16 Months!

Everytime I look at my blog I get a little sad.  We've done so much that hasn't made it up (yet?).  I guess that is the price of my work at Isla's preschool.

Most importantly I need to share the swashbuckling good time we had at Isla's 4th Birthday...a pirate party!  Yo Ho!  ...and don't forget to have me share the "What the...fark?!" Story too.

But, because he changes in the blink of eye, here's a quick peak at Ike at 16 months.  He had a raging sinus infection & probable virus last weekend that resulted in a trip to urgent care, the er and two doctors visits and included 2 antibiotics and a 105.1 fever, but he is finally feeling better and getting back to his old goofy self.

He isn't the chatter box that Isla was, which is a little hard for Andrew and me - we've been spoiled with always knowing exactly what Isla wanted, but he has quite a few words, including: light, baba (bottle), Mommy, Daddy, Iyuh (Isla), Ampuh Don (Grandpa Don), hat, hot, ball, 'tide (outside), duck, quack, ear, cup, crack (cracker), nana (banana), wheel, up, duhn (down), hug, eat, dog, and more!

He is so attentive and clever with how things work and can scroll through pictures on the camera, turn things on and off, and get into almost anything.

He LOVES hugs and snuggles.  He hugs back better than any baby I know and has for a long time.  He occasionally gives open mouth slobber kisses, but he's a bit stingy with them.  He loves to run up to us and hug our legs and then asks for a hug.

He still likes a bottle to fall asleep, but we are cutting down his elecare to 16 oz a day.  At night we read stories, because he likes books now - Very Hungry Catepillar, Brown Bear, & In my Tree are his favorites.  He points to pictures and helps turn the page.  This newfound love of books started after he went back to child care.  One of the child care ladies has her son Zander, who is a little younger than Ike, in child care too and Zander loves books and Ike and Zander are BFFs, so when they aren't climbing anything they can, they read with Zander's mom.

After reading, we sing and Ike has his bottle, which he throws down when he's had enough.  He loves to throw.  Then he likes to sit up more and snuggle and then, when he isn't sick, he goes to sleep very easily with his music on and at least 3 pacis, his Denali bear, a rattle toy from his Grandpa Tony and Grandma Teddy, some board books, and his glow worm.

He is very attentive and imitates everything we do.  He loves putting things in the trash, but now understands that just trash goes in the trash and today he found a scrap of paper and rushed over to put it in - so happy to have legitimate trash!  On Thursday Isla was playing Dr. and was pretending that the shot was used to put "Dr. Grease" on our hands.  After she put it on my hands I pretended to rub it in.  Ike then got a shot, put it on his hands and pretended to rub it in.

He loves babies and feeds and puts Isla's baby doll to bed.  He also loves balls and wheels and throws anything that resembles a ball very hard....including food.  That's how he tells us he's done eating.  He also loves toys that make sounds, music, and dancing to music, including Gangman Style.

His favorite place is outdoors and he loves running around our yard, exploring and throwing and kicking balls, drawing with the sidewalk chalk, riding a scooter, and throwing dirt.  We recently went to the beach   He also loves a little house we made him with a big box - peak-a-boo is the best part, and his climbing slide.

His growth is great and we are trying to encourage more solid foods and less elecare.  It works fine when he's not sick.  When he's sick he has to be dropper fed water or formula - totally annoying.  He is learning to use the spoon and also prefers a sippy cup during the day.  He also assists with dressing - something he's actually been doing for a while - and thinks hats are really funny.

All and all he is thriving, happy and tons of fun!

We love you Ike!