18 Months!

18 months, 30 lbs, 35 inches

The last 3 months have been fun but absolutely exhausting. As soon as he turned 16 months old, he decided to become pretty independent {and I mean independent in the sassy sense of the word}, very talkative, and extremely demanding 24/7. He goes and goes and goes all day long, crashes hard for 3 hours around 1pm, then goes and goes until bedtime at 7. Just within the last few weeks he has taught himself how to sit still with one toy for about 5 minutes, MAX. After that 5 minutes, he's on to the next. I try and have something planned for him every single day to keep him stimulated. We typically go to the park, have a playdate, go to story time at the library, or go to gymnastics every day. The kid needs as much activity as possible and I actually love that about him:). He is very physical and freakishly strong for his age which keeps me on my toes constantly. I have to watch him so closely wherever we go because he will literally take kids down to the ground in great tackling form {full wrap up and everything}- the cute thing about it is he is trying to give them a hug but is just a little too aggressive sometimes:). I am having so much fun being the mom of a very energetic, loving, smart, and independent boy.

Some of his favorite things:

-Blueberries "by by bys"

-"SNACKS" - he yells it but typically says "peez" after so it makes up for it

-Sand/sand toys

-Mickey "Minnie"

-Airplanes & Helicopters

-All animals

-Trash truck "Tra Truck"

-Reading books

-"O's & Shows" -he eats O's while watching a show- this is what he calls it:)

-The beach

-Bath "bithe"

-Bikes

-Anything he can push

-Apples "apum"

-Zeke

-Playing fetch with Zeke

-Elmo & Super Why

Here are some pictures from the last 3 months, dating all the way back to before Christmas:)

Cruz & the guys @ Christmas Dinner @ the Riechers

Cruz and his best buds, Barron & Evy

Gingerbread Houses!

of course all Cruz did was eat the candy

Cruz & I at the Living Nativity

Christmas Morning

He loves playing with water!

Best friend, Zeke:)

Cruz & Poppy!

He loves playing on Yaya and Jefe's bed

Buds

Throwing the ball for Zeke

"Weeeee"

My handsome boy:)

Buddies

Sitting naked on Zeke's head

Playdate at the Davies' house!

I just had to add this one... His face says it all.

15 Months!

28lb 6oz (95%), 32.5in (98%)

12 teeth (+ 4-he's cutting 4 incisors right now-ouch!)

Updating every month after 1 year would be a little crazy, so I decided every 3 would make me seem less of an overly obsessed mama (although I totally am!).

Since Cruz started walking at 1, the changes have been constant. Physically, he is an ANIMAL! I'm sure every mom thinks it, but this is one of the most active kids I have ever been around-hands down. When he is awake he goes 110% and then when he gets tired he crashes hard and fast, typically with at least 3 pacis in hand and snuggled up to his favorite stuffed giraffe. The thing I'm most amazed with is how verbal he has become. He was always a little chatter box, but, as most moms will tell you, the comprehension and verbal skills grow SO fast after the babes turn 1. He understands everything we say and will try to repeat any word you ask him to (for example, groceries, ends up like "ro-shees"... and he even says his name, "cooz"). I have written down most of the words he says with comprehension and the list is up to 33. SO fun to finally be able to communicate with my boy!

The thing I am loving most about Cruz (besides everything:) is how comfortable and outgoing he is with everyone. He is not shy at all, which I really admire about him. It can't be easy to see new people and have no reservations about saying "hi" and giving a smile. I've noticed this more at family or friend get-togethers, where Cruz just trots around from one person to the next, occasionally asking to sit on someone's lap. He is totally out of the mama's boy stage and, surprisingly, I love it. Unless he's hurt and needs comfort or tired and wants to snuggle, he is totally independent and absorbing everything around him like a sponge.

The last 3 months we have worked hard to keep this kid busy during the day. Between trips to the park, play-dates, gymboree, the beach, and running around wild in the backyard, he seems to be pretty happy and exhausted when the day is over:). Babywise continues to prove its worth even as Cruz gets older and it's not just the great sleeping anymore. When your baby gets the sleep they need they are "optimally alert" when they're awake, meaning they are in the best state of mind for learning and development. I truly believe that his great sleeping habits totally play into his advanced vocabulary and good overall health. You know I could talk about Babywise/Healthy Sleep Habits for DAYS so I'll stop that and the brag-fest 2011 now before it goes too far:).

Some of his favorite things:

-food (any and all)

-milk ("mee")

-mickey mouse clubhouse

-zeke ("zeee")

-the park ("pot")

-shoes ("achoo")

-cars/trucks (especially the "tra tra" trash truck)

-balls ("ba")

-books ("boo")

-sesame (especially elmo)

-trains

-the beach

-blocks

-his basketball hoop

-people

-outside ("outschide")

-sand toys

-he LOVES to dance (especially the mouskedance on mickey mouse clubhouse)

It is such an honor and joy to be this kid's mama and I am so thankful I get to stay at home to watch him grow!

Here are some pictures from the last few months:

McBride Update

It has been a while since I've updated on here but now that I feel a little settled I decided it was time!

We have moved home to San Diego and couldn't be happier (minus leaving our wonderful friends in Atlanta:( ). We are staying with Chase's parents for the time being until we figure our life out a little bit. This is our 7th move in 3 1/2 years of marriage, one of those including across the GLOBE to Hong Kong, and another across the country to Georgia. Needless to say, we don't really want to do much more of that so we want to bunk up with our fam until we find a place to land for good!

Mike and Sharon completely baby-proofed the place, moved furniture around, bought toys, diapers, wipes, etc to get this place ready for us. They worked so hard to make it perfect for us and we are absolutely loving it. Sharon's cooking is to die for (and frankly, I don't know if Cruz will ever eat my food after our stay-cation with them) and we've figured out a system of cleaning, baby-sitting, running errands, etc that works for all of us. I get to workout everyday and take my little man to all of my favorite beaches, parks, and restaurants-LOVING it!

We feel so blessed to be close to all the people we love (my family is only 1.5 hr away-so nice!) and we're really excited to see what the Lord has next. Things aren't exactly 'ideal' right now, but the one thing I know is that the Lord's plan is the best plan and that's the only plan we want for our lives:).

Prayer Requests: Exciting job opportunity for Chase. Health for all of us. Continual guidance and encouragement in marriage and parenting (especially as the season of tantrums start). Easy labor and delivery for my sis, Angela (due 11/11/11). God to open up doors to really create a strong spiritual community among our good friends here (you know who you are:). Thanks!

Dear Cruz,

"You are a product of MY LOVE."

As a parent, I always thought of you as being a product of your dad and I. A product of the circumstances we raise you in, the lessons we teach you, and how much we love you. To me it's always been 1 + 2 = 3. It's been a simple equation in my mind, where we ask God for help along the way, but in reality it will come down to how well we perform as parents, how much knowledge we have, and what we pass along to you. I believe this to be partially true, although definitely not a simple equation, and definitely not one that excludes the Lord's power and influence in your life. We do have a lot of responsibility on us as parents. We are typically the ones holding your hand through all of your firsts--your first roll, first crawl, first steps, first day of school, etc--encouraging you along the way, disciplining you when necessary, teaching you when needed, answering the never-ending "why" question, and loving you unconditionally through it all. We are here to give you wise counsel, to be a positive, encouraging force in your life, and to constantly lift you up to the Lord.

As I prayed about our role in your life, I heard something simple but so incredibly important to remember, "He is a product of MY love". It's not the house you are raised in, the people surrounding you growing up, or any set of circumstances that define you. It's the love of and your personal relationship with the Lord that defines who you are and who you will become. This definition of who you are as a believer explains how you handle certain situations, how you thrive even during times of trouble and tragedy, and it defines how and why you always have hope through your faith in Jesus Christ. When we become believers, we have made a choice to put our faith in Christ and not the things of this world- Praise God that we no are no longer held captive to our circumstances but we are free in Christ! We are free to have hope even when life seems to be falling apart... We are free to let go of any fear, anxiety or worry about our circumstances and let the Lord restore our lives as he has promised to do:

"Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up. "

Psalm 71:20

Let's face it, although your dad and I are partly responsible for you, we are still human and we aren't going to do things perfectly... but praise God for HE is the one that's responsible for who you become, who you are... you are a product of HIS love! Everything that you are, Cruz, stemmed from the love he had, has, and will always have for you. In everything you do, in every thought, every situation, every encounter, live from a place of knowing with all your heart that you are a product of the Lord God's love!

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:16-21).