Not much going on

I'm not going to post P's monthly milestones anymore, since he's pretty much met all of his two-year milestones. I will mention, though, that he's starting to speak in two-word sentences sometimes, and he's even starting to ask, "What that?" A lot of his speech is still jargon, but he's improving.

Recently a friend of mine asked what I've been up to lately, and I responded, "Working and being knocked up." Even though he reminded me that I'm very lucky, and I know that I am, I can't help but wish that sometimes my life consisted of being an employee, then a mama. This weekend Mike is taking P out so I can have some alone time. That'll be good.

Next week I have my OB appointment, and I'm relieved. I'm at that awkward point in pregnancy where I'm not sick anymore, but I don't feel a whole lot of movement, so I feel less pregnant than I did a month ago. It seems like at some point every day I feel a little tap-tap or swoosh, but I can't decide if it's Bernamon, or my lunch. So I'll be happy to get to the doctor and hear the heartbeat. Plus I'm pretty sure that's the appointment where I'll get the prescription for my ultrasound. I can't wait for that. I'm dying to know if we're having a boy or a girl.

So life has been pretty quiet lately, but not bad. It makes for boring reading, but pleasant living.

19 month milestones

I can't believe he's over a year and a half old already! He's met all of his two-year milestones with the exception of speaking in three or four word sentences.

Movement milestones

* Walks alone
* Pulls toys behind her while walking
* Carries large toy or several toys while walking
* Begins to run
* Stands on tiptoe
* Kicks a ball (recently started this - so cute!)
* Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
* Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Milestones in hand and finger skills

* Scribbles spontaneously
* Turns over container to pour out contents
* Builds tower of four blocks or more
* Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language milestones

* Points to object or picture when it’s named for him
* Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts
* Says several single words (by fifteen to eighteen months)
* Uses simple phrases (by eighteen to twenty-four months) (he uses familiar phrases such as "All done," and "Hi Dada,")
* Uses two- to four-word sentences (he's started using two word original sentences such as, "Help baba" when he wants me to get milk and "All done down" when he's finished with dinner and wants to get down from his high chair)
* Follows simple instructions
* Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive milestones

* Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
* Begins to sort by shapes and colors
* Begins make-believe play

Social and emotional milestones

* Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
* Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others
* Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children
* Demonstrates increasing independence
* Begins to show defiant behavior
* Increasing episodes of separation anxiety toward midyear, then they fade

18 Month Milestones

Movement milestones

* Walks alone
* Pulls toys behind her while walking
* Carries large toy or several toys while walking
* Begins to run
* Stands on tiptoe
* Kicks a ball (he throws a ball sideways and overhand, but still struggles with kicking it straight)
* Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
* Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Milestones in hand and finger skills

* Scribbles spontaneously
* Turns over container to pour out contents
* Builds tower of four blocks or more
* Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language milestones

* Points to object or picture when it’s named for him
* Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts
* Says several single words (by fifteen to eighteen months)
* Uses simple phrases (by eighteen to twenty-four months) (has said “Hi kitty!” "All done!" and "Hi Dada" but that’s all)
* Uses two- to four-word sentences
* Follows simple instructions
* Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive milestones

* Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
* Begins to sort by shapes and colors (currently sorts by colors or type of object – puts books with books, blocks with blocks, etc)
* Begins make-believe play

Social and emotional milestones

* Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
* Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others
* Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children
* Demonstrates increasing independence
* Begins to show defiant behavior
* Increasing episodes of separation anxiety toward midyear, then they fade

I've stopped recording P's words because at this point it's hard to tell which are words he knows, and which are words he's experimenting with. His receptive vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds, but he doesn't express as much. I think he's still slightly ahead of average, though.

17 month milestones

Movement milestones

* Walks alone
* Pulls toys behind her while walking
* Carries large toy or several toys while walking
* Begins to run
* Stands on tiptoe
* Kicks a ball (he throws a ball sideways and overhand, but still struggles with kicking it straight)
* Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
* Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Milestones in hand and finger skills

* Scribbles spontaneously
* Turns over container to pour out contents
* Builds tower of four blocks or more
* Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language milestones

* Points to object or picture when it’s named for him
* Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts
* Says several single words (by fifteen to eighteen months)
* Uses simple phrases (by eighteen to twenty-four months) (has said “Hi kitty!” "All done!" "This is (fill in the blank)"and "Hi Dada" but that’s all)
* Uses two- to four-word sentences
* Follows simple instructions (with visual cues)
* Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive milestones

* Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
* Begins to sort by shapes and colors (currently sorts by colors or type of object – puts books with books, blocks with blocks, etc)
* Begins make-believe play

Social and emotional milestones

* Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
* Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others
* Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children
* Demonstrates increasing independence
* Begins to show defiant behavior
* Increasing episodes of separation anxiety toward midyear, then they fade

The words he currently says are:

Mama
Dada
no
good
titty (kitty)
dog
voom (his "vroom" noise, used to label all vehicles)
ma (more, an all-purpose "I want that" phrase)
Nenenenen (his version of “nurse-nurse-nurse-nurse,” the phrase I always say when he’s nursing)
Hi
There (when he puts something where he wants it)
Flower
Table
Apple
Boo-oof (a dog bark, used to call the dog, different from "dog" which is his label for dog)
Yeee (leaf)
Ball
Hot (he says this whenever he sees food with steam - it's cute)
Ah-pay (airplane)
Hug
Bird
All done
Dississ ("this is")
Voombac (vacuum)

Little P is sixteen months old today - it seems so weird. Here's his monthly milestones.

Movement milestones

* Walks alone
* Pulls toys behind her while walking
* Carries large toy or several toys while walking
* Begins to run
* Stands on tiptoe
* Kicks a ball
* Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
* Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Milestones in hand and finger skills

* Scribbles spontaneously
* Turns over container to pour out contents
* Builds tower of four blocks or more
* Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language milestones

* Points to object or picture when it’s named for him
* Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts (increasing – will point at or look at objects and people when named – identifies feet, nose, and belly button)
* Says several single words (by fifteen to eighteen months)
* Uses simple phrases (by eighteen to twenty-four months) (has said “Hi kitty!” and "Hi Dada" but that’s all)
* Uses two- to four-word sentences
* Follows simple instructions
* Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive milestones

* Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
* Begins to sort by shapes and colors (currently sorts by colors or type of object – puts books with books, blocks with blocks, etc)
* Begins make-believe play

Social and emotional milestones

* Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
* Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others
* Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children
* Demonstrates increasing independence
* Begins to show defiant behavior
* Increasing episodes of separation anxiety toward midyear, then they fade

The words he currently says are:

Mama
Dada
no
good
titty (kitty)
dog
voom (his "vroom" noise, used to label all vehicles)
ma (more, an all-purpose "I want that" phrase)
Nenenenen (his version of “nurse-nurse-nurse-nurse,” the phrase I always say when he’s nursing)
Hi
There (when he puts something where he wants it)
Flower
Table
Apple
Boo-oof (a dog bark, used to call the dog, different from "dog" which is his label for dog)
Yeee (leaf)
Ball
Hot

Possible words (indistinct, or only used once or twice):
Boom (our word when we fall down)
All done
Woo woo (train noise)
Bacoom (vacuum)
Eye-pay (airplane)

He also says "yah" or "yes" to answer questions, but I don't think he knows what they mean - I think he just knows they're words. He also says, "Ooooh" when he sees something he likes. He waves bye-bye, gives kisses, and high-fives. He has started to shake his head to indicate “no,” and nods randomly.

Obligatory montly milestone report

Milestones Philo has reached now that he's 15 months old. At his pediatrician appointment today he was 32.75 inches tall and 26.5 lbs - in the 90th percentile for height and 75th percentile for weight. He's also doing things that are so smart - this evening when we were reading a book and I asked him to point to a flower on the page, he not only pointed to the flower on the page, but flipped to the first page to point to another flower, and flipped to the front cover to point to that flower! We're really proud of him!

Movement milestones
• Walks alone
• Pulls toys behind her while walking
• Carries large toy or several toys while walking
• Begins to run
• Stands on tiptoe
• Kicks a ball
• Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
• Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Milestones in hand and finger skills
• Scribbles spontaneously
• Turns over container to pour out contents
• Builds tower of four blocks or more
• Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language milestones
• Points to object or picture when it’s named for him
• Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts (increasing – will point at or look at objects and people when named – no body parts except for feet)
• Says several single words (by fifteen to eighteen months)
• Uses simple phrases (by eighteen to twenty-four months) (has said “Hi kitty!” but that’s all)
• Uses two- to four-word sentences
• Follows simple instructions
• Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive milestones
• Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
• Begins to sort by shapes and colors (currently sorts by colors or type of object – puts books with books, blocks with blocks, etc)
• Begins make-believe play (not sure if it's make-believe or just imitative play)

Social and emotional milestones
• Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
• Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others
• Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children
• Demonstrates increasing independence
• Begins to show defiant behavior
• Increasing episodes of separation anxiety toward midyear, then they fade

The words he currently says are:

Mama
Dada
no
good
titty (kitty)
daw or oof-oof (dog)
voom (his "vroom" noise, used to label all vehicles)
ma (more, an all-purpose "I want that" phrase)
Nenenenen (his version of “nurse-nurse-nurse-nurse,” the phrase I always say when he’s nursing)
Hi
There (when he puts something where he wants it)
Flower

Possible words (indistinct, or only used once or twice):
Boom (our word when we fall down)
All done
Woo woo (train noise)

He also said, “Hi kitty!” which is his first phrase. It’s been his only phrase so far, though.

He also says "yah" or "yes" to answer questions, but I don't think he knows what they mean - I think he just knows they're words. He also says, "Ooooh" when he sees something he likes. He waves bye-bye, gives kisses, and high-fives. He has started to shake his head to indicate “no,” and nods randomly.

14 Months

This is a boring post about P's development. It's for my own records since I don't keep a private diary. Feel free to skip it.

I can't believe Little P is fourteen months old already. Today I checked the American Academy of Pediatrics website to see what milestones he should reach by the age of two (they don't have milestones for fourteen months, or even eighteen months for that matter). So these are things he should be doing by the age of two. I put the ones he's doing already in bold.

Movement milestones

• Walks alone
• Pulls toys behind her while walking
• Carries large toy or several toys while walking
• Begins to run
• Stands on tiptoe
• Kicks a ball (tries to, but isn't too good at it yet)
  
• Climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted
• Walks up and down stairs holding on to support

Milestones in hand and finger skills

• Scribbles spontaneously (we don't let him have pens or crayons, but he does attempt to scribble when he gets one)
  
• Turns over container to pour out contents
• Builds tower of four blocks or more (currently at three blocks)
  
• Might use one hand more frequently than the other

Language milestones

• Points to object or picture when it’s named for him (inconsistent)
  
• Recognizes names of familiar people, objects, and body parts (can't tell other than Mama, Dada, and kitty)
  
• Says several single words (by fifteen to eighteen months)
• Uses simple phrases (by eighteen to twenty-four months)
• Uses two- to four-word sentences
• Follows simple instructions
• Repeats words overheard in conversation

Cognitive milestones

• Finds objects even when hidden under two or three covers
• Begins to sort by shapes and colors
• Begins make-believe play (not sure if it's make-believe or just imitative play)

Social and emotional milestones

• Imitates behavior of others, especially adults and older children
• Increasingly aware of herself as separate from others (how can you tell?)
  
• Increasingly enthusiastic about company of other children
• Demonstrates increasing independence
• Begins to show defiant behavior
• Increasing episodes of separation anxiety toward midyear, then they fade

So I think he's doing okay. I'm concerned about his speech development, as always, but hopefully he'll be all right. He's making such huge gains in the areas of motor, social skills, and cognition that I think that language might be less of a priority. The words he currently says are:

Mama
Dada
no
good
titty (his unfortunate mispronunciation of "kitty")
daw or oof-oof (dog)
voom (his "vroom" noise, used to label all vehicles)
ma (more, an all-purpose "I want that" phrase)

He also says "yah" or "yes" to answer questions, but I don't think he knows what they mean - I think he just knows they're words. He also says, "Ooooh" when he sees something he likes. He waves bye-bye, gives kisses, and high-fives.

Next month we'll see the doctor and see what she thinks. I hope he's doing okay.

This is motherhood

Yesterday I was answering an email while P was playing nearby. He had his back to me and I heard him saying, "Ma...ma...ma...ma...ma..." I glanced over and he wasn't calling me or upset in any way...he was just saying my name over and over.

I marveled at that - it was almost like he was just enjoying the sound of my name. I wondered if saying it reminded him of me, and brought him a feeling of safety and security. I felt so happy that I could make him feel so safe and so warm. I went over to him to give him a little hug.

And then I saw that he wasn't saying my name - he was just opening his mouth over and over so he could blow bubbles with his spit.

Thanks, kid.

P turned twelve months old this week. It's amazing what he can do. He walks easily and is learning to run. He can climb on the furniture. He's learning to use a spoon and fork and is mastering drinking from a lidless cup without spilling any on himself. He's started scribbling (although we don't usually let him have scribbling implements yet). He also uses these words consistently:

Mama (my name, not just the spit-blowing noise)
Dada
No (that one's charming)
Vroom (the car noise)
Good (Mike and I are split on this one - Mike insists that he uses this word when he's enjoying his food, and I say it's more the sound he makes when he's using his tongue to propel food backward in his mouth)
Ba (Mike says he uses this for bottle, but I haven't heard it)

I can't wait to see what comes next.