Boyd - 13.75 months

Boyd updates:

• Most of his communication with us occurs through pointing and grunting. We're trying to focus on sign language again so he won't be so frustrated.
• Always has to grab his two comfort animals before going down for a nap
• WALKING!!! I think we can officially decree that our son has hit the walking milestone. The longest stretch may have been 16 steps. He still prefers to crawl if speed is involved.
• After our Monday music class, Boyd usually falls asleep in the car as we go run errands. If he is at my mom's or at home, he's down to one 60-90 minute nap a day (usually between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.).
• The last couple days we've heard the Chewbaca noise coming from Boyd when he's especially happy or excited about something, e.g. chasing the cat around the dining room floor.
• I've been hiding treats in my hands and having him pick one - he always picks my left hand. Every single time!
• Easter was laid back - just a quiet dinner with family

Risha & Gabe have moved in with my mom while the two of them look for a home to buy. Our local market is VERY tight in the price range they are considering. Houses with competitive asking prices have offers within a few days of their listing. So, we're all crossing our fingers that R & G will find something before the wedding!

A couple weeks ago the temps were in the high 30's-40's, with an abundance of sunshine and almost everything melted. Then last week we were hit with another spring snowstorm. It's a lot of back and forth with our weather.

This summer is shaping up to be a busy one. I have 3 weddings to attend, although I may miss one of them because one of my all time favorite people is coming to Alaska this summer! One of my college roommates will be visiting from Washington state and I'm super excited.

Easter basket - personalized basket, plastic eggs, bunny ears, snake toy and yogurt treats from me and D; socks from Grandma Ann; and a fishy Carhartt onesie from Auntie Risha and Uncle Gabe.

Anchorage Museum

On the first Saturday of every month, our local museum (Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center) opens its doors for free to all Bank of America cardholders. Since D needed some time for home improvement projects, I took Boyd for a quick visit to the Imaginarium Discovery Center, which is inside the museum. It was surprisingly uncrowded and I suspect that the blizzard warning kept many of the other families away. Not us - I wasn't going to miss a free day! Plus I scored with a free primo parking space outside of the building, which was fortuitous because it was quite the trek pushing Boyd in his stroller through a sidewalk with 5 inches of fresh snow. 

Inside, I loved that there was plenty of space for Boyd to crawl around in, without the threat of other kids mowing him down in a frenzy of excitement. We visited the 5-and-under area and he was able to climb a foam mini-mountain and come halfway down a small slide. Then we scooted over to a dollhouse where he played for about 15 minutes (amazing!). We also looked at puzzles, used a crayon to color on a plastic wall, and took time out for snacks.

In another section, staff had two small python snakes on display that we were able to pet. I also showed Boyd a live turtle and little bearded dragon (behind glass, of course!) We quickly walked through the kinetic space (he's still too young for that exhibit) and marveled at the bubble exhibit where older kids were playing.

Earlier that day Boyd and I met my mom and sister for lunch at the Nordstrom Cafe'. It's sort of a nostalgic place for me and Risha. We remember enjoying cups of clam chowder and yummy sandwiches after shopping with my mom. Neat to come full circle with my son.