I am One and a Half!

Hello everyone! I am one and a half years old now! We have been celebrating for a while, as I got lots of new toys last week (sit n spin, table and ottomans, airplane, truck, tball, new ball, new books, xylophone), which I love! Also we went on some adventures with Grandma as she flew down from Seattle for a visit! We went to the San Diego Zoo on my actual half-birthday! Today, I painted my feet and Granda, Mommy and me went to see Dr. Clark. Looks like I get to go back for my shots as we were just a little too early for that. But my development looks good:

• 31 1/4" tall, the 20-25th percentile


• 23.4 pounds (with clothes and daiper on), the 20th percentile (huge jump for me!!!)


• and my head circumference is in the 45% percentile

I also "passed" the autism screening checklist they had my mom fill out and all my mommy's questions were answered... no big deals except that I still have rough, dry patches of skin - the only remedy is lotion, lotion, lotion (and hydrocortisone ointment if it gets red and skaly). Ohh, well, they did talk about my hitting too. Mommy learned more about time-outs and I do not like the sound of that! I haven't been hitting Mommy as much anyway, I don't know what the big deal is. OOOH, and that I don't drink milk... Dr. Clark wasn't concerned and she gave us a list of things that have lots of calcium in them, like broccoli, almonds, and salmon... all of which sounds great to me! I met all the other milestones with flying colors... one of which was having 7-20 words... which at this point I have surpassed!

1. Language: I have so many words, even if you can't tell what I am saying, I know what I am saying. For example, Bee = Plane. Mommy knows what I am talking about :) I do say some things really well now, like Wow, Water, More... and I can identify myself in pictures, my name is "Wa wa". A month ago Mommy started writing my words down, back then I was saying a lot, now I say even more! (grover = rowror, drink = dink, baby, star=dar, moon=moor, flower=wower,eyes, yes, please=peass, i love you = wawawaa, mine, yogurt=oh urr, cheese=eese, bubbles=baba,apple/pear/banana/grass/helicopter=mommy cant really tell yet). Like I said, I label sooo many more things but Mommy can't quite figure them out yet. N sounds are hard for me, but I am getting better. I am starting to put two words together, such as "more please"... Mommy is not sure how much I do since I jabber a lot and end with one recognizable word!


2. Cognitive: I am learning shapes and letters, my favorites are X, Y and B. I am good at cleaning up my toys, sometimes even without being asked. I know lots of body parts, hair, eyes, cheeks, nose, mouth, tongue, ears, hands, fingers, feet, toes, belly and belly button... I LOVE books. I love story time every night and get really excited when it is time to pick out my 3 books and sit with Mommy to read them. Mommy often finds me in the laundry basket full of stuffed animals reading books on my own too.


3. Behavior: Mommy also says I am good at restaurants and I listen when she tells me not to touch something (Most of the time). I do hit her sometimes, when I am trying to get her attention (though a lot less) and when I am mad or upset (also a lot less). Mommy says "hands are for hugs" and that hitting hurts her. She makes me say sorry, and then I like to give her a hug! Really... I mostly do it because I can't say what I want to say and I need her attention!


4. Fine Motor: I can make circular scribbles sometimes. I can put small things into holes, like a straw or wood chips into the holes on the playground structures (been a fav for a long time now). I LOVE craft projects and will sit and work on them for a long time (Mommy says she is shocked at how long my attention span is). I like to make collages on contact paper, and paint and draw, and play with play doh and shaving cream! I am starting to string beads with some help. I am good at picking up tiny little things, but don't pick up trash anymore, unless it is a napkin at home... then I bring it to Mama or put it in the trash myself. Apparently I am not supposed to put bibs in the trash can though... I am learning! I love using my spoon and fork and am pretty good at both, though I still use my hands such as to get the last globs of yogurt. I hate it when Mommy tries to help me eat too!


5. Social: I love to watch kids and try to interact with them more, such as playing chase! I also love adults, and especially (still) like to be the center of attention!! I am still working on sharing and am good at waiting my turn to go down the slide for example. I like to give hugs and kisses and all that good stuff. I am learning all the names of my family and freinds with my Favorite People book, which I really like to look at!


6. Gross Motor: I am a little timid when it comes to climbing, but I can do it. I can climb onto the couch or chairs, for example. I still hold Mommy's hand to go down stairs, but can go up stairs with a railing all by myself (sometimes I crawl up) and will take alternating steps up if someone is holding my hand. I can go across those wobbly bridges on the playground, but I take my time. I can jump and run realy well and am starting to kick a ball and hit a ball with a bat (tball - still pretty tough to even lift that bat up though!). I am awesome at throwing and my aim is good! I love to go down slides all by myself.


7. Oral Motor: I ahve 12 teeth and went to the dentist already. Things look good and I do not have a gap in my teeth from that attached upper lip frenulum. I love food, pretty much all food, even salmon! I will eat more veggies now and still love broccoli! I love meat, oh how I love meat. I do not like milk though and Mommy decided a few months ago No More Bottle... so I don't drink milk and instead have yogurt and cheese and stuff. I still suck on my fingers, but not as often, and I don't mouth things anymore... well, really rarely!

Here are some pictures of me and Grover hanging out. Seems like he is shrinking though!

Here I am taking a bath the other day, looking like a Who from Whoville.

And here is my super awesome Daddy.

Well, happy half-birthday to me!!!