16 Months

Appearance:

• A curly tuft on the back of your head
• A round belly, rotund may actually be a better descriptor
• Pigeon toes (Between the belly and the toes, it's a wonder you're able to stand upright.)
• 14 teeth.  We're waiting on one more molar and one more canine to poke through before you get a little break with teething.   They're almost out. 
• Size 6.5 shoe
• Size 18-24 months or 2T clothes, wearing Freddie's wardrobe from last winter

Vocabulary:

• This has been a big month for new vocabulary words.  I am amazed by how big your vocabulary is, and wonder if you'll out talk your brother at supper.I also think this is probably the last month I'll be able to keep track of all your new words.  Every day brings several new words.
• You repeat everything I say and try to say it on your own.
• You are talking/babbling in such a way that I can tell what you say by the intonations.  Your saying "thank you" is one such example, but I am noticing that your babbles are sounding more and more like phrases you hear...."I love you" and "Bless you" are two that I know you are saying for sure.
• Treat! And he usually says it with a big smile and clapping his hands...Treat! Treat! Treat!  Just in time for Halloween.
• Cheese, as in cheese to eat and cheesing for the camera.  You pretend to take pictures and say "cheese" when you get the camera in focus.
• Up, as in going "up" in the elevator, up the stairs, and pick me up.  But my favorite is when you say "up" and make a motion as though you are jumping but your feet don't leave the ground.
• Open
• Bike
• Hi!
• Baby.  You picked this one up really quickly with all of the older kids pointing you out as "baby" in music class. You ask for your baby and point to your baby often. 
• Apple.  Sounds like "Apple, apple, apple, apple, apple..." until someone gives you an apple.  And it is so very sad when we're all out of apples. 
• Rock.  You are a collector of rocks!
• Ball.  We're hearing this one more, and you'll ask for the ball when it is out of sight. 
• Toe 
• Duck
• Animal
• Animal sounds:  Quack, oink, moo, who who, woof woof.  You saw meow every time you see a cat
• Guy, as in his little figurines we call "guys"
• Soccer
• Bubbles, as in blowing bubbles in the water at the pool
• Help

Motor:

• You can drink from a cup...if you want to.  Usually you drink what's in the cup when given to you, but sometimes you decide to dump it just for the fun of it.  I usually offer you a small glass of water or milk with meals and if you dump it out comes the sippy.
• You are really working on going up and down stairs without help or even without holding on.  You certainly aren't strong enough or coordinated enough, but you're trying it.  
• You say "jump" and then squat and push your arms up as though you're jumping...except your feet never leave the ground.
• You are beginning to undress yourself.  Sometimes this frustrates me because you decide you want to undress once you are in your crib.  I think this is because Freddie likes to sleep shirtless.
• You're working on brushing your teeth.
• You're running.  You're clumsy though and wipe out often, but you get back up and get running again.
• You're kicking balls and throwing bother overhand and underhand.

Making sense of the world:

• Developing a sense of humor....putting socks on your head when we get dressed or give me your toes to help with your socks and then pulling them away and giggling.
• Lots of pretending developing..you talk on the phone a lot, you feed your babies and animals, you cook in the kitchen.
• You know when you're tired and request, with a point, to get in the crib.  This has happened a few times and I knew you were tired before you even requested.  I need to just put you in bed when I think you're tired rather than waiting for you to indicate you want to go to bed early. 

The Belly.  The Shoes.

Likes:

• Peeking in drains, especially if you can see water or hear your voice echo
• Playing trains and cars
• Apples
• Reading books
• Your new ORANGE sneakers
• Slides.  You are brave and will sit down and creep to the edge and go down by yourself no mater how steep, or high, or winding the slide.
• Copying Freddie.  You watch him and mimic his every move.
• Riding in the bike seat. 

Brushing.

Dislikes:

• Diaper changes
• Getting dressed, although you will usually help out and put your hands and legs and head in the articles of clothing. 
• You are starting to show some pickiness when it comes to eating.  I can hardly believe it, but you'll test something out with your tongue and refuse some things.  Shocking.  I wonder if this is toddler pickiness setting in.  I sure hope not.

Personality:

• Feisty
• Stubborn.  I am not sure you realize just yet that I may be the only person more stubborn than you.  I will win.  Every singe time.  
• Affectionate
• Shy and cautious
• Rough and tumble

Sleep:

• Nap from 12.30-3.00pm
• Sleep from 7-6.45
• You have no problems getting in your bed, blowing me kisses, and putting your head down to fall asleep.  We're talking about your transition to a big boy bed, and it's on the horizon my dear.