18 Months

I'm really not ready for this milestone. I keep trying to slow the boy down but he won't even listen. So because I'm really emotional this is going to be a long post. I don't want to forget a single thing about my 18 month old. Because in a couple of seconds he'll be 18 and going on a mission. sniff, sniff.

First, his loves:
From the time he could grab onto something with his chubby man hand, he has loved shoes. I've gotten to the point of hiding his shoes because if he finds them he immediately brings them to me saying "ssssshhhhhzzzzz! sssssshhhhhhhzzzzz!" (shoes) and insisting I put them on him. Our closet is usually a shoe cluttered mess because Chet loves to get all the shoes down and try them on.

He also loves to reorganize my kitchen. I am aware that my organizational skills aren't always on point (Tanner usually helps me out when we move into a new place), but Chet makes sure I know he is not satisfied with the layout on an almost daily basis. While I am cooking he either packs as much as he can fit into a laundry basket, or he moves everything from one place to another. He just likes to keep me on my toes.

He still is very passionate about his "beebee" (blankie and binkie) and cannot have one without the other. We tried to just give him his binkie during Sacrament Meeting and he was adamant about needing the blanket as well. So last week was the first time he went all three hours without his loves. And he did really well.

He went through a phase, that is sadly starting to fade, where he had to have his special ball with him wherever he went. When he woke up in the morning one of the first things he would say was "Ba, ba?" We had some tense moments when I couldn't find the ball fast enough.

He really wants to do whatever his sister is doing. Until he doesn't want to anymore and she tries to make him. Then we have screaming and tears from both parties. But for the most part they really play wonderfully together. Chet and Mariah both are so good at sharing with each other. It makes me so proud when they do too.

He has started asking me to get in his crib and snuggle with him now. And since I have the build of a ten year old boy (ha) I climb right in. I'm sure I'll regret it when my girth causes the crib to come crashing down, but how can I resist my sweet boy patting the bed and saying, "me? me?". No, I cannot resist, so I take my chances.

He actually is showing some interests in books too! Happy day! I didn't know if that would ever happen. His favorite book is I Love You Through and Through. Anytime I start to read a book Mariah has picked out he immediately runs to the book shelf and picks out what he thinks is a better choice. But I'm not going to complain because he will actually sit through most the books he picks now.

We got Mariah and Chet their own Book of Mormons hoping it would help with family scripture study. It does...occasionally. 

He still loves to make big messes at meal times but sometimes he'll suddenly freak and start panicking and saying, "meh (mess), meh, meh" over and over until I help him clean it up. I think it is all a ploy to keep me standing throughout the entire meal. Once he is done he likes to fling food as far as he can. Little stinker.

Now just a few more things that I really love about him:

He folds his arms in the cutest way with his hands tucked under his chin. We have tried to correct him but he knows that his way is better.

He is starting to talk more. I love when he sees a picture of "Jeezah" (Jesus) or "dadda" because he gets so happy and says their names over and over. He now will point to himself and say "Chet". And he is starting to pick up animal noises although his go-to sound is always a barking dog. He likes to say "Amee" (Amen) with everyone else in church but is often just a little behind. I don't know where he got this but water is "lalala" and I'm going to be sad when he stops saying it that way.

Our little Babushka 

Chet had no problem transitioning to Nursery. Which made me happy. I'm sure having his sister in there helps.

After his bath he insists on wearing his hooded towel. He looks like a little hobbit walking around.

Yes, it's pink. Perks of having an older sister. 

This boy is so joyful and his joy is so contagious. We are glad that he is ours!

"Helping" Aunt Heidi play the piano. I just love his cheeser grin. 

A Little Run-In With a Door Knob...

When I was pregnant with Mariah, Tanner was applying to medical schools. While he traveled to the midwest for some interviews I stayed with his brother's family in Arizona. Tanner went and played basketball with a group of medical students in Kirksville and ended up tweaking his back...bad. He told me about it that night and said that it hurt pretty bad. Bright and early the next morning I received a text message from Tanner that said, "I am going to the Emergency Room". That was it.

I frantically tried to call him but he wouldn't answer. I have somewhat of an overreactive imagination (it drives Tanner crazy). By noon I was positive that he was paralyzed from the neck down. I had images of me spoon feeding him the rest of his life but still loving him through it all. Yes I'm crazy. I didn't find out any details until late that afternoon. I bawled most of the day, darn those pregnancy hormones. Once I finally got in contact with him I gave him a long lecture on the etiquette of announcing emergency room visits. I am a Young, so I know that there is such an etiquette (we are a very accident-prone family).

So I can understand that Tanner was trying to do it right this time. I'll let you be the judge of that. Tuesday morning I received this picture as I was feeding the hungry throng (ok, two kids but it feels that way at times).

I gasped so loud even Mariah and Chet got worried. Mariah asked "what is it mom?". Then I saw the other text that said, "I am in the ER I passed out and hit my face on a door...I broke my nose and split my lip...sorry." Let me just take a moment to say that my husband is very selfless. In this moment of trauma he felt the need to apologize...he really is a gem. I immediately tried to call him but got nothing. Tanner was a little distracted sending this picture to some med-school buddies. I'm sure they got a real kick out of it, weirdos. It didn't take as long to get in contact with him this time so I'll give him kudos for that. I drove down to Ogden thinking that I would be the caring wife who rescued my husband. He refused pain medication so he could drive himself home. 

Tanner had surgery on Thursday and everything went smoothly. When we registered for surgery Tanner said to the woman, "I think the reason why I am here is as plain as the nose on my face.". I just love his old man humor. He was joking around with the nurses the whole time before and after the surgery. I was kind of hoping he would wake up from anesthesia a little goofy. He is always in control so it would be nice if for once I wasn't the crazy, emotional one. But sadly he was the picture of sanity when they brought me to him. He took a little longer to answer questions, like 30 second pauses, but thats to be expected I guess. 

 Best lookin' man I've ever seen in a hospital gown!

Not feeling so hot right after surgery. 

But then he turned on a Basketball game and he seemed to perk up pretty quick. 

When we finally left the hospital two of his best friends from college called him. Tanner was cracking jokes left and right and they were giggling like Jr. High girls, the friends, not Tanner. I have never heard that man giggle. Tanner had one joke that went a little like this: "If I believed in reincarnation I think I would want to be a hunting dog or a Bald Eagle because they are protected by the Government (the Bald Eagle, that is)." He is now denying that he said this, but who was coming out of anesthesia? 

After witnessing Tanner's recovery from this ordeal I now regret any time I have thought that he was being a wimp. That man has an incredibly high pain tolerance. The only thing he complained about was that his eyes were bugging him. They were so bloodshot and irritated. He went off his pain medication because it was affecting his concentration and he wanted to get some studying in with his "down" time. 

His eyes look better here than they did initially but they were still pretty red. 

Also I am so grateful for those who are willing to serve in a time of need. I feel uncomfortable asking things of others. I even get stressed out asking a favor of my family. I ended up calling a woman in our new ward and asked if she could watch Mariah and Chet the day Tanner broke his nose. I don't know her very well but I felt completely at peace having her watch my babies. On the drive down to Ogden I broke down in tears thinking of that woman's willingness to drop everything to serve me. When we got home she had made dinner and the kids were so happy. She was with them for over four hours and was so wonderful. 

Both Tanner's mom and mine offered to head out here to help and it took a lot of convincing that is wasn't necessary. Tanner's older brother Ty drove two hours the night before his surgery and gave him a beautiful blessing and then turned around and drove another two hours back home. And Tanner's sister Natalie took a day off of work so she could watch Mariah and Chet while Tanner had his surgery and she stayed the whole weekend and was such a great help.

Another sister in my ward texted me on Sunday asking if I needed help getting my kids to church. And I've received texts asking how we are doing. I think one reason why things like this happen is because it gives others an opportunity to make sacrifices and serve. And it gives those being served an opportunity to humble themselves enough to ask for help. And all of that serving and asking just brings us that much closer to our Savior. My heart is so full of gratitude and with the knowledge that there are so many wonderful people in this world. 

Here is the final product. And I must say I think he looks quite dashing. Yay for modern medicine!