16 Months Old

Another month has passed and my sweet baby boy is growing into a fun loving toddler right before my very eyes. He is so much fun these days! Wait...who am I kidding? He's always been fun! He is into everything, jabbering away like he's speaking another language, and not letting us rest for even a second, and I LOVE it all. True, there are days and nights when I am so exhausted, but it's so worth it. Here are Eli's 16 month updates!

Physically:
-not just walking anymore...running all over the place!
-throwing balls farther and farther (Josh is hoping he's going to get a left-handed pitcher!)
-climbing EVERYTHING (couches, dining room chairs, his crib, and anything he can get his little feet on top of!)
-Pointing to his ears, eyes, nose, toes, tongue, head, hair, belly button, booty
-shutting doors
-reaching for doorknobs and trying to open them
-throwing things in the trash when asked and even throwing some things in there when he's not asked to (most recently, his sippy cups and his socks)
-making his signs for "more", "milk", "bath", and "all done"
-crouching down to look for things under the couches and chairs (he's been doing this for awhile but I forgot to mention it)
-swiffering, sweeping, and mopping like a champ (i can even tell him to go get the dustpan for me and he does!)
-"helping" me load and unload the dishwasher and "helping" me put clothes in the laundry basket
-splashing like crazy in the tub
-writing on the tub walls with his crayons (his MOST favorite thing to do in the bathtub these days)
-brushing his teeth and letting me use the electric toothbrush on his teeth

Verbally:
-jabbering constantly all day long
-said "See ya!" back to Molly the other day (that's what she always tells him)
-being a mockingbird and repeating everything we tell him (he actually said the letters in his name today!)
-trying his best to say "Molly" (it usually comes out "La-La")
-he's added a couple of new words "dow" (door), "side" (outside), "Papa" (Grandpa), "bir" (bird), "mow" (more), "eef" (teeth), "ish" (fish), "ush" (brush)

Personality
-happy, happy, happy
-loves to play so much that sometimes it's hard for him to stop to eat or drink
-loves being outside and would be outside 24 hours a day if he could
-still pretty stubborn and lets you know quickly when he doesn't want to do something by saying "No"
-gets upset when he doesn't get his way and pouts by laying on the floor and putting his mouth on the floor and kissing it(Josh and I think it's pretty funny!)

Sleeping:
-still taking 2 naps a day most days; although three days this week, he didn't take a nap when he came home (EEK!! I don't think I'm ready for just one nap a day!)
-at night he's going down great and sleeping till about 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning
-he usually wakes up at least once still for some reason, but is easily consoled :) either with his paci or with some time with his Mama

Eating:
-still could live on yogurt, cheese, Lil' Crunchies, yogurt melts, fruit bars, wagon wheels, fruit and goldfish
-has recently started liking Gerber Graduate meals (the pasta/rice, chicken and veggie ones)
-the kid LOVES a scrambled egg and could eat one for every meal every day
-he usually eats a version of what Josh and I eat unless it's too spicy for him and he's doing much better with these meals as well!
-he has not had a morning bottle all week this week and tonight he drank a sippy cup of milk before bed instead of a bottle!!! I'm hoping this is the turning point for us because I'm ready to be through with bottles, but I'm trying to take my cues from him....so far, so good!
-will drink chocolate or regular milk during the day and also water; he doesn't really drink much juice at all
-he has had some tea (decaffeinated and sugar free) and I think he's going to be a true Southerner like his Mama because he LOVES the stuff!

Every month just keeps getting better and better. He is such a joy!!!