Communication is Key

Communication is key and Nicholas is learning quite well how to do it.

Mike was holding Nick in the kitchen.  It was approaching dinner time.  Nicholas began to sign eat (closed hand/flat o to the mouth).  So as to be sure Mike didn't miss it (he was talking to me on the phone) he signed "eat" not to his mouth, but to Mike's.   So cute!

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It was approaching bed time and Nicholas got his blanket and his sippy and started taking both towards his room, stopped only by the gate.  I opened it and he proceeded to go towards his room.  I guess he was ready for bed.  Love that boy!

15 Months Old

Nicholas is now 15 months old.  Where does the time go?  

We had a good check-up today.  Here are his stats:

Weight: 20.6 (18%)
Length: 31.25 (50%)
Head: 19'' (85%)

He's growing and doing well.  He's been a little cranky lately but it's probably a combination of routine change (now that it's summer) and molars about to make their appearance.  He also got three shots today so that was just a nice bonus.

Foods he loves:  green beans, green grapes, string cheese, milk, club crackers, and apple sauce, especially from those little pouches.

He also likes chicken, apples, mangos, peaches, bananas, cheerios, yogurt melts, and occasionally mac n cheese and carrots (not together though).  He's pretty good about trying new things most of the time.  He likes eating with a spoon in his hand, though he's not really handy at using it yet.

Sleep:  Lately he's had a little trouble going down for good at night, but he's usually down about 7:30 and up around 6:30.  Naps are twice a day but vary in length.  1st nap happens around 10 (3 to 3.5 hours after waking up in the morning) and the 2nd happens about 3 to 3.5 hours after waking from the first nap.  If the first nap was longer than an hour, the 2nd nap can be a challenge, but he definitely still needs one.

Language:  He signs shoes, hat, (especially to communicate the desire to go outside), more, help, all done, milk.  He has mimicked water twice and bath, but always wants to sign bath on me instead of himself.  We watch Signing Time in the mornings during breakfast so he occasionally mimics the screen.  The other day he got a kick out of signing "gorilla."  He babbles a lot, makes car noises, and points.  He says mom & dad consistently.  He has said baby, up, "Ela" for Mikaela and is more intentionally about repeating our sounds now.  I haven't noticed many other words, but I think there's a few Spanish ones in there.  I'm sure when he's back with Mariel in August, those will increase.  He also waves bye-bye and blows kisses.

Activities:
building
knocking things down
playing with cars, complete with noises
yelling
playing the piano (toy or real)
dancing when there's music
running
climbing
playing in Mikaela's room (climbing on her bed, playing in her tent, dumping out her toys)
coloring
petting the dog
feeding the dog his food
playing outside
kissing the baby in the mirror
making beds on the floor with various pillows or blankets
"reading" books

good dog

swinging at the park

He's very stoic, but we think he liked it.

duet time

because doing down is just too easy...

stepping on the rainbow

messy dinner - not thrilled about the cleanup

Here are several videos to enjoy:

Playing in the playroom:

Building:

Concentrating:

Our environmentalist:

Swinging:

Backyard Splash

checking it out

one hand in... still not sure...

splashing with the bat

going in, the water's fine...