Well today is Alexander's half birthday. Apparently Scott's was a few days ago, but sometimes the adults get missed. We had a busy fun day so we never got around to the fun dessert part, but he is little and really there are no expectations for these days. Just a fun day to say you’re special. Today he turned 18 months old... going onto three or four. This little guy has no clue that he just walked out of the baby phase and should now be in the toddler phase. He sees his older siblings and thinks he should be doing what they are doing.
Just a few examples:
• When we are in the kitchen close to dinner time or if I am cooking, he grabs plates out of the dish washer places them on the table (not in the right spots yet) and then climbs on a chair and waits. I always feel bad when I have to put him in the high chair, but he is not quite ready for table manners anyway.
• When the kids pile in the car he tries to hid out in the back seat, and throws a fit when he has to sit in the car seat.
• At the store, he never wants to sit in the seat but he wants to hang on the side and ride like the big kids.
• Tonight out of convenience Alex got a shower with the rest of the kids. At first he was screaming but as soon as Jacob and the twins joined him he was as happy as could be.
He is talking up a storm and we are making a game out of interpreting what he is saying. Some of the gibberish actually comes close to real sentences and so we treat them as such. If it sounds like he just asked where something is, we will tell him. Sometimes he plays with our game, but true to his age he is starting to get really frustrated when we really don't understand what he wants. As a mother even if I do understand, I won't give in to the temper tantrums, so hopefully he will figure out they don't work soon.
This week my parents are in town to meet their new grand-daughter, Noelle and to attend her blessing tomorrow. They have made a lot of trips to Houston before and we thought we would show them something new. It was the perfect day to be outside and so we went to Brazos Bend. They did a little fishing before we got there and then we brought some bikes and the kids went Alligator hunting. We only found 4, but after the cold front this week I was surprised to find that many. 
Following our adventures on the trails we went to Ci Ci's to satisfy little hungry tummies. Although Alex didn't get a fun home made dessert for his special day, at least he got a variety of choices. I think he liked the brownies best. I am excited for this next half year to come. Last week he spent half of church in the halls, next week I think we will try the nursery!
