Tate is 17 months, which means 1 month away from a YEAR AND A HALF! How does this warp speed growing of my baby keep happening?!? I will never be okay with it! Seriously, he is still a newborn to me, yet it feels like there has been a carseat in our car forever...you know what I mean. I know it doesn't really make sense, but it's true. Dang babies, grow up way too fast.
He is in a learning growth spurt for sure. Things that used to take him a while to pick up on, he gets so quickly now! I can show him a sign a handful of times and he has it down. He still isn't saying anything, but I know that will come with time. We are still making allowances for his prematurity, in some aspects, mostly in his growth and terrible eating!
He is not premature tiny by any means, he is actually a tall little dude, but skinny! His weight percentiles are constantly dipping off the charts or staying below the 10th percentile. For the past few months he has been on pediasure (which is more expensive than formula, when we should be finally on cheap regular milk...whatever), to help him gain weight and to supplement his nutrition. Seriously, some days he will not eat anything. It really is a constant battle and something that I stress about on an hourly basis. I know one day it will be funny when he is a teenager eating us out of house and home, but right now I would give anything for him to chow down!!
Just had an appointment here with our new Maine pediatrician, who is great old school doctor...cool crazy old man hair and all (I judged when I first saw him)...but he was great. We have lucked out in the pediatrician department with all the moving and changing and the difficult child we have. Our pedis have been so attentive to Tate's needs and medical history and spend time with us. I am uber grateful for that! I got some more reassurance, that I am in fact a decent mom (sometimes that is nice to hear when you get stressed), and we are going to get the referral we need to pediatric gastro doc here. Off to a good start!
17 Month Stats (we have stats for essentially every month, and more!)
21 pounds 7 ounces - 7th %
33.75 inches - 50(something) %
See what I mean...tall and skinny. He seriously has the most hilarious little butt ever!
1. Tate these days could be a silent stand up comedian, just a funny dude. He makes me laugh...when he isn't making me want to lock myself in the bathroom for a few minutes of mommy peace (don't judge...you mommies know what I am talking about)!
Did I mention his possible modeling career? The kid can do it all!
2. He signs more, all done, milk, and bath. Bath is for sure his favorite. When he gets bored during the day, he will walk to the bathroom door and just starting signing up a storm. I have to be careful when I use the b-a-t-h word or he can get very upset. The kid is serious about his bath and about his possible career in splashing. He also has a book of pictures to teach words and he likes to turn to the bathtime page and sign away...then clap for himself.
The skinny butt I previously mentioned (notice the perfectly timed shot showing the pee hitting the floor)!
3. Clapping...he stopped for a while, but it is back more than ever now. When people on tv clap, Tate joins in (he seems to support all candidates on the debates). When he successfully climbs onto something he shouldn't be on, he claps.
4. Climbing...just about everything! When he gets on something, he just likes to stand there, like a king of the mountain type thing. Climbs of choice...the coffee table, chairs, barstools, into the drawer under the stove, up the side of the crib (from which point he cries), on top of his ride on car, the toilet...I could go on.
5. The toilet. Still loves it! We got a latch thing for the one in our bathroom so that he can be in our bathroom when I get ready in the morning without a splash fest, now it is just a water wasting flush fest instead and a stack all of mommy's bathroom products on top of the toilet fest. I do sit him on top of the toilet (lid closed) to brush his teeth...not sure why.
6. Teeth brushing...Tate is also a big fan of that. When I say it is time to brush his teeth he goes to the bathroom sink while I get the toothbrush ready, then heads over to the toilet to sit down. He does his own little sign for it too. I brush his teeth then let him do it too.
7. He is finally starting to actually point to things when I ask him. He will now show me his head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and his favorite (which he will show anyone) belly button. I am pretty sure every kid has a belly button thing at one time or another...cute!
8. Loves little boy hot wheel cars...and mommy thinks it is the cutest thing ever. He likes to carry them around, drive them on things, put them in things, and make his version of the vroom sound. He also points to cars on everything else, his little couch, his pjs, books. Took his first nap with a car in his hand the other day...he fell asleep with it and I thought it was too cute to take it away!
9. Besides his career in comedy, he might be a professional dancing machine! Seriously, the kid has moves...like real rhythm. He gets it! He waves his arm in the air for slow songs and rocks back and forth. And for fast songs, you better watch out cause he will break it down. He was jamming out in Children's Place today in his stroller like his life depended on it...I don't even need to mention that he was wearing sunglasses too. He is too cool for school!
A particularly intense dance session on top of the couch!
10. Tate is totally getting good a being a cold weather baby. He gets his boots when it is time to go and puts his arms out for both of his jackets to be put on. He leaves his hood or hat on...serious progress!
He thinks the elevator in our condo is amazing!
11. Oh...and so sweet, when we get ready to pray at night or for a meal, we tell him it is time for prayer and he fold his cute little arms and smiles all proud. The prayer has to be fairly quick for him to keep them folded and he doesn't have the reverence part down, but it is so dang sweet!
12. He still loves to randomly give mommy and daddy kisses. He will just come up to me during the day and make his kiss face and sound. Melts my heart, every.time.
13. He loves to sit in my lap. I sit on the floor to play with him and he will come up and climb in my lap to sit and play. In the evenings, he will bring me to his room and point to his books so he can sit in my lap for us to read together. I love his time in my lap and I know it won't last :(
I am sure I could go on and on. But Tate does new cute, funny, crazy things everyday. Zachary and I love to lay in bed at night and talk about all those little things. He is such a crazy little blessing and our little monster. I still can't believe how big he is getting!!
Bottom line...love. this. baby.
