I'm over 14 months old now

I liked playing with Loomis. He's a nice puppy, just like Brody.

Mom and Dad had some kind of race I guess, so I got to play over at Cy's house for a while. Cy was the city and I was Godzilla!

Grandpa Terry came to play with us!

Lyla was very good at sharing her toys with me.

The more the merrier.

When Lyla woke up from her nap we played together, too.

Olivia crawled around with me.

It's fun playing in the grass.

Lexi loves me a whole lot. She took me everywhere with her.

Me, Aunt Ginette, Lexi and Olivia on a nice warm day in their new backyard.

I went to New York City!

Ok, so I'm home and I've been in training. Mom and Dad think I'm ready, so they're helping me gradually become more comfortable with the idea of walking. Now I only need to hold one hand to go across the room, and Mom, Dad and I really enjoy this little catch-and-release game we've developed where I go back and forth between them taking 3-4 lunging steps. Sometimes I balance pretty well and actually try to control the steps. Today I was able to stand alone for more than 10 seconds, but Mom wasn't able to get that on film. And Christie told Mom that I took one step by myself yesterday! This video is of me standing for just a few seconds because silly Mom distracted me with the camera. But I promise, it won't be long before there is much better footage of me standing and walking.

But what's a little exhaustion, right? I'd much rather bang on the window and squeal with excitement in an effort to impress the man sleeping in the seat in front of us.

So, two reasons for this face: First, this is the end of the New York pictures. To be honest, Mom did a pretty poor job on this trip. Thankfully Aunt Julie and Aunt Kate took better shots, so hopefully I'll have those soon. Second, I was supposed to sleep the whole way home, but I didn't even make it half-way. Between the busy days and late(r) nights I'm just plain exhausted.
I told you I missed Miller. When we were reunited I made sure to give him a big hug. He was surprised because I beat him to it.

Uncle Karl thought Miller and I might like to help pay for the bill.

Miller and I didn't get to sit together this time. I missed him and I think he missed me, too.

Another grown-up dinner? Boring! Where's the kids' table?

Mommy was super excited to see her friend, Emily. That meant that I got to meet Nora!

Chilling with Aunt Kate.

Aunt Kate and I had fun in the grass at Central Park. Aunt Julie set up a whole playdate with a bunch of kids like me, but other than for stealing a little watermelon I pretty much did my own thing.

Miller, do you want to go swimming with me?

After dinner, we walked through a pretty park and I got to try ice cream for the first time. The ice cream was ok, but I was way more interested in this fountain.

I'm writing down what I want and Miller is telling the waitress where to put the food.

Here we are playing with our placemats and crayons.

Now I'm in New York. We were delayed about half a day, but at least we made it. Miller and I got to go out to dinner with the grown-ups.

I haven't left for New York yet in this picture, but I just wanted to let you all know a little bit about toilet paper. In case you were wondering, it's not really very flavorful.

Happy Easter, everyone! We've just passed what was supposed to be my due date, so my adjusted age is over a year now and now we can forget about it completely. I'm hitting my developmental targets like an all-star anyway. I babble constantly. In fact, I tried to out-do the minister and the choir and the orchestra at church today. I LOVE to eat, and eat, and eat. If Mom or Dad makes the mistake of showing me the rest of my meal before my veggies, I choose to pass on the veg completely. I know what I want and I let everyone else know by pointing and reaching. I also let them know when I'm done by vigorously throwing everything off my tray and feeding it to Brody. I'm trying to learn some sign language, but my signs for "milk" and "all done" look a lot like my wave. I figure, it's all in the context anyway. I really do understand a lot, though. I was whining and fussing with Mom this afternoon because I wanted my milk. Mom reminded me that I had left it on the floor across the room. She told me to go get it, so I did! And the most fabulous of all?!?! I have figured out how to steer my stroller! Now when (if) I run into things, I back up a little and turn. Grandpa was totally impressed with my 180 in the kitchen. I'm still resistant to letting go completely and standing on my own, but when I do, oh boy, watch out!

So you say I can use this to water the plants, Grandma? But Mom won't let me play in the plants. Will you talk to her for me about that?

Belly-flopping for the bunny.

I love books with flaps to peek behind. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa C!

So Mom and Dad completely dropped the ball on Easter - maybe partially because I'm not eating chocolate yet, but still. Thank goodness I have TWO sets of loving grandparents who would never miss an opportunity to shower me with fun gifts. See this face, Mom and Dad? This face says, "Two Easter baskets are nice, but three would have been awesome!"

We went out to a nice dinner. I tried to play my modified peekaboo game with the menu. Basically, I just lift everything up above my head and wait for people to cheer for me. For some reason, nothing works quite as well as the curtains at home.

Plexi glass completely surrounded our gondola thing, but Grandma still made sure to hold me tight.

Weeeee!

I don't like wearing hats or sunglasses, but I sure like taking them from other people.

We decided to take a ride on the huge ferris wheel. Do you want to come?

Family photo. Sorry, Brody.

It was pretty windy, so I got a little scared standing by myself. (Also, I have Grandma and Grandpa wrapped around my little finger, so I can be as needy as I want to when they're around.)

Grandma and Grandpa came to stay for Easter weekend. We finally had one nice day of weather so we took a stroll along Navy Pier and watched all the boats.

Mom and I went downtown to have lunch with Dad. I got to visit lots of Daddy's friendly co-workers. These are some of them. (See guys! I promised I'd make you famous and I always keep my promises.)

It's fun being naughty.

That was fun! Thank you so much to all of our donors. The Fetters Family proudly raised over $3000 for the March of Dimes. Hopefully that money will help another little one grow as strong as me - 3 pounds at birth, 20 pounds now!

Awake again. The walk was almost over so we stopped at Buckingham Fountain for a pic. I wonder if the fountain people knew when they turned on the water this week that the temps would drop back to freezing. ...maybe a little too leisurely! I rarely fall asleep in my stroller, but I was cozy and I got tired of looking at strangers' butts.

It was pretty crowded, so we enjoyed a leisurely pace...

Here's our team. We would have looked a lot different if it had been eighty degrees like last Sunday. Chicago weather just can't figure itself out in the spring.

I got to see my friend, Ava. We're preemie pals and we want to help other babies.

The day has finally come! It's the March for Babies! This is the T-shirt I earned for fundraising.

Squash beard and uni-brow.

Not too bad for a first-timer, right?

Mom tried to help me write my name and some squiggles, but I wanted to do it all by myself. I'm working on proper finger positioning. (Mom might have a heart attack if I don't learn to do it correctly before going to school. I think she may be a little traumatized...)

Whatever Mom does, I want to do. Mom was writing, so I stole her pen. I quickly learned how to take the cap off.

I'm trying, Brody, just be patient.

... So I have a plan! I'm going to hit the books and read up on Weimaraners and dog training. That way, once I'm big enough I'll know just how to keep my pal happy.

Bubby was feeling very sorry for himself because I'm not very good at playing with him yet. I try to pull "Frank" away from him, but he's too strong for me...

Dad and I are very concerned here about The Masters. Poor Rory! Dad's going to be my caddy when I'm on the LPGA tour. He'll help make sure I don't choke.

This is Grandma singing to me. I like to rock back and forth when I hear music or even just a drum beat. I get caught up in Grandma's hand motions though, so then I just stare at her.