16 Months

Oh 16 months, I love you.  Spunky, social, full of energy, snuggling like his cheek is magnetized to my shoulder, making up little games, copy-catting us, learning to eat with a fork (depending on his mood), eating a big breakfast every morning, showing off his tongue, spazzing out when Dad comes home.  No more napping in his diaper on hot summer days like last year; he knows how to rip off that diaper and chuck it across his room.  He's constantly saying "whoa" and "wow" and "uh-oh," but has also started calling the things he wants "bubby" or "baby" or "bee bee".  Something about the way "bubby" rolls out of his mouth makes it especially difficult for us to hold our ground when he wants something off-limits.  So darn cute.  He's a little hot and cold with water; in the bath and pool he either loves splashing or acts offended by it.

He still wants to whack the shutters, get into the fireplace (now baby proofed), doesn't like it when I'm cooking because of all the many ways that takes him off the main focus, and he still puts everything immediately into his mouth.  I look forward to the day this phase ends; it's been going on for a year.

Tantrums are still among us; I'm in the middle of reading Happiest Toddler on the Block and the methods I've been putting into action have already been helping.  He wears me out at the end of the day and sometimes I sit on the couch in a wide-eyed zone-out for 10 minutes after he's hit the hay.  Woosh.