15 Month Checkup today - Brady weighed in at 22 lbs 13 oz (25%), 30.25 in tall (25%), and 47.5 cm head circumference (50%).  The pediatrician was very happy with his development.  He's eats well for his age (grains, fruits, dairy, and some veggies) and is learning the taste and texture of meats.  He eats chicken occasionally, ate turkey last night for the first time, but steers away from pork or red meat.  The pediatrician recommended we try fish since it has a soft texture.  He was very happy and energetic at his visit, playing games with the pediatrician and tearing the paper off the table.  She was impressed with how many words he uses (mom, dad, doggie, cracker, cheese).  Otherwise his behavior is typical for a 15 month old - copying his parents, sleeping through the night (~11 hrs/night), and being energetic and curious.  His tubes are still in his ears although the left one is hanging on by a thread.  Normally tubes should last a year.  If the left one falls out, and he goes without ear infections, she doesn't recommend replacing it so here's hoping.  He's broken two more teeth on the bottom (canines) bringing the total to 16 teeth.  These are his last baby teeth until he gets his second molars between 2-3 years old.  She recommended we brush his teeth to get him started on good habits, and to hold off on the first dentist visit until he's 2-3 years of age.  When we told her about the biting at school, she said all kids go through either a biting or hitting stage.  She recommended we talk to the daycare and ask they watch him closely to see his behavior leading up to it.  It could be teething or frustration (stealing his blankie is definitely the latter).  Either way he will need to be disciplined and she encouraged us to use time outs if needed.  He got 3 more shots today - Hib, DPT, and Hep A.  This is the last Hib, 4th of 5 DPT, and first Hep A.  Poor Brady cried and wimpered, but he felt better when he got home and shared a popsicle with Mom.  Overall he is doing great!  Our next visit will be at 18 months.

I'm not afraid of shots!

Monkey see, monkey do.  That's the best way to describe Mr Brady these days.  He is a little sponge watching and copying every move.  This works to Mom and Dad's advantage after dinner helping us get him to wipe his hands and his mouth with his face wipes.  He imitates words we say (like turtle, doggie, baby) or motions we make (tossing a ball, sitting in a chair).  While he is keen to watch and learn, he also is very independent exploring new toys or objects comfortably on his own.  He's loving his time at the Little Gym, learning how to swing on rings, walk a balance beam, learn how to do a forward roll, or play with the parachute (an old fav from gym class).

Developmentally he just got his two upper molars and has broken the third row of teeth from the upper front.  This brings the total to 14, and he's only 14 months old!  6 more teeth to go until he has all his baby teeth.  Unfortunately all these teeth have lead to a couple incidents of biting at day care.  You do not cross Brady and steal his blankie or he will bite you.  They try to curb this by explaining to him that it hurts his friends.  While he may bite he's immediately sorry and will lean in for a hug.  Another really sweet thing he does is give kisses.  He used to open mouth kiss, now it's closed mouth and given with a hi, good morning, or good bye.

Since he has done so well with his sign language, we bought him a couple baby signing time DVDs.  He really enjoys those and will communicate by signing "baby" when he wants to watch them.  It's hard to pick out his signs sometimes, but it's really amazing to speak to him and see him sign back.  For instance today it was raining (odd for TX in July).  When Mom held him to look outside and said it was wet out, he did the sign for rain.  Very cool.  A couple of the videos have songs and he loves dancing this one called the "diaper dance".

He enjoys his bedtime and morning routines, and instead of fighting us to get dressed he holds his arms up to go into his sleeves and feet up to go into his shorts.  He giggles a lot too and loves to be tickled by his Mom under his arms, on his feet or belly, and on his neck.  Another new parenting mistake - diaper rashes are not just for babies, in fact he gets them more now that he's on a variety of foods than as a newborn.  He's also a lot messier and dirtier eating, playing, and coloring at school or at home.  We do a lot of laundry and there's only 3 of us!

Brady loves throwing tennis balls.  Mom tried to teach him how to catch, and for some reason he really wanted to do this from his rocking chair (she admired his sense of challenge).  He didn't catch too many, but had a great time swatting at them and playing with his Mom.

 Helping Mom sweep

A little less "helpful" with the laundry

Why washers and dryers have child locks

It's been 3 weeks since we last posted (sorry), and we have lots to report on Brady and his adventures.   For his second 4th of July we took a week and went to Maine to spend some time at camp with the grandparents and uncles.  Seems every year our family grows, this year we had Uncle Paul's girlfriend and her two kids join us.  The weather was great and we got to spend a lot of time on the new dock and in (or behind) the new boat.  Brady loved the water, the squishy bottom and chilly temp did not bother him one bit.  It was great seeing everyone!

Camp with the new porch and new dock

  The new boat

 

Our little moose

Feeding the ducks

Watching from the porch

The boys tubing 

Uncle Chris on the wakeboard

Hanging out with Grandma Reggie 

Grandpa Bob did I win the duck race? 

Walking with my Grandmas

 Going for a dip with the girls

Swimming with Daddy

Grandpa teaching me how to drive the boat

Riding with Mom

 Playing in the sand, fun!

Our little family

Flying home to TX