15 Month Baby?

 When do our little ones transition from baby to toddler?

I do not know.

But I'm not sure Drake is falling into the "baby" category anymore= Boo hoo. :(

As he leaves the sweet, innocent baby stage and enters crazy toddlerhood, he is becoming smarter, funner, and spunkier! 

He is learning so much it seems almost daily and he is just so darn funny sometimes.

Parenthood is great! (SO hard at times, but SO worth it)

Poor little buddy spent his 15 month birthday so sick. He has had a bad cold since last Tuesday and when he wasn't getting better and started pulling on his ears, I knew it was time for a trip to the doctor on Friday. The doctor said his right ear was bulging with pus and the left ear was infected as well. 

Here's my sick boy on Saturday longing to go outside and help daddy in the yard. He sat there most of the day fussing to go outside. That Binky has been almost permanently attached to his mouth while he's been sick and I let him have it because it was the only thing that made him happy and he deserved it for how awful he was feeling. 

Thank heavens for antibiotics. Today, he is finally feeling better.

And I'm so glad. He has been such a healthy boy. In fact, this is only the 2nd time that he has been really sick since he was born! (The 1st was an ear infection last August) I hate to see him sick and suffering! He shed many tears and I did too. I would have done anything to take it away from him- No fun for baby or parents!

This is this morning. Looking snotty, but feeling much better!

 

Ooooh....I just love the little squirt to death!!!!

I love to squeeze him really hard and tell him how much I love him!

And he giggles. :)

Yesterday, was his 15 month appointment with Dr. Horkley (our favorite pediatrician)

Stats:

Weight- 23 pounds 1 ounce (29th percentile)

Height- 33 inches (93rd percentile)

Head Circumference- 18.5 inches (45th percentile)

Things we Learned:

1. He is really tall!

2. He is developing right on track and is a healthy, growing boy!

3. Mom & Dad are doing a good job (Dr. Horkley is always so encouraging and always lets us know that we're doing a great job with Drake- He's awesome!)

4. His ear infection is clearing up.

5. And...He has dandruff. Nice. We'll get started on some Head & Shoulders.

6. Oh and he's really cute. See...

Drake has 11 teeth. 3 of which are molars.

His newest word is "Cheeeeese" when taking a picture.

He does a lot of grunting and pointing to try to tell us what he wants..

He also grunts when he is frustrated or mad which is not our favorite. He throws some pretty hilarious tantrums as well. 

Some of his favorite games are playing in the kitchen drawers, playing catch, bouncing his basketball (he tries to dribble), playing with phones, chasing Sasha, and Hide 'N Seek.

He loves balls- any kind of ball whatsoever and loves throwing anything and everything.

This is a video of him throwing rocks in St. George and saying another new word- "Yay!"

In fact, yesterday he threw my cell phone from the stage down onto the gym floor at the church and it took the screen completely off. My phone is toast and he is reaping the benefit of mom's phone now being his new play phone.Grr...

Another favorite activity is playing in the laundry.

He still LOVES "Rarr-Rarrs" and can growl like a bear

He is "learning" to be obedient. It's frustrating because I feel like some days all I say is "No Drake", "No", "No, No, NO".

I'm working on using positive reinforcement instead of negative because I hate using that blasted word all day long. Somedays he is really good about obeying and putting down whatever item he's not supposed to have, but a lot of times he just looks at me and smiles and does it anyway. Sometimes I laugh about it, other times it really ticks me off. haha

Look at that guilty face!

Separation anxiety has started, but he's usually good to go to most anyone.

He likes playing peek-a-boo on the stairs or to take toys up to the top and play up there.

He CLAPS at himself for EVERYTHING!

Oh....and  you are expected to applaud as well! It's pretty cute!

He's a great sleeper at night, going down at 8pm and waking up at 8am.

Naps? Not so much- he takes 1-2 a day and is pretty random.

I check on him every night before I go to bed and laugh at the positions I find him in.

He is climbing a lot now. He loves to climb all over the furniture and especially through our kitchen chairs.

This night was especially funny. Rob & I were watching TV in the other room and heard him start grunting in frustration, so we walked in and found him completely stuck under the chairs trying to get his basketball out.

So what did we do?..........Grabbed the camera!

He got out all by himself- good job bud!

He's mastered walking and is now running!

Video of him running at the park in St. George-

What else do I want to remember?

Good eater- will try most anything, but watch out, because when he is done, he throws his food everywhere!

Weaning the bottle has been a real difficult experience. I almost had him off of it, but then he got so sick this last week and it was the only way I could get him to drink anything, so he's back on it. We'll work on that!

Drake is all-boy. He loves throwing things, recking things, being loud and aggressive, wrestling, cars, trucks etc.

I honestly believe they are just born that way.

Our new favorite things he does is giving kisses (both real and eskimo) and hugs! So tender and sweet.

Church is nearly impossible. Lots of time spent in the halls.

I've decided to let him keep his Binky for awhile because he only uses it for sleeping and sometimes in the car. I love it, he loves it. I don't see the point in taking away something that works really well for him.

We do a lot of singing especially- If You're Happy, Monkeys on the Bed, & I am a Child of God.

Drake catches on so well and does the actions and even sings with me- "Ahh, ahh, ahh, la, la, la"

I know I brag about him a lot on this blog, and it's not meant in a prideful way.

We love him so much. He makes our house a home, our family stronger and life SO enjoyable.

Happy 15 Months to Drake!

And one last awesome though....3 more months and he goes to nursery! YESSSSS!