Hank is starting to learn and repeat a lot more words these days. The problem is that he won't say them on command when I have a camera in his face, so here are some of them that he says at a year and a half for me to remember:

• Baba- milk bottle
• Wawa- water, or a pool
• Appool- apple or any fruit mostly
• Mama 
• Dada- he used to say papa 
• Uh ew- Uh oh
• Shuwz- shoes
• Up- says this when going up or down each stair
• Airpane- aiplane
• Baaall
• Boog- Bug
  
• Bat
• Hat
• Hair
• Moo
• Neigh
• Dodollycado- Cockadoodle doo
• Bye Bye
• Hi
• Peekaboo
  
• Gookie- any sweets, snacks or cookie
• Moon- Goodnight Moon book 
• Laers- Laters, when saying by to things
• Cayoo- Caillou, one of his favorite shows
• Baaa- Shawn the sheep, another favorite show
• Elmo
• Ew ew ah ah- Curious George or any monkey
• Mou
• Meow- cat
• Woof woof- Dog
• Debbie- a name he loves to say when he is excited about something
• Emie- Emily his friend across the street
• Emonade- Lemonade the name of his blah blah doll
• Teethies- teeth
• Woobez- woobie, or his blanket
• Geez-Cheese before a picture
• Caa- Car
• Owoo- Owie
• Amee- Amen after prayers
• Hug
• Two- he loves this number from when I count 1,2,3 before he hits a ball. He just never says the one or three before he winds up.
• Book
• NO 

This kid is growing up fast and he doesn't look like a little guy anymore. This Sunday he will be 18 months and he seems as tall as most 2 and a half year olds. Last Sunday we were walking in during the opening prayer to the overflow and Hank was standing in between KC and I. He was folding his arms but still staring at everyone. Then everyone started staring at him when he said really loud "Amee' at the end of the prayer to say amen. He is a good little prayer. He reminds me to do it half the time and even at lunch when it is just the two of us.

A little recap of the past few weeks

 

Hank with his cousins Ethan and Cohen in Pacific Grove (March)

For KC's birthday we went to the 6 o'clock game on Saturday which is important to note as this was the first year that we did not go to opening day. I was under the impression that it could be considered opening weekend, but KC in disappointment that he missed the fly by and actual opening day corrected me. Haha. We had like a 5 year streak going but this year we had to consider Hank's bedtime.

Hank playing in the kids toy area at the stadium, he did not want to sit still and watch the game

Hank's hat trick in his carseat

Martha and Shane came to visit us in Northern CA to go to a concert in Oakland and see about a job opportunity. We also were lucky enough to see our good friend Debbie Fife come out of the temple after being sealed. She had quite the crew there to see her come out and it was fun to have a reunion with her Merced friends and family. 

Oakland temple from a new view behind the Distribution center

Shane and Martha

Oh not a good look for me, but it was important to show the "before" shot of Hank's hair to justify his drastic haircut

Hank throwing rocks on our hike down toward the Golden Gate

Haircut 2.0

I started with scissors trimming all of his curls and then KC just suggested using clippers on an 8 to even it out. I am praying the curls come back cause he looks to old to me now. 

Hank helping me vacuum, yes he is wearing Hawaiian beads too.

Last week it got really hot here in San Leandro for about two days so my awesome neighbor Tawny decided to host a homemade water park. Hank was more interested in eating grapes at first, but then he warmed up to it. No pun intended. Oh yeah and he loves wearing those shades these days.

"Mom what is soaking me?"

Stealing not so ripe strawberries from Tawny's garden

Today Hank and I hit a few parks, one before his nap and one after

Peek a boo

 

Yes! Seahorse

LADYBUG

Birthdays and Easter

I like having my birthday and KC's birthday close together, it is birthday season. A few years ago my birthday was on Easter and now this year it was on KC's. You just feel a little cooler when your birthday is on Easter I think.

 

 Hank after he touched the flame on my birthday waffle "woops"

 Still admiring the flame

KC and I went out to dinner for my birthday and ran back quick for our neighbors babysitting Hank. But we had a good time and realized the restaurant we ate at, Bridges, was in Mrs. Doubtfire. I also went down to Southern CA for my birthday to see Martha and my family while KC had a busy work week. We went to a sample sale in LA, stopped by Legoland, hung out with family and watched March Madness and General Conference. Somehow watching conference and Hank at the same time makes me feel like I need to re-watch it all.

 Easter/ KC's birthday gifts

 Hank noticing the candy and colorful eggs

 

 

 

 Hank decided while I left the kitchen to dye the floor instead of the eggs I had ready. Green feet for days.

 Wanting to escape the backyard while I am trying to take a picture

Lots of storms and April showers recently, but we did see this cool rainbow.

February

Valentines day was pretty relaxed because it was on a weekday and good old Hank goes to bed right as KC gets home, but I still did my traditional Valentines breakfast and treats.

 

 
The day after Valentines, the San Leandro Police department placed a speed limit clock in front of our house and I thought of the old Office episode where they all stopped working and tried to beat each others times. We tested it out a little and made it up to 15 miles per hour running.

The Olivers came to visit and one night KC and I got to go out to dinner in the city. The whole way KC was asking me why we made a reservation in the city when the Bay Bridge was closed, but we finally made it to the restaurant over an hour and a half later and it was fun. El Mansour was a Moroccan feast with a side show belly dancer, haha not my favorite part but somehow I got up and danced with the lady. Embarrassing I am sure, but not as bad as the 40 year old perv sitting directly across from us videotaping her every move with his Blackberry with his 7 year old sitting across from him.

The outside of El Mansour is sweet, but you could pass by on accident and not even notice it too.

 

 

 El Mansour interior

 

Oakland Zoo, Hank was loving it

Beautiful day at the temple, Hank wasn't in the backpack long when he tried to swim in the water fountains.

On Saturday I convinced KC to not take a nap and instead go to Middle Harbor Park. We had a good time taking pictures of the city and chasing birds. There was only one draw back and that was the massive amounts of goose and duck poop everywhere. Hank thought that they were items to pick up, but we quickly slapped them from his hand.

2012 haircuts and four

After coming back from Christmas we decided it was about time we gave Hank a haircut. As you can tell from the pictures leading up to the haircut it was getting unruly but at times still awesome.

Wild

Awesome

Pouncing on his build a bear

 

Haircut time, we took him to a place in Alameda and it took all of 5 seconds to cut off the baby hair.

 The curls stayed, but now it is thicker and more under control

One day KC took Hank home a little early from church cause he needed a nap. He took him out of his church clothes and put on his pajamas. I did not see what he was wearing. It was a cold Northern CA day so I changed from my church clothes to comfy clothes of course. When I went up to take Hank out of his crib I realized we were wearing the exact same outfit.

 

KC has been waiting a long time for Hank to wear this outfit. A Mariners retro jumpsuit. Funny, the only rain gear he has is Mariner stuff. 

Hanging out in the city near Dolores Park

 

Hank taking notes while people watching in Dolores Park. He was entranced by a very spirited guy dancing.

 

KC, Carson, Tyson, Mark and Brad playing FOUR in a park near Mark and Lisa's house. 

 

The best action shot all the other ones were scary