Helping!

You have become quite the little helper. You are growing so quickly and while I love it, but it makes me sad. Where has my tiny baby gone?

P.S. Chairs are not for climbing, buddy. No matter what the other kids tell you.

16 Month Update

Age: 16 Months

Favorite Activity: You love letters. You can consistently identify P, D, T, V, C, E, O, B, and N. You love any of your toys that have letters on them. You will spend a significant amount of time playing with your letter blocks and your letter magnets. Often, you point to letters/words when you want me to read them. This happens at home and in public. You love letters and books and learning...that makes my Mama heart happy.

"Find the A."

Honorable Mentions:  You also love your cars/trucks. You make car noises and roll them along any reasonably flat surface you can find (including Mama).

Least Favorite Activity: Diaper changes are still at the bottom of your list, but I'll add diaper changes in public bathrooms as your least favorite activity. We usually avoid changes in public bathrooms because you get so upset. However, when we travel it can't be avoided. I will say you don't scream like you do when we have to leave a place/activity before you're ready. No, you just cry pathetically until it's over. It breaks my heart.

Milestones: Houston, we have a climber! And can I mention the letter identification again!? Your intelligence constantly amazes and terrifies me. You are going to keep Daddy and I on our toes. We also got our first iPads this month. You're already working them like a pro. You see how to do something once and that's it. You've got it.

Almost got it!

New Activity: Climbing. Sigh.

Proud of yourself, aren't you buddy?

Words: You're beginning to put two word phrases together. My favorite is, "Oh dear!" 

Signs: You haven't learned any new signs (mainly because we haven't taught you any new ones), but you're putting signs together with words which is adorable. You often sign "more" and say eat when you want more to eat. Oh! I think you're picking up "bath," after I signed it to you a few times.

Sleep: Generally, you continue to be a good sleeper. Your naps range anywhere from 45 minutes ( which makes for a very long day) to 3 hours (generally when you're sick or catching up on sleep). Two hours seems to be your standard nap length.

Hey, Mom!  Look, someone left something in here...

Best Moment: You have started giving spontaneous kisses to me. I must admit, while they're a bit drooly, I love them. Wombat kisses are wonderful!

Worst Moment: You have been sick with a stomach bug twice this month. I can handle getting thrown up on, but when you are so sick and lethargic, it breaks my heart.

Left: Pre-illness, Right: During illness
The eyes break my heart...

Favorite Foods: You love your veggies! I think peas are your current favorite.

Eating: You usually love to eat. Sometimes you display picky toddler tendencies (eh hem, broccoli), but for the most part, you are a good eater.

Teeth: I think you have one more tooth (which is coming in now) and your two year molars left. Hooray! Almost done!

16 Months

So you've been 16 months old for 3 days and your update is drastically lacking because you've had a stomach bug for 2 out of those 3 days. Yesterday, you threw up no less than 7 times. You're on a strict diet of Pedialyte today while we wait for this awfulness to pass.

The easiest way to tell you are sick is your lack of movement and the presence of your binky. Sitting on our lap is your current activity of choice, though every once and a while we see flickers of your normal self.

Changes

Well, Little Man, we are going on a new adventure. Daddy got a job! Hooray! Happy dance!

That means that come June, we're moving! <pardon Mama while she breathes into a paper bag> We are going to be an hour away from Grandma and Grandpa and only 4 from Granny and Grandad! Mama happy dance!

There is going to be a lot of activity around here in the next few months, Buddy, but Daddy and I believe this is a change that will improve not just our lives, but your life. Thank you for being so easy going and adapting to change. 

You love flipping your block bin over and climbing on top.  If you had your way, you would stand and jump on your bin.  Daddy and I are the funsuckers that make you sit.

We love you (even if you do climb on everything)!

Sickie

You came down with what we believe is the stomach flu yesterday, buddy. We're doing everything we can to keep you comfortable, but you're pretty pathetic. It breaks my heart to see you so sad and sick. Luckily, I leave you in the capable hands of Dr. Daddy while I'm at work.

The left is a picture from last week. The right is from tonight. The sad, sick eyes are the worst. I know you'll be back to yourself before too long, but I have to worry about you. You're my baby.

While the cat's away...

Daddy left this morning for an interview. So it is just us for a few days. It is the first time either of us has been away from you. Poor Daddy is missing you something fierce. Me, on the other hand, I'm trying to hold down the fort on my own. I'll never admit it, but you scare me. I need Daddy here for backup! However, I am enjoying trying recipes that make your Daddy nervous. Tonight, we're having Chicken Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai. Stop making that face.

This stay at home mom stuff is tough! Luckily, you're a lot of fun so it's worth it.

P, D, what!?

Last night at a fundraising dinner, Daddy and I were pointing to the letters burned into the table.  You love letters and words.  You grab my hand and point to each word or letter that you want me to read.

Imagine our surprise last night, when you started saying, "P" and "D" when we would point to the letters P and D.  I don't know if you knew what you were saying or made the association, but it was very exciting for Daddy and I.

You have the "e" ending letters down.  We hear lots of "B," "D," "V," "P," and "T."  Maybe we'll try flashcards again...promise not to eat them this time?

You'll be chattering about your day before we know it.