14 Months

A few days ago, I was thinking that I should start writing AJ's fourteen month post so that I didn't forget all of the new things he's been doing. Then I forgot. Today, I looked at the calendar and thought, "June 10th... June 10th... Why do I feel like there's something I should be remembering about June 10th?" Finally it dawned on me, and I looked over at the boy and said "Aw, dude! You're fourteen months old today!" I guess with the way that time has been flying by, it's almost understandable that today nearly slipped past us. I am, however, very glad that I remembered! (There are pictures that need to be taken!)

Before we get to the pictures (he's napping now, and I'll wait until James gets home anyway - Daddy gets better smiles), I'll try to remember all of the things that the big boy has been up to in this past month. Let's see...

- You answer yes or no to questions with a nod or shake of your head. Sometimes - often times - quite vehemently!

- You like to "clean" with a washcloth; either yourself, the floor, or the table. So cute!

- When we're reading, you now point to pictures in the book and look at us, waiting for us to tell you what it is.

- You now climb safely down the stairs. Daddy showed you how to turn around and go down backward, and you mastered the skill right away.

- You've made your first (but I'm sure not last) visit to the E.R. Let's try not to make it a habit though, okay?

- You weigh around 24 pounds.

- You have seven teeth. Number eight and your top molars are almost there, too.

- You've figured out how to take your diaper off. I'm not so excited about this development. Diapers with snaps are now our favorite, sir.

- You're starting to pick up after yourself, putting your books back in the sling and putting your toys back in the toy box. (Or in the garbage. Whichever. Actually, the garbage can is now semi-permanently relocated in the laundry room for this very reason.)

- You can follow simple directions, such as "Bring me the ball, please!" and "Put your tools back in your tool box, please!" (Weren't you just a baby a couple of days ago? This is big boy stuff, dude!)

- You help me get you dressed by lifting up your feet and stepping through pant and short legs, and by pushing your arms through your shirts. When I asked for your shoes this evening so that I could put them away, you looked down and wiggled your feet around, contemplating how you could get them off.

- You sleep in a toddler bed in your own room for both naps and bedtime, instead of sleeping with Mama and Daddy during the night. Thankfully, the transition was incredibly smooth! You're still getting up several times during the night; sometimes I have to nurse you back to sleep, and other times singing to you and giving you the pacifier will do the trick. Teething hasn't helped your night-wakings, I'm sure. Now that most of your teeth are almost through, maybe you'll be able to sleep better soon. My fingers are crossed!

- Speaking of nursing, you now "ask" to nurse by pulling on my shirt and nodding your head "yes" in a ridiculously exaggerated manner. Perhaps you'll learn to ask in a slightly more subtle way soon... In any case, you're still nursing several times a day and hardly ever bite anymore, thank goodness. Usually, I let you nurse whenever you want to, but occasionally you ask right after you've nursed a ton, so I've been redirecting you toward your water instead. Nine times out of ten, it works pretty well.

Alright, on to the pictures. These we taken on Hickam Air Force Base, which is right across the street from Pearl Harbor Naval Station. It took awhile to get him to smile, but these were some of the most fun photos we've taken yet!