(Almost) 15 Months

Our little man will be 15 months old on Christmas Eve. We had his 15-month check-up early because of the holiday and, in spite of the fact that he seems to hate the nurses (does he remember that they're the ones who give the shots?), he did well. He is just shy of 26 pounds (60th percentile) and about 34.5 inches tall (off the charts, as always). He is doing all of the usual 15-month-old things that they asked about: walking, climbing stairs, stacking blocks, drinking from a cup, etc. My only hesitation was when the nurse asked if he was saying 4-6 words. I told her he can say 4 words when prompted. The doctor's response was, "Four words for a 15-month-old boy is good!" In case you're wondering, the four words are mama, dada, mo (more), and dis (this--which is what he says as he points to things).

I'm certainly not worried about his talking, just anxious for more words. I know that being able to communicate with Lauren was such a great turning point for all of us, and I'm waiting for that stage with Jon. Other moms with little boys have told me that 15-18 months is often the time that real talking begins, and I'm hopeful that will be true. He is certainly showing signs of being ready: answering more of our questions with his sign language, following some basic directions or commands, and using lots of sound effects when he plays. (He makes a "vroom" sound for all of his cars.) I also noticed in the last few days that he makes a high-pitched "wa wa" sound whenever he sees a dog, and I realized that is his version of "woof woof." Here's a quick video of Jon answering a couple of questions...



He eats fairly well--still doesn't like any green vegetables, still loves all carbs. But he also eats a variety of fruits, some vegetables, and some meat, so I'm happy. He just graduated from his highchair:to his big boy chair:Now he sits at the table with the rest of us, and we feel even more like a family of four. He is adjusting from two naps to one nap a day, and still sleeps through the night most nights, going to bed at 7pm and waking up about 6:30am. He is a true boy, loving cars and balls. He also loves Sesame Street, his yellow blankie, and his bottle. (The doctor said we should aim to have him done with bottles by 18 months--we'll see!)It has truly been a different experience having a boy this time around. He is so much more physical than Lauren was, always climbing, running, or banging things on the ground. He bites, hits, and throws things so much more than our little girl ever did, mostly because he thinks that's a fun way of playing, but sometimes to express his anger or frustration. I've found it harder to understand him because of this, and had a much easier time relating to Lauren. But it is a joy to see him connect with his daddy in a "boy way" and I love all of his sweet mommy snuggles. God has given us quite a blessing and a challenge in our little Jonathan.