A & K Tolton: Logan lately

We've been having a great summer so far! We love the wonderful sunny weather we have been having and it's the saddest day when it's overcast and rainy and we can't go to the park. But that hasn't happened too much, fortunately. I am looking forward to a few more months of wonderful Seattle Summer!

We've had several beach days, park days, and one day swimming in our pool. Logan wasn't a huge fan so I've been hesitant to go back. I think that if we go with Andy then he will have a better time. Andy just has that "daddy factor" that makes Logan so happy and giggly, more than giggles really, full out LAUGHS! I love it! Logan loves to play at the parks. He can be hesitant at first, maybe just trying to soak it all in. But then he goes and goes. He loves to climb stairs and go down slides. He still loves to swing. One time we were swinging so close to nap time and he almost fell asleep in the swing, but he wouldn't let me take him out! I think he liked it and wished I would have left him in to take his nap. Honestly, if I could take a nap in a swing, I would. Sounds wonderful!

The second weekend in June, Andy left us and went on a river rafting trip down the Colorado River with his dad and brothers. He had a blast and I am super sad I missed out. But he promises we will go as a family when Logan's older. :) He had 4 days on the river, away from civilization, and basically everything was taken care of for them. So happy he got to enjoy that and get back to the great outdoors and realize that he really does like doing things outside! Now we have made plans to FINALLY go camping as a family this summer. I can't wait!

Logan has been so much fun...and such a little stink at the same time. He's growing and turning into a big boy, but just can't quite express himself very well yet. So we've entered the screaming stage...it has gotten a little bit better, but I just have to keep telling myself that this won't last and to keep teaching him how to communicate, even though he can't do it right now. I know he's soaking up all of the info we give him and one day, he will be able to communicate.

He's also getting 4...yes I said F.O.U.R. molars all at once! Why do his teeth feel the need to come in such big groups. Poor little buddy. So he's been loving his Hyland's teething tablets and binky. Although, we are trying to be more strict with is binky and only let him have it at naptime and bed time. He was getting way to attached a few weeks ago, so we decided to put a stop to it. Now he doesn't scream at us when we take it away, sometimes he even gives it to us when we ask. :)

Here are a few more fun things about our big boy at 14 months:

Claps, smiles and dances (waves his arms) when he hears music. I'm still working on getting his lower half to dance too.
When we ask for hugs, sometimes he will come running to us with a big smile and hug. Such a sweetie!
He's SUPER ticklish! It's the funniest thing. This is when we get the big, full laughs.
He's becoming more picky when it comes to eating...there are days when he won't eat anything but snack food (crackers. granola bars, pretzels...) Oh, so frustrating!!
He has finally found a love of balls! And he has learned to throw them now, instead of just handing it to us when we tell him to throw. He sometimes kicks it around too. So cute!
He also has started loving stuffed animals. He loves his Zebra from his Nana Tolton and will go find him whenever we say "where's your zebra?" and he loves his Aggie teddy bear from Papa Tolton. He's been sleeping with him since he was a little baby. Now if we lay him down before handing him his bear, he will search his crib and reach for his teddy. I love it!
Logan has quite the temper...he gets super upset when he can't do something immediately. We have to tell him to calm down and try again and then he will do it. Like climbing on the couch... he can totally do it by himself, but if he can't do it on the first try, he will scream and look up at us for help. And since we are such good parents, we don't help and force him to figure it out. Haha!
To go along with his temper, if he doesn't want something he will flail both of his arms and throw it away from him and scream. I'm really hoping this will pass. Although it is funny...it's also very scary to think he could have an anger issue... (I'm joking obviously... :)) Andy and I think he is just so smart, that he gets frustrated when he can't do something right away or communicate efficiently. :)
Sometimes we have "picnics" in the living room if we don't feel like eating at the table. Logan LOVES it! He knows just what to do when I lay a blanket out. He'll turn around, back himself up, and plop down onto the blanket and wait for his food. Such a cutie! The only downfall to this is that he prefers picnics to his high chair sometimes...
He loves to point at everything and say "zis" as if he's asking "what's this?". We will say the name of it, and then he will point to something else. I can just imagine his little brain soaking it all in and storing it for later when he can talk.
Speaking of talking...he still only says "Dada". He can say nana, papa, and mama, but I feel like he really only know dada. If I point at a picture of Andy and I, he will say dada and point to Andy...and I get nothing. Just dada dada dada all day long. At least I know he loves his daddy. I'm not upset at all that he doesn't say mama... :)

Okay, here are some pictures of our summer so far.

Loves to lay back and relax

Laying on his picnic blanket with Teddy and Zebra

Kids and dishwashers...what's the deal?

Logan's nickname is "T-Rex" because of the way he walks with his arms like a t-rex. So we took a picture by this t-rex statue.

Not afraid of heights, apparently. He climbed up here by himself...

Just like daddy!

He loves to climb the steps up to our apartment. It's really convenient that he can do this whenever we go grocery shopping. I grab the groceries and tell him to go climb the steps. So nice!