Hallelujah! The boy can walk!

After 18 long months, Trey has finally decided to walk on his own!  He has been walking holding our finger for two months and cruises around the perimeter of any room he is in.  We have been convinced for the past several weeks that his lack of independent walking skills was mostly a confidence issue.  He took a few steps at Disneyland a few weeks ago, but since he hasn't done it since then, I thought I was maybe hallucinating.  Well, on Friday Randy called me at work to say that Trey was walking on his own.  He has been doing it more and more, and WE ARE THRILLED!!!

The other exciting news in the world of developmental milestones is that Trey has had a burst in receptive language.  He is pointing to a variety of body parts and pointing to a ton of pictures in his books.  Sometimes I even ask him one that I think he won't know and he knows it.  It's amazing!  He also has started to use a few more words (hello, hi, bye bye, mommy, dada, and a variation of Grandpa).  He has been slow to meet his milestones which is driving his special educator-neurotic-worried mother a little nutso.  I am so happy that he is finally starting to show us what he knows!  SO HAPPY!

After we returned from California, we did Christmas with my family at my sister's new house.  Trey was so comfortable so quickly with my dad and that was really awesome. Usually it takes him a while to warm up, but he seems to have turned a corner with that too.

Trey loves to put the phone up to his ear and say, "Allo?"  

Melts my heart every time. 

Trey showing Grandpa his favorite chickens. 

Waiting for dinner 

Checking out his new blocks from Grandpa and Sanny 

Trey is becoming more and more interested in Grady...

especially when Grady is on my lap.

Two treasures - Trey and Grady 

Opening his present from Mom and Dad 

"Look!  A trike!" 

Practicing riding on his new tricycle

For the last few years we have had a Christmas Eve brunch and it has been one of my favorite traditions of the holidays.  This year we were in California for Christmas Eve, so we decided to move it to New Years Eve.  So much fun to have friends and family together in our house.  The party seems to grow by one or two each year (this year it was Grady) and also the kids are getting bigger and bigger.  I think we need a bigger house!

Julie, Grady and Tim 

The kids having brunch - Jackson, Zander, Trey, Camille, and Kai.  

Not sure where Declan was. 

Sarah, Kai, and Zander 

Trey telling Camille something very important 

Camille reminding Trey that they were supposed to look at the camera 

Best shot I could get of two wiggly 18 month olds 

Julie and Grady, almost 3 months old 

Tango has become one of Trey's new toys.  

Today he even tried to use Tango as a couch.   

Tango is such a good sport.

One of Trey's new favorite things is the silverware drawer.  

It could entertain him for hours.  Okay, minutes.  But still. 

Trey has discovered his love for markers.  

Usually, I keep a closer eye on him, 

but this morning he used his face instead of the paper.  

The photo missed all of the marker all around his neck.  Oops.  

Last week I went to see Storm Large at Powell's with Kellie.  Storm Large is such an amazing artist and it was really fun to see her when she wasn't on stage singing.   She is vivacious, hilarious, beautiful, and crude.  If you haven't seen her 8 miles wide video, click here.  But beware that if you are easily offended, don't watch it.  And don't blame me if you start singing this song as you're doing chores or going on a walk.  It's quite catchy.

In other news, Randy has started a new job at the primate center at OHSU.  He is working in a new lab with a new scientist doing research on Huntington's Disease.  He is excited about this new job and is looking forward to his role in this important research.  My only complaint is that his hours are different, he doesn't get home until 6:30pm (basically right before bedtime), and it throws off my whole evening routine.  Regardless, I am happy for him and can't wait to hear how his cognitive testing of the monkeys compares to my cognitive testing of kids.