15 Months

This last month has been a roller coaster ride. Some days are great while others have been a little on the rough side. Reed is learning more words and sign language, is steadier on his feet, and has been great adjusting to changes in his schedule when we travel or have Holiday events to attend. On the down side he seems to be battling with some teething, has had some environmental allergy issues, is getting a little pickier in his eating habits (who needs to eat veggies anyways?), had a bad bout with constipation, has been waking in the night screaming, and has dreadfully learned the word "no." The last one is pretty funny if you only hear it once - he shakes his head and says "NO, NO, NO, NO, NO" as if he has just been given the worst news possible, usually over something really mundane like me asking if he wants to eat lunch - let me tell you, after the twentieth time in a day it is less humorous!!!

Now that Jon is working less hours and not at all on Saturdays he's been watching Reed more often. A couple of weeks ago I was downloading some pictures off of my camera when I ran into about a dozen shots that Jon had taken. Apparently when I was out, Reed and Dad spent an entire evening playing in a box.

Also on the positive this month has been our Christmas tree. I decorated it about three weeks ago, putting soft and non-breakable ornaments toward the bottom half assuming that I would probably have to move them, but at least if he got his hands on them he wouldn't hurt himself. Much to my surprise he only touched one ornament and has left the tree alone since. The kid hates hearing the word "no" (ironic given the information above I know), he breaks down into an inconsolable baby if we tell him "no" so we've started to reserve it for only the most dangerous of the things. Otherwise we usually explain to him that the thing he is touching belongs to someone else, divert him by giving him something that is his, and usually that is the end of it. When he touched the Christmas tree I told him that the tree and ornaments were Santa's and he quickly moved on and hasn't looked back.

Reed is more into books than ever and will demand a book be read over and over to him. I'm not going to lie, after three or four times I try to distract him and replace the book with a different one. I do love books with lots of pictures of animals, fruits, objects, etc. Reed can spend a long time on one book pointing out the different things upon request, making the coordinating sounds, or showing me a sign. I'm always amazed when we go through a book and he's been able to communicate something from every single page.

Monthly Statistics

Weight: 23.25 lbs

 

Clothing Size: 12-18 months for pretty much everything, he has a couple of 18-24 month tops that fit well, and all of his pajamas are 18-24 months.

Shoe Size: Size 5, but they are starting to get snug

Teeth: 12 - 4 bottom/front, 2 bottom molars, and 4 top/front., 2 top molars that are all but pushed through

Reed likes: Shoes, Soft Sheep, Signing Time DVDs, doing "cheers," playing with the Salad Spinner, his Baby Einstein Alphabooks, balls, reading books, playing outside, his wagon, Dodger (all dogs for that matter), anything electronic he can take when Mom's not looking, going to gym class, bath time, and his puppy dog key board.

Reed dislikes: Sleeping in, having his clothes put on, getting his face and/or hands wiped off, waking up from naps, diaper changes, saying goodbye to Mom, and being told no.

Nicknames: Reedster, Reedcito, Reed Reed, Buddy, Monkey, and Baby Bear.

Favorite Foods: Applesauce, berries, grapes, Mom's homemade pancakes and bread, avocado, mushrooms, carnitas, dried cranberries, chicken, bananas, whole pears and apples, fish, sausage, steak, graham crackers, snap pea crisps, smoothies, and overnight oatmeal.

Foods he doesn't like: Broccoli, ground meats, carrots, tortillas, hummus, beans, rice, cauliflower.

Words: Dada, daa (Dog), boom, mo (more), daan (done), baa (ball), choos (shoes), chees (cheers), dis (this), dat (that), yeah, no, hi, mmmm (yum) and a couple times unprompted he's said MomMom, bye, and duckckc (duck). He's really been picking up sounds lately too - vroom (for a car), woofroof (for a dog), nooow (for a cat), moooooo (for a cow), ong (for a pig), eeehhh eeehhh (for a monkey), and buzz (for a bee).

 

Signs: Eat, more, finished, bird, dog, baby, milk, ball, flower, fish, sleep, book. When prompted he will mimic signs for water, bath, and yes. He can't sign them himself but understands when I sign play and shoes.

How Reed is sleeping: Reed takes a nap in the morning that lasts 1.5 hoursand one in the afternoon that is about 1.5 hours. He goes to bed around 7:30pm, then he usually wakes somewhere between 6:00 and 6:30 am. He sleeps in a sleep sack, with a pacifier and Soft Sheep. We also have a sound machine and a night light that goes off after about half an hour. This last week he's been waking up screaming and it takes a lot to calm him down (like an hour or two). I've tried giving him something to drink, reading a book, letting him cry on his own, rocking him, and laying down with him. It seems like he just needs time to work out whatever is bothering him. Hopefully it is just the darn teeth and this will be over soon (and I won't have created too many bad habits in the process).

 

 

Favorite Moment(s):

Jon said his favorite moment this month was when Reed spontaneously started signing book. Since it is one of his favorite things to do, it's been so much fun watching him relate the sign to us going and getting a book to read.

My favorite moment was when I said something about brushing his hair and he touched the top of his head. I point out body parts all the time and I knew he could touch his nose on cue, but I was taken aback that he knew just what I was talking about when I said hair. This prompted me to ask about other body parts. Much to my surprise he can point to his hair, eyes, nose, mouth, tummy, hands, fingers, legs, feet, toes, and sometimes ears.

Milestones:
12/06/12 Reed goes to his first parade - The Electrical Farm Equipment Parade in Reedley

12/15/12 We take Reed on his first train ride while visiting friends in L.A.

12/17/12 Reed gets one foot off of the floor "jumping" in gym class

Favorite Photo Shoot Outtake:

So what if he's about to fall of the chair,
that face is too cute!!!