Big Little Boy...

Mommy took Myles for a standard check-up and immunization appointment yesterday. Though he doesn't like being held down very much, he takes the shots in stride and bounces back pretty quickly.

Myles is still a very big kid for his age. He is not quite 17 months old and he measured 36" in height. That puts him within the 100th percentile for his age. The doctor explained that roughly 9 out of 10,000 kids that age are taller than Myles. He's just a few yogurt melts shy of 30 pounds, which is about the 93rd percentile, and he's around the 90th percentile for head circumference. All around big.

We often point out that he's not even a year and a half old when strangers, like the woman who cut his hair, seem to expect him to be a little more conversational or responsive to instructions. We can understand the assumption that he is older. He is taller and bigger than most of the 2-year olds we know, including some that are a full year older than he is. He's just kind of a big dude.

Chef Myles

This video was taken in the afternoon on Christmas Day, and Myles was already getting into a groove in the kitchen. Clearly, he favors liberal use of seasonings. The "practical toys" - the kitchen, pots and pans, vacuum cleaner, shopping cart, groceries - have been a huge hit, because he really just wants to be doing the things he sees us doing. It's so frustrating for him to be told "no" all the time when he wants to play with the real thing, so these toys are perfect. Fun times!

Christmas Celebration No. 2

With a great opening round behind him, Myles charged into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with confidence and gusto. My family graciously accommodated our wish for Myles to have childhood Christmas celebrations at home, so they all traveled from the Madison area to our place on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. In attendance were Grandma and Grandpa A, Aunt Jenny and Uncle Mike, and my cousin Kristi and her daughters Stephanie and Leanna.

Myles woke up from his afternoon nap to find that the whole bunch had arrived, and he very much enjoyed playing with all of his visitors until dinner time. We sat down in the dining room and had a nice Christmas meal, and then moved into the family room to open the mountain of presents. Myles scored some pretty sweet items, and wasted no time starting up the vacuum cleaner Grandpa and Grandpa gave him.

He also got a shopping cart and a lot of toy groceries and dishes from Grandma and Grandpa. Myles was also spoiled by Aunt Jenny and Uncle Mike, with the doll and stroller below, as well as the Little People airplane Mommy and Myles are opening.


Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Jenny and Uncle Mike stayed overnight to be part of the Christmas morning fun. Myles awoke to find a living room full of family and a very elaborate play kitchen from Santa. He wasted no time getting started on working hard in the kitchen and enjoying all of the accessories he got from Grandma and Grandpa.

Then, he had presents from Grandma and Grandpa T to open, including a CD of personalized songs, such as "Myles and the Dinosaur," plus another handmade wooden train car to add to his collection, as well as an insulated motion W cup, just like the ones Daddy uses.

Myles finished off Christmas morning by digging in his stocking, where he found such treasures as yogurt melts and a Tonka truck. So much excitement.

So, all of these new toys should keep him busy until his first big airplane trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa T in Florida at the end of the month!