Perfect Imperfection: 15 Months

Oh how the months fly by. I just want to scream "SLOW DOWN!!" I am not ready for my baby to no longer be a baby. Right now he thinks I am so fun and he wants to hang out with me all of the time. How sad I will be when that changes.

There isn't a lot of "new" things to report from the last month. But, that doesn't mean that we haven't enjoyed Carver's 14th month-- far from it. He gets more and more fun every single day. And, life gets a little more hectic every day. We're managing though, getting better and better at this whole parenting thing.

What on earth did I do 2 years ago before the little one turned our world upside down? I certainly got more sleep, but I am happier now than I have ever been. Lost sleep and all, it is more than worth it to be able to raise this little boy.

15 Months:

1) Stats: 23 lbs (no weight gain in 3 months)
30 1/2 inches

2) The warmer weather has brought a new-found LOVE of anything outdoors. We go to the park, and walk circles around our house and yard. Carver has learned that when he puts his shoes on it means we are going outside. So now he follows me around the house carrying his shoes, or he sits down and tries to put them on himself. (and then gets supremely frustrated when he can't get them on his feet). He clearly gets his love of the outdoors from his daddy :)

3) Vomiting: On the very night he turned 15 months, Carver woke us up in the middle of the night. As soon as I opened the door I knew he had been sick--- everywhere...in his crib, on himself, on the floor... it was a spectacular mess. Thank God Daniel was home. (Though it did take me several attempts to wake him up. I called him from the nursery. Nothing. Called him from the door to our bedroom. Nothing. Walked over and smacked his leg a couple of time. Nothing. I was about to put down my sick [and now naked] son to rush and make sure that Daniel was indeed alive, but my next effort to wake him [shaking him violently] finally roused him). So, Daniel was on clean-up duty-- changing the sheets, cleaning the floor, etc., while I was rocking the sad little baby. We got him in clean pajamas about 15 minute before he vomited again-- all over me. Can I just say that there is no substance on earth more foul than regurgitated milk? Into the third pair of pajamas for the night. Then back into the crib to sleep for an hour before one more vomiting episode. And that was it. No more vomiting, and he was relatively normal the next day. As far as stomach issues it could have been much worse. But, it was his first time vomiting so that made it plenty overwhelming.

4) We are (still) working on giving up bottles.... not going so well at the moment. Carver does not fuss when he wants a bottle-- he just won't drink milk offered in a cup. So, I have visions of him becoming severely dehydrated and I cave and give him a bottle. I'll be glad when this hurdle has passed.

5) Carver is quite the chatterbox these days. He has finally started saying Mama again. That was his first word, but for some reason he went several months without saying it at all. He says "dada" and Delia (for all animals). He said "bottle" recently and has words for "yes" and "no" that really are actually more sounds than words. I'm hoping he starts increasing his actual vocabulary soon. He does "talk" a lot in his own way. Which is pretty darn cute. And, he understands a ton of things and communicates very well, though non-verbally.

6) Carver has very little patience for baby food these days and might be showing signs of becoming a little picky about what he eats. I am desperately trying to not let him become a picky eater-- he has always willingly eaten anything-- so it will be really frustrating if he starts this now.

7) Sleeping patterns are still consistent. Carver takes 1 nap now for anywhere from 1.5- 3 hours. He goes to bed at 7:30 p.m. (or so) and sleeps until about 7:30 a.m. He rarely wakes up during the night. Hallelujah.

8) Carver is great when we leave him in the nursery at church or for MOPS. He likes being in new places and around new people. He hasn't quite started truly playing with other kids yet, but he seems to like watching kids and babies.

On to the pictures...