15 months

I thought I would do an update on whats going on Stephen at 15 months.  After he turned one I stopped the monthly updates, but I will still do them every few months because there are so many little things I want to remember.

I am loving this age right now.  Everyday with him is just so much fun!  I used to think that I would be so sad when he got bigger and I couldn't hold him all the time and while I look back at those memories very fondly, I love every stage he is in.  Everyday I think, I love this age the best.  And then he gets another month older and I think, no this stage is the best.  So pretty much, everyday with my baby is the BEST!!

He wears size 4 diaper.   We are taking a break from cloth diapers.  He is a very heavy wetter and they started leaking.  He would literally go through 5-6 pairs of shorts in one day.  I was so frustrated with the whole situation that I just bought a pack of disposables and we have been using them ever since.  We do still use cloth at night.  He is such a heavy wetter that he will leak in disposables at night.  Sometimes he leaks in the cloth, but they are more reliable at night.

He wears either 12-18 or 18-24 month clothes.

He loves to be outside.  It makes me so happy that he loves to run and play outside.  When we are outside he loves to explore and check everything out.  He is very inquisitive.

He says ball, mama, dada.  He stopped saying book and diaper.  I heard somewhere that kids only have the capacity for so many words at certain ages so I wonder if he can only remember those works.  I don't think he will ever forget ball.  Everything that is round is a ball and he gets very excited whenever he sees a ball!  And I love that he constantly says mama and dada.  There is nothing sweeter than hearing him say mama.  He says it in such a sweet voice too, I just love it!  I also love when he will just say dada at random times and point.  It's like he is thinking of dada and wondering where he is.  It sometimes makes Stephen sad when I tell him that Stephen was saying dada and pointing to the door, but I think it just means that he is thinking about him and loves him!

He is always happy when we are out somewhere.  People constantly tell me how good he is and ask if he is always like this.  He is just always a joy to be with and makes everyones day brighter.

He is doing so good feeding himself.  He can now have larger chunks of food and he will just bite one bite off.  You do still have to monitor him though, because he will still stuff his mouth and then choke.

He loves to hide and play hide and seek.  He will hide behind anything and then slowly peek out.

He is SO smart.  I know every parent says that, but he really is.  The things he knows are amazing to me for such a young age.  He knows if he gets his shoes on we are going outside.  If he sees the diaper bag, he knows we are leaving.  I have my keys hanging on a hook in the kitchen and I will say go get mama's keys and he will run right to them.  After I make a meal, I say "ok lets eat, go get in your chair" and he runs over to his high chair and waits for me to get there and put him in it.  I'm sure these are probably normal for his age and we are not raising the next genius child who graduates college at age 11, but I think he is so smart!!

He loves airplanes.  We have a small airport near our house so they fly over all the time and he always points up to look at them, even if we are inside.  Sometimes he will run over to the window and try and see it.

I am starting to give him directions and teach him how to follow them.  He is always right with me wherever I am and the other day I was taking towels out of the dryer and so I gave him one and said, "carry this to the couch" and he looked at me like "what?", so I said it a few more times and then all the sudden he just took off and when I got to the living room he was hoisting his towel onto the couch.  I think he is going to be a great helper!

He is obsessed with my keys!  He always wants to hold them.  I hang them on a hook in the kitchen and the other day I saw him go into the kitchen but then it was very quiet.  I looked over the bar and saw him staring up at my keys.  It was too funny!  I told Stephen that story and he said he was probably thinking, "ok, just 2 more years and I will be able to reach them"- haha!

He gives us kisses, but only when he wants to.  We will ask him for a kiss and we only get one every now and then.  They are the open mouth, slobbery kisses and they are the best!!

His schedule is probably about to change so I want to document this so I will remember:

7am- awake and bottle (7oz)
8am- breakfast
9am-11am- nap
11am- sippy cup of milk
12pm- lunch
1pm-3pm- nap
3pm- sippy cup of milk
3:30pm- snack
5:30pm- dinner
6pm- bath
6:30pm- bottle (7oz)
7:15-7:30- bed

I know it is cliche to say, but everyday I truly love him more.  Each and every day, my heart just swells with pride and joy and LOVE.   Lately I have just had the overwhelming feeling of gratitude to be his mother.  There is no job that is more important to me and no job I could love more.  I love everything about being a mom.

We love you so much Stephen Earl!!  You are the best thing that ever happened to your mommy and daddy!!