Gab gab gab

Andrew has been picking up words left and right and is turning into quite the talker. I've lost count of how many words he can say...at about 16 months Sam and I counted 30 words Andrew could say but now at 17 months, I'd guess he's up at 50 or 60 easily. Many center around food (yogurt, crackers, cheese, milk are favorites). He recently added "Grandma" and "Sam" to his vocabulary, though Grandpa and Aunts and Uncles are also called "Grandma." Refrains of "Mommy, daddy, mommy, daddy" are his favorite, along with shouts of "some" or "bite" if you are eating or drinking anything intriguing. Last month he started to throw tantrums occasionally, but either it didn't work or his communication has improved and he's less frustrated with getting his point across. Overall he's a happy, jovial toddler who is inquisitive, affectionate and clever.

the best thing about overalls....

You have a Picture Mail from telaeris24@pm.sprint.com

Message: I never thought how useful overalls were....built in big pockets! View Entire Message Send and receive Pictures and Videos through Picture MailSM. For more information go to www.sprint.com/picturemail.

Please be aware your friends can forward your picture, video, and album share invitations to others or post the unique Web link to your share invitation on any number of sources (e.g. blogs), through which others could also gain access to your online photos. If you have private or sensitive photos you are sharing, please share them only with those you trust.

© 2009 Sprint. All rights reserved.

Andrew's 15 month stats

Weight: 21 lb 10.8 oz, 15%
Height: 31.75 in, 75%
Head circumference: 46 cm, 20%

No wonder I get so tired running with them in the stroller...kid weight alone is 58 lbs!

Andrew at 15.5 months

Andrew's climbing is starting to mellow out a bit as he approaches 16 months. He is now quite steady on our couch and understands not to roll off unless there are pillows under and he is playing 'leaves' with his brother. He adores doing anything his brother does and also going for long walks around public places. Occasionally he looks back for Mom or Dad, but generally he just keeps going. He's a fairly good eater and has taken a recent interest in milk, much to his Mom's delight. He is happy-go-lucky by nature but will let his brother know if there is something that he really doesn't want taken away. Andrew and Sam enjoy laughing with each other and Andrew seems even to enjoy the little 'wrestling' matches they have on occasion. It's not exactly a fair fight yet and Mom often intervenes to prevent perceived threat of injury, but Andrew could care less about possible danger. He has an increasing passion for buckles and doesn't let an unbuckled buckle pass him by. He loves bath time and also his swim lessons, even if he's often shivering by the end (he needs more body fat!). Andrew continues to delight us in new ways every day and we are blessed to have him in our lives. As Sam says when he hugs Andrew: "I love you soooo much Andrew."

The climber is back

Early on Andrew worried me with his climbing ability, then it tapered off. Well, in the last week Andrew has mastered going up and down stairs safely, climbing onto our couches and just now, climbing onto our dining room chairs. I even tried to push the chair all the way under the table to make it difficult (or so I thought). He still climbed up and just stayed low under the table on the seat. Crazy! He seems to have a fairly good sense of balance and how to avoid falling, but he's not quite 15 months old. I can feel my gray hairs forming as I watch him run along our couch.

Quite a talker

Andrew is very adept at repeating what we say and his vocabulary seems to grow each day. He's had "mama" down for quite a while but also says (in his own way): daddy, bye-bye, night-night, this (a favorite word), all done, Sam, ball, phone, trash (this is quite a favorite), shoe, sock, cup, bag, sit, spoon, raisin, down, dog. It seems to be a lot for a 13.5 month old, even if his diction isn't very clear and is just so fun to hear.

Andrew's 1 year stats

Weight: 19 lbs 13.6 oz (15%)
Height: 29.5 in (45%)
Head circumference: 45.5 cm (25%)

Further supports his recent moniker of "Little one" around our house.

Talking

Andrew began talking at 11 months and has continued to add new words each week. His first official word we understood well was "Stop." Hopefully not indicative of his future relationship with his brother, he did indeed pick it up from Sam who enjoyed saying "Stop, go, stop, go" at the time and frequently tried to prevent his brother from stealing toys by saying "Stop, Andrew." This word was quickly followed by "mama", "dada", "night-night" and "ball." Most are not intelligible to anyone but his immediate family, but he is speaking!

Comprehension

Andrew is now 10.5 months old and it has become obvious over the last couple of weeks that Andrew can understand nearly all that we say. Okay, maybe not our debates about health care reform, but simple directives and sentences dealing with physical objects or actions. It's amazing to see that even though he can't talk, he understands our words.

What he's like at 10 months

Andrew is now walking everywhere he can. He still frequently drops down on his bottom for a sit, but will walk up to 20 or more steps unless something interests him along the way (which it often does). He's just starting to sleep from 7:30pm to 6:00am (with a little encouragement/ignoring from Mom) and babbles away quite happily. I really thought I heard him try to repeat "Night night" and "All done" last week, so I don't think words are too far away. He's got four teeth and loves to eat. The more solid the better and finger foods are a big hit. His latest sound is smacking his lips, which he will repeat back and forth with me with glee. He's made the leap into the "big boy carseat" (one we can't carry him around in) and has yet to make transitions from asleep in car seat to asleep in crib (unlike his brother Sam who can be carried in and fall back asleep). He's as strong and squirmy as ever and also incredible good natured. He's generally relaxed and likes following his Mom and big brother around the house. He's experimenting with biting toes (other people's, not his unfortunately) and loves to wave around his index finger. Fascination with other people's faces continues though exploration through tongue is abating. He's a master at drinking from a sippy cup with a straw though he still breastfeeds 4 to 5 times a day. He likes pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. Just kidding about that last part, he prefers Merlots.

He's walking!

Andrew started officially walking around 9.5 months old (a week ago or so). He's toddling around, quite bow-legged and with little baby steps. Generally he strings together 6-7 steps before plopping down to investigate something. However, today he seemed determined to chase me around the upstairs. Not long before he'll catch me...

Andrew's 9 month stats

Weight: 18 lb 2.2 oz (20%)
Height: 29 in (75%)
Head circumference: 44.5 cm (30%)

Better view up here...

Andrew has been practicing standing up without holding onto anything all day. He gets quite the proud smile once he stands up and has been experimenting with lifting various toys with him. Several times he's looked like he really wants to walk once standing, but hasn't quite managed it all the way yet. A few steps have been seen here or there, but nothing we can officially call walking yet. Maybe tomorrow...

Clapping

Andrew did some clapping today. At least, baby-style clapping where he just bashing his hands into each other. He's also getting much more balance and sometimes cruises along furniture while barely touching it. Last week he took a couple of steps to his Aunt Amanda but seems hesitant to really break out fully on his own.

Two teeth

Andrew popped out two teeth last week after gnawing and drooling everything in sight. All considering, he remained quite happy, but now we need to watch out when he tries to bite. Luckily many times he's just trying to give us a wet, open-mouthed kiss.

What he's like at seven months

Andrew turns seven months in a few days and is getting around really well now. He crawls everywhere (living room, under the dining room table, into the bathroom, kitchen) and pulls up to standing whenever given the chance. His favorite is pulling up on the couch, but he'll also pull up on the coffee table, dining room chairs, Sam's toy car, kitchen drawers, the Rody bouncy horse, the dishwasher, his brother...anything he can hold onto. He also just started saying "Guh guh guh" which Sam loves to repeat back to him. He's a smiley, happy baby though stranger anxiety is starting to set in slowly. So far he's "eaten" rice cereal, oatmeal and potato. I'm not sure if he really eats them or just swishes them around and spits them out.

Happy baby!

Andrew is such a happy camper - just look at this kids million dollar toothless grin!

6 month stats

Andrew just had his 6 month check-up and is doing just fine. Here are his stats:
weight - 16 lb 10 oz, 35%
height - 26 in, 35%
head circumference - 42.5 cm, 25%

Weekend of Firsts

This past weekend had a number of firsts for Andrew. He is just growing so quickly and he's only 6 months old!

1. First time pulling up to stand on his own.
2. First time crawling across a grassy field.
3. First bath with his brother.
4. First time sitting in a high chair
5. First time seeing his dad play grass ultimate. (I just hope I can still play when he gets old enough!)

We'll post pictures soon.

Dave

New joys

We've been a bit concerned that Andrew's getting a few more knocks to the head and sore knees from learning to crawl in a house with hardwood floor. Sam got to get through the crawling stage while we were at a carpeted rental and Andrew is quickly able to move off our 6 foot square rug. However, today I noticed that he has a new joy available to him that his brother didn't - drooling on the hardwood floor and then finger painting with the drool. Let me tell you, he found it entirely engrossing for many minutes.