1.1 (aka, 13 months a la Ami)

(Yes, I did teach math, and I do know that 1.1 is not the same as 1 year 1/12 months.)

This month was a catching up of sorts from the long month we had last month for your first birthday! It was actually midway through this month that you celebrated your birthday via pool party with family.

This month also brought to light a glimpse of the months ahead. We had many very sweet days with a cheerful chatterbox ;), but was also had many challenging days with a very cranky, whiny boy for no apparent reason...or sometimes too many reasons. Your separation anxiety upon being left in the church nursery sometimes overflows into homelife again when Mama leaves one room for another. You have cut one upper tooth and the second is not far behind (just under the surface). You had an ear infection at your last doctor's visit. At times, you do not like being told what to do--whether it is by your parents or merely slightly overly helpful older cousins. You also do not like the more frequent spankings that come as a result of direct disobedience. But on the days that you are the cheerful chatterbox??? Nothing is like the joy that you bring to those around you!

You really are very chatty at times! Even when you are not saying a clear word (which you have several), you look at us with a very serious face and say so many different verbal sounds in different patterns at once that I have a hard time from suppressing a laugh. (You say all sorts of things with the appearance of every expectation that we understand and yet it is still babble!) I would be surprised to find that you are not quite the linguist as you age! As to your clear words? You will use the sound for "mama" in play but the instant I ask you to say "Hi, mama," you look at me with wonder and perhaps will respond with "hi, dada," sometimes something else but never "mama."

You seem to have slowed down from a recent growth spurt, so eating is far less important to you. A few new foods though--fish sticks, animal crackers (yeah for this lifesaver!), tropical fruit, and blueberries. Still ever the same old standbys for lunch and dinner with only a little variation: grilled or breaded chicken and veggies (the veggies are your favorite).

Napping is not quite as long anymore either although you are on a fairly consistent schedule for afternoon nap. Mama can generally only count on about 1 1/2-2 hours of nap now though.

This recent growth spurt gave you a new wardrobe too. You now wear almost all 12-18 month or 18-24 month clothing. You also switched exclusively (well sort of) to size 4 diapers this month. However, Mama bought ahead and had far too many boxes of size 4 diapers, I think. After being in the new size for only 3 or 4 days, she realized you were leaking too much at night again. Now, you wear size 5 diapers at night!!!

You are very comfortably walking everywhere now! Translation: you are running Mama ragged with all your activity. I suppose (reluctantly) thankfully, even tv does not slow you down. You want to be into everything everywhere. You love exploring and will roam as freely as allowed. Thank goodness for baby gates! The baby gates on the stairs seem rather superfluous (though still heavily used) since after Mama showed you once how to come downstairs backward on your tummy, you decided that was pretty good and have very unexpectedly managed to go up and down on your own all the time.

We tried to give you your first haircut this month (you are getting a bit straggly around the ears). We have pictures to prove it, but you were so squirmy that night that we gave up for another time--yet to be determined. (update: you got a first trim, just around the ears right before this went to press. Very butchered, but what can Mommy do when you are squirming?)

1st attempt

2nd half-successful attempt

Your favorite toys are (as always) balls, books phones (Aunt A gave you a real house phone), remote controls, and the odd non-toy you can stick in your mouth. You often walk around the house with the phone held to your ear, talking. Why you know to do this, I am not sure. We commonly use speaker phone around here and rarely hold it to our ear... You also love chasing the cats...also, as always. However, you have not given up despite being clawed twice by Squeak, the orange tabby--who is now scheduled for declawing later this week.

This love you show for the cats, you also show for those around you~ You absolutely go wild with joy when your Daddy comes home each day. You also have started trying to give kisses to your Mama. After she kisses you several times, you will open your mouth and press it hard against Mama's cheek. So sweet (and so slobbery!) :)

This month brought lots of family time--both for your birthday party and just in family visits. You got to see your grandparent Browns again (last seen at 3 1/2 months), and I think they find you far more enjoyable that then. You are rather fond of playing with your Gdaddy. You have had fun playing with cousins too. You enjoy the older kids, and watching what they do, but often find yourself preferring to assert your independence as they try to ferry you around the house kindly keeping you out of mischief. You also went to a ballet/tumbling class this month. Don't get angry with Mama for the little black ballet slippers you had to wear. You were still ALL boy! In fact, you tumbled across the floor better than anyone else, and I think the instructors were impressed with your strength. This month, we went to a couple of pools as well--one of which had a big Noah's Ark and slide. And it was fast...perhaps a bit too fast! We also climbed to the top of a 2 story treehouse at the McDonalds play area...then the fun of going down the slide together!

Life this month has been rather more ordinary but full of those special, sweet moments that are pure joy!

We love you!