The von Steinblogs: Talking, Eating, and Getting into Trouble

Anchors aweigh!

It is so hard to believe that our son is nearly one year old. Over the past month and a half, Hosea has become a little wrecking ball. He has always had a strong personality, but ever since he learned to walk, he has turned into a little cyclone/tsunami/tornado/hurricane on the move. This amount of movement and activity requires lots of energy and lots of communication...hence, our little mister has become an eating and talking machine.

Hosea continues to breast feed quite often and is eating 3-5 BIG meals each day. It seems he is always ready for a snack. He is enjoying more and more "people food" and loves eating things right off mom and dad's plates. Recent favorites are freeze-dried bananas and strawberries, rice, beans, corn, quinoa, chicken, lentils, and pancakes.

Hosea's first corn on the cob - Uncle Matt took Jed and Hosea to Maine Avenue Fish Market in D.C. Daddy thought it was a little too early to introduce crab to Hosea, so he got corn instead. "Wise choice," says Mama.

2nd time eating corn on the cob (at home) - "Dad didn't leave me much. Maybe I could eat the cob."

Is that a hint of ginger I taste in the rice? (eating rice and beans at the airport)

This is Hosea after getting his fill of breast milk - clearly it is a fan favorite! Cutest smile ever!

Hosea loves talking/shouting/singing/screaming...you name it. Words we hear him saying on a regular basis:
-Mama (all day long)
-Dada (sometimes...a few months ago he only said "Dada", but now he has taken a break)
-More (this word means "yes", "please", "I agree", "now", "again", etc. and usually comes in pairs)
-Please ("eeee")
-Ice
-Up
-All Done (he is so cute when he says this...he tips his head forward, chin to chest, and opens his mouth really wide)
-Tickle tickle tickle (I gotta capture this on video...it is the cutest! He says it when we read a story.)
-"Moo" - loves cows! Says this every time he sees a cow.
-"Neigh" - recently starting making horse noises
-Knows how to sign the words "Water" & "Milk" (created his own versions of American Sign Language, but we understand them)

Hosea also loves books! It is very common to see him sitting next to his bookshelf flipping through books, all by himself. Sometimes he even lies on his tummy and reads books...it's the best. He loves books with real people and real animals (not cartoons or drawings). He also loves to drool on his books and put them into his mouth, so his Mama only lets him read and play with board books. He doesn't mind. :)