16 Months

Since Sam will be 17 months tomorrow, I figured I should put up his 16 month post.  Pretty busy summer with lots to share soon!

Sam Updates

On July 9th, Sam turned 16 months old.

UP AND MOVING:
Sam is definitely a full time walker and now loves any opportunity to try out running.  We have purchased quite a few pairs of shoes this month!  He is very stable with going from sitting to standing right up.  

FOOD:

We've determined that he likes spicy/saucy food.  He still hasn't been a champion eater this month, but anytime we have Mexican, any type of spicy sausage, or a heavily spiced red sauce, he is all about it.  Still loves his bottles....but they are slowly disappearing.  We're down to one a day before bed.

SLEEP:

He still definitely looks forward to a solid morning nap from 10:00-12:00, then we try again around 3:00.  Sometimes he falls for it, sometimes not, but then he just gets an extra early bed time.  I would say that this has been his grumpiest month so far.  Very, very whiney in the afternoons, which is why he still gets "quiet time" if he doesn't want to actually nap.

Very few night terrors this month, but not completely gone. 

COMMUNICATION:
He will attempt to repeat anything we say (letters, words, phrases).  Zach's biggest victory this month was to extend past "hockey" and got him to say "referee" and "goal" ......eesh.  He makes the sounds for most animals, does "more," "please," and "all done" in sign language.

NEW THINGS/FIRSTS:

* Turned his carseat front facing.  He is over a year and well over 20 pounds, so we felt it was time.  He is SO much happier in the car now.

* First time to the Topeka Children's Museum, and we went a few times this month.

* Started sitting in a booster seat at the counter top.  He isn't a huge fan of the high chair anymore.

* First "campfire" with s'mores. 

* Trying a lot of new words

WHAT HE LOVES:

* Being in the basement with my dad for drum playing, foos ball, and playing with the different toys that are there.

* Watching hockey.  It keeps his attention more than any Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Chuggington ever has.  Sam has two jerseys (Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues), and has also taken ownership of a Chicago Blackhawks blanket that we had prior to his birth....he likes to have both present when he is watching a game.

* Loves cars, trucks, and trains.  He has moved beyond just spinning their wheels, and has started driving them along the floor (and people if he has one in hand while you're holding him).  He makes all of the noises for each thing while he drives, which makes him seem like such a little boy.

* Loves being outside.  If he is cranky, just take him outside for a walk up the sidewalk, a wagon ride, or just to look at the grass and he shapes up immediately.  We've been lucky that the midwest isn't having its usual heat that is so unbearable.  He's had a lot of good days where he can be outside without completely sweating.

* Adores reading books.  He'll go upstairs at my parents' house and everything will be quiet.  He is usually sitting in the lounge chair in Jeff's room flipping through a board book.

* Cookie Monster. "Cookie cookie cookie" is an everyday phrase.

* Having a steering wheel to turn.  He loves to drive anything.

WHAT HE COULD DO WITHOUT:

* Swimming in water, just like his dad when he was little.  He started screaming when we put him in the lake, and the pool wasn't too big of a hit either.  Not sure if it was too cold or he truly didn't like it.....he loves taking a bath....we are hoping for more opportunities to try them both out for the rest of the summer.

* Chicken.  I cannot get him to eat it unless it is super disguised in a delicious pasta dish.  I've relied heavily on smoothies to sneak in nutrition.  

Summary photos of his 16th month

(mid-June through early July...these are not in order at all)

Zach and I were in New York City for a wedding in mid-June
 and we saw Cookie Monster on the street during our first
day there.  Made us miss Sam. 

The wedding was on a glass roof boat that went up and down
the Hudson.  It was a pretty amazing evening!

Topeka Children's Museum

At "Going Bonkers" in Topeka

I got magnets of simple objects that he easily recognizes and attempts to
say.  A magnet with a childhood photo of his Uncle Alan got thrown
into the mix...he gets it right every time!

Not so sure....

Would rather just drive the boat

His bunny "Blue" in his boat coat

I turned 29.  Eesh.

Just tried a roasted marshmallow.

Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup!!