14 Months: Gaahd, Where Does the Time Go?

It's been too long since my last post. I've been busy with work and haven't really felt inspired to write anything. I have a bunch of stuff since Christmas that I want to share, but it's piled up so much that I don't know where to start. It's like hoarders, blog content edition.

However, I couldn't let Mr. Delish's 14 month birthday go by without a little post. Right now he's sprouting his molars, but doesn't seem to be having the same issues with sleeping and pain as he did at nine months with his front teeth. He got his first hair cut right after the new year.

He's getting so long and narrow like an Udon noodle (Udon!), still thick, but kind of stretched out, slowly losing his baby fat from all the walking. It makes me so sad! 

He's walking very well, since his first steps the week before Christmas.

Lately, on occasion he'll walk around with his hands up in the touch-down position. Usually they're  held bent at the elbow and hands near his shoulders, as if at the ready to catch his own fall.

He babbles and imitates sounds, pointing at everyday things.  His regular words are (sorry for the tedious list; I want to look back and remember all of the little things):

-Dada (daddy, but also seems to be the default word for 'you' or 'that person')
-Mama (mommy)--I love the way he draws out the aaaa and contorts his lips to make the mmm sound
-Bahbahh (bye)
-Boo (bottle)--we're having a difficult time weaning him from the bottle
-Joo (juice)--he drinks juice and water from his sippy (Tommy Tippy) cup, but, milk, not so much
-Kiffff(Clifford, as in the Big Red Dog)
-Baaaal (ball)
-Boohk (book)--man, that kid loves books and will entertain himself with them
-Kway (Craisin)--like candy to him
-Kwahkwah (quack quack)--says the duck
-Grrrrrr (Grrr)--says the tiger
-No (no)--and shakes his head
-Ub (up)--on occasion; he used to say it more
-Prprpep (panda)
-And various hilarious made up rolling r and l sounds as he points to things

It's also incredible how much he and babies his age understand though they might not say the words or speak full sentences.

For example, we'll ask him where something is and he'll point to it, including:

-truck (the riding kind and a separate dump truck push toy)
-cart (his push cart)
-humidifier
-dryer
-light (anything emitting light)
-picture (we hung some artwork and taught him the word, which he got quickly)
-nose
-ear
-eye (sometimes)
-mommy's nose
-mommy's eyes

And what's interesting is he understand commands


-No means stop doing whatever (but he's starting to not listen)
-Go read your book (this was AMAZING to see for the first time)
-Kiss (love this; he doesn't know how to pucker, but will lean in with his mouth open for a kiss)
-Close the gate

Games he likes:

-Chase (he loves it when we pretend to chase him; he rushes to one of us and burrows his head in our lap, giggling hyserically)
-Hide and go seek (kind of; he'll hear G coming and crouch down behind the couch and look under it to watch G come for him)
-Opening and closing tubes, boxes, doors, cabinets, gates


He's a challenge to feed. Dinner time was a nightmare for several weeks. He hates most baby food. But he does like fish, rice, risotto, pasta, yogurt, pureed mango, grav lox, and this one not-so-appetizing Gerber chicken and gravy baby food. So one of these is usually dinner. I'd like to expand this, but it seems to be a texture thing. I need to figure out more flavors and introduce more textures.

I was really slow in introducing him solids because of his reaction to peas and then his allergy to eggs. But I don't want a picky eater. I do want a child who has a well developed palate and a willingness to try new things. We shall see!

Happy belated new year, friends!