Fifteen Months

Life is a cliche, and time certainly does fly. Trying to grasp the memories is like trying to hold a fistful of sand.



Today was your 15 month doctor appointment. You were 30.5 inches and 21.3 pounds. According to the scale you are a little guy, still in the 10th percentile for weight. We're not worried though. The doc says that you are perfect in every way... and even a little advanced socially. Of course, he just doesn't understand that you are your father's son- happy to talk to everybody about anything.



With everything that has gone wrong this summer, the right thing- the best thing- is how much time I am getting to spend with you. You love to run to find me and shout MA over and over as I answer YES or BEN. You clearly say MA and DA. Unfortunately your most dominate third word is GET because you hear us yell it at the dog so often. You can also say "Babbie," most often heard as you are throwing food from your high chair for Blackie.

You also like to take Blackie's toys and then laugh uproarously as he tries to take them back from you, knowing he must still be careful with the little guy.



You like to hold pens or spoons as you walk around. Now that I have let you walk outside more, you like to go around and gather all the little sticks that you can find to bring in the house. You don't have a favorite toy. You much prefer ours- cell phones, the tv remote, my lap top. You also love opening the kitchen cabinets and any drawer you can. The new fascination is sneaking into my bathroom drawers and grabbing the little bottles of hand sanitizer or the glass bottle of face lotion that you are very partial to.



We had to install a monster gate across the front entry hall because you would quickly disappear any chance you got and race up the steps. Now, you have taught yourself how to go up and down using the railings, but it still worries me a bit. Now too, you want to race outside any time the door is opened.

Your favorite television show is Dinosaur Train. We only let you watch that and Sesame Street. You love Elmo and the Flying Fairies (much to Dad's chagrin).



Thankfully you have become SOMEWHAT better about keeping socks and shoes on. If you are going to be in the carseat for a while, the chances are very slim that the shoes you leave the house on will still be on when you get to our destination... but at least it's not a fussy struggle to get them on your feet anymore... and you are much more anxious to run off and explore than to take the time to fuss and fight the shoes off your feet.



Lately, several people have told me that you need a haircut. Nonsense. The way your hair has grown lately makes you look a lot more like Justin- both as a baby and now, ha!



You love to climb! Onto the book shelves. Into your changing table. On the chairs and couches. After taking this picture, you now like to climb into your toy basket. Getting out is not as easy a task. Your newest mountain is the kitchen table. I learned several months ago to make sure the chairs were pushed in or else you would start climbing. Here recently that hasn't mattered though. If a chair is pushed all the way in, you will weasel your way up on it to make your way to the table top.



You are so very expressive. Your facial expressions make us all laugh, especially the way you furrow your eyebows when something ticks you off. You also are very expressive with your hands and because people are so responsive to it, you do it more and more. You "talk" to people with such passion and intonation that it makes them just stop and pay attention to you.

This week just you and I are home alone. I have to get up early with you and have to think about feeding you throughout the day and am always chasing you, closing drawers and doors, singing out "Benny Ben Ben Ben."

This isn't the life I planned.

But it's a pretty interesting one.