Happy Half Birthday Gus!!

18 months!  Gus, you are quite an awesome little dude.  Your life continues to take you all around the country, and you just roll with it.  You continue to be a loveable, huggable, little man.  You impress us daily with all the things you can do, the things you understand, and the care you show for your family!  We're pretty sure you'll be a pitcher or a quarter back one day...you have an impressive throwing arm! You also still hold true to your sometimes nickname of "monkey" as you find your way up to the top of tables and places that I would not think you could get into!  You also still like to shriek a fair amount, earning you the additional title of "howler monkey".  You know where things go, what they do, and how things work.  You watch and learn (example: I just found you feeding Pole-dog all by yourself!).  You can put puzzles back together.  You give us kisses.  You like to read books.  You take Arjen's juice cup to him, or his shoes, or his hat, or whatever it is you think he needs.  And you are talking! The rest of the world may not understand you yet, but we hear you.  You sign thank you, please, help, more, eat, drink.  You say Arjen, night night, hi, bye, "where'd it go" and "there it is!" - the last four with hand gestures included and very specific intonation.  You know your animal sounds (dog, pig, duck, cow).  You say up, juice, banana, mama, dada, backpack (yes, much of your vocabulary is influenced by your big brother), belly button.  You're even attempting to pee in the toilet like your big bro!  I know you'll keep on amazing us every day!  Here's looking at you kid!

First steps towards learning to windsurf

At least five minutes have passed, time to eat again!

Always climbing onto things!

His camping look

"ish!" (yes, the 'f' is silent)

Pretty sure this was the day we were packing up to leave from Mt. Lassen...poor kid was so tired, but he still wouldn't put down the fishing pole!

Who says you need to go camping to have a dirty face?  Just feed me!

"I put the helmet on so I can carry the bike, right?"

This was all him...climbed up on the sofa, set the pillow, and grabbed a blanket.  Kid knows how to chill out.  

Happy 18 months Gus!  We love you!