. However, he has recently found that his nose has holes and his finger can fit very snuggly within them.

- He is learning to test boundaries and make sense of the world around him. He doesn't completely understand the word "No" and so we try creative ways to teach him what is good and bad. Sometimes, it means that we just have to remove him from the situation when, after three times, he doesn't listen to our correction. But, gradually he is beginning to understand.

- He loves his Grandpa Rick and Grandpa Weath. There have been many times in Oregon and Newport, where we have to pry Harrison out the arms of his loving grandpa. I don't think Rick and my dad are complaining one bit about that.

 

Sick Baby

Poor Harrison caught the dreaded flu that was going around. We spent three solid days snuggling on the couch, spending quality time in a steamy shower, drinking lots of fluids, and sucking down baby Tylenol. Poor guy. It was the first real cold of his life and he handled it pretty darn well.

 We took a picture of his runny nose to show dad at school. 

His poor little pout. 

While I was on campus.....

.... Jonny texted me the following:

"I did something that you might not be happy with. I realized after I began, but then it was too late. You can be sad at me."

"I'm sorry."

"I should have waited for you to be there."

Then he sent me this picture:

Harrison's hair was buzzed, by the hand of his father, while I was gone for the day. My only complaint is that it makes him look so big!

Hiking, our new frontier

Mandy generously bequeathed her old hiking backpack to us and we couldn't be more thrilled! We have used it a few times, hiking trails minutes from our house. We have made it a goal to hike more this winter because the Santa Monica Mountains sure are beautiful. 

Lincoln City Beach House 2012

During our time in Oregon, we ventured out to the beach house in Lincoln City for a couple of days. This cute-as-a-button beach house was first purchased by Kristi's parents many years ago and still is enjoyed by family members today. Here is a picture of my boys in front of it.

During our first morning there, we bundled up to walk out and enjoy the beach and hike to the point. 

The surging ocean creates incredible sea foam.

Harrison was a good sport for our little walk to the point, but he was not used to the cold and fell asleep in our arms as we walked back.

He was ready for the rest of our day after a nice nap.

We headed south along the coast and enjoyed beautiful vistas and breathtaking overlooks. But, first we ate some lunch. Harrison thoroughly enjoyed it.

     

Then it was out for more adventure!

       

Too bad we didn't have a quarter. We wanted to see those "distant points of interest."

The rest of the day was filled with breathtaking views. Enjoy:

We drove past the Hatfield Marine Science Center where Rick spent a summer during his college years.

We drove to the other Newport. Apparently this one is more friendly than the others.

Harrison was thoroughly enjoying his tour of the Oregon coast.

 We visited Devil's Punch Bowl State Park

I even got to see a lighthouse. 

Then we came home and Harrison and dad had a dancing jam session. 

(loving Harrison's face below)

 Last picture, for good measure. Beautiful, blustery Oregon.