1.5, baby!

Dear William,

I'm sure you can see that the last time I blogged about your monthly birthday you were 12 months old. I'm so sorry! I've had pics ready and funny words in my head, but I'm having too much fun playing "choo-choos" with you than blogging about it! In honor of your 18-month birthday here is our "Ode to William" and some fun pics from our photo shoot in Amsterdam's Vondelpark.

Current words: mama, auto, dada, auto, airplane, auto, dog, auto, moon, auto, cheese, auto, berry, auto, book, auto, baby, auto, slide, auto, Prost, auto, apple, auto, eye, auto, light, auto, all done, auto, poop, auto, bye-bye, auto, papa, auto, amma (Oma), auto, bubba (Bubbles), auto, boppa (Grandpa), and auto-auto-auto! (But only if he hasn't seen anything with wheels recently. You know, like in the last 5 seconds.). *Please note: more words are being added so quickly, this list is already out of date!

Current favorite foods: berries, pear, apple, peach, mango, banana, avocado, grissini, salmon, Cheerios, brezn. He's a Bavarian fruit bat.

Things we love about William:

- his ecolocation. He has an insane ability to determine whether his current location posses the perfect acoustics and echo chamber for toddler screeching. It's pretty impressive.

- his love of sunglasses

- his love of, not one, but two schnullers (pacifiers). Some kids have blankies, stuffed animals or thumbs. Will has his schnullers. He knows they only come out during naptime or nighttime (or museums!) but he sucks on them interchangedly- popping one out after a couple sucks, and popping the other one in, only to loop the process indefinitely. Once he finally falls asleep, one's in his mouth, one's in his hand. Breaking him of this habit is going to be ffffuuuuunnnnn.

- his singular and sometimes dual wave to the public as we stroll Haidhausen. He refuses to sit back in his stroller, and proceeds to lean forward so as to catch people off his left and right sides in addition to those in front. He only does it in our neighborhood; I guess it's where he feels everyone knows his name. He's just getting warmed up for bier garten season and his subsequent run for the White House in 2040 -- his wave is that good.

- pretend time- he's a mean cook, pilot, and driver in his mind

- how he pummels toward you in greeting almost as quickly as he can shriek and tumble away from you.

- his ability to 'sit like a big boy'. He loves to demonstrate this skill anytime anywhere even when it's least expected. Walking downstairs he may stop mid flight to show you his big boy skills. Any curb is tested for it's restability.

- his love of music- when he hears it he'll either begin conducting, clapping, or dancing. It could be organ music, an oompah band, or the Black Eyed Peas. He doesn't care; he just likes to move it!

- his constant refusal to give his parents, or anyone else for that matter, kisses. He'll blow them or plant one on a mirror or shower door at a moment's notice, but like any good teenager toddler, shrug off his parents and grandparents every single time.

- his ability to kick it. Yes, we're getting ugly glimpses of tantrums on the horizon, but overall we want to give huge props to the easy going guy God blessed us with. He's a giggle-filled love who has given us the ability to travel places we'd always hoped of seeing and we're honored to call him our son. We love you William!

He loves showing off his milk-pack to the ladies.

Auto!