Toby: 16 months

I can't believe our son is already 16-months-old! Where the H-E-double-hockey-sticks did the time go? I feel like I say this every month but, I'm really enjoying this age. He's a lot of fun!

Below find some fun facts about Mr. Mister:

• He's a fantastic eater. Aaron and I recently started doing "theme-night" for dinner once per week. Our first theme night was "Mexico" so we played salsa music, did some salsa dancing, and served tacos. Toby ate TWO tacos (with raw onion, green pepper, lettuce; the whole shebang!) He eats great portions and will eat whatever we are eating. (This morning, for instance, he ate 1/2 of a raisin bagel with cream cheese- all by himself!) I also take him out to eat once per week so he will learn restaurant etiquette. He does great!

 

Tacos!

 

•  He weighs almost 24 pounds and is just over 32" tall.

 

• His language is out of control. He now mimics us and he'll use two word statements "Who is/What's that?" "Hi Dog" "That's Mama!" He even said his name the other day. Last night he said "Oh God!"
• He has a level of recognition. If he hears a dog bark in the distance he'll sign "dog" and (verbally) say dog. If I were to ask him which of our dogs is which he'll be able to identify them.
• He knows a few colors and has fantastic fine motor skills. We often give him a set of keys and he will go through each one and try it in the door until he is able to unlock the door. (He wouldn't be able to get out though, as we have two doors to our entry.)
• Walking was sooooo July. He walks pretty much everywhere now (stollers and baby-wearing only on occasion.) And, now he runs. He's learning how to kick a ball (he just recently mastered throwing a ball.)
• He's still in size four diapers and has about 5-6 diaper changes per day.
• He STILL sleeps through the night.
• If you remember he used to be allowed to have binky in the car and at night, now he's down to just sleeping with it. I feel like he's already too old to still be using it at all but, baby steps, right? The goal is to have binky gone by 18 months.
• He's more attentive when we read to him. He went through a phase where his attention span wouldn't tolerate an entire book. We're almost back to being able to finish a few books per day.
• He is just so lovable.
• He is still taking two naps per day (actually, as we speak!)
• He has 12 teeth.
• We started him on Elderberry syrup. He was too young last year because the syrup has honey in it. But now he takes a daily dose and we hope it will keep him nice and healthy through cold and flu season!
• And, not everything is flowers and butterflies. I will say that Toby is starting to assert his, ahem, independence. While he is still extremely easy going and almost never cries, he will scream bloody murder if you try to pry something he shouldn't have out of his death-grip. He is also getting into everything. The other night he opened up our "junk drawer" took out the pretzels, took the chip clip off and laid it gently beside him, unrolled the bag and helped himself to a snack. Unbelievable. He's such a little man!
• He has added a few new signs to his vocabulary: Rabbit, music, uncle, and dance. He also calls people Bubba (that's what we call him and our animals.) He'll often say "Hi Bubba" to a toy or the dogs.
• The kid still hasn't seen any TV, used any electronics, or viewed us using any electronics. Aaron and I are on board with the "no screen time policy" so we don't even text, check emails, etc., in front of him. Some people disagree with us in our view of that (we're mean parents for no cartoons/not letting him pound on our computers.) Annndd, that's cool. Opinions vary. Our kid our rules.
  
  We are relishing in his new level of curiosity activity. He learns every single day. We are very lucky to be his parents.