Kayden's Update

He is 16 months now, as of last Monday, and almost a year and a half! I can't believe it!

So, as you can see in my posts that Kayden is growing up quickly like every child does and no longer has the baby look to him, rather, the "I am A Big Boy Now" look. He isn't talking too much, he mumbles and jabbers more often now, but for a while was screaming and whining to get what he wanted. However, I put my foot down and insisted that he used either words or signs to get what he wanted. Right now he does very well at telling me he wants "more" of something and to "eat" by using ASL (American Sign Language). He also knows milk but isn't a fan of milk so I'm teaching him the signs for juice and water instead. He does say a few words, and can mumble "hold you", just enough to uderstand him. I think he is realizing that he can't be lazy and that I respond better AND quicker to what he wants by talking to me either way.

Signs he knows: wash hands, wash or bath, milk, eat, shoes, more, all done
Signs we're working on: cup, dog, car, water, juice

He's very good at answering questions as you can see in the video below. He has been doing the "no" answer for a couple of months but just has started answering "yes" in the last 2 weeks so I can tell that his comprehensive skills are maturing. I'm so amazed at how much he understands, which, is just about everything! He does awesome with commands and seems to be familiar with directions such as over there, behind or in front of you, by your foot, etc. He finally learned how to point with his forefinger sticking straight out instead of his thumb and finger together. It was totally cute and I'll miss it! I'm working with him on identifying objects and a couple of nights ago, when we were "reading" a bedtime story, he was able to point out to me boy and girl. COOL! A cheap thrill for a parent to see thier child learning and growing. As far as his sleeping habits, he can go, go, go but once he gets settled and still he's OUT! He usually goes to bed between 9-10pm when we are home but when we are staying the night at Nanny's or Auntie's it's more like 12-1am. I know, I'm such a BAD mother!! He's gotten himself down to one nap a day for the most part, how sad for me, but will still take another 2-4 hour nap (depending on much I deprived him on sleep the night before) between 11-1pm. Another thing he just started a couple of weeks ago is loving to cuddle with his pacy and blanket ("cuddles"), which, I completely ADORE! I hope that lasts for a while. And I know he seems to be old for a pacy, well, in my opinion, but it's either THAT or the thumb and I choose THAT, the pacy. I hope he grows out of it, but for now I only give it to him when he is sick, tired, or sleeping. Most of the time he is okay without it and will even refuse it MOST of the time. He's very cute offering to throw trash away that he finds on the floor or he'll take his diapers when I change him.

As far as his personality goes, he is still mild tempered, easy going, and VERY obedient--I'm sucking all that in before he grows out of it. He recieves lots of compliments from people, when we are out and about. Kayden is a shy Mama's boy most of the time but will smile at you if you say or do the right thing. He doesn't like things taken away from him, of course, but what kid does? He loves to eat and is usually the first thing on his to do list when he wakes up. One morning about 2 weeks ago, the first thing he did when I got him out of his crib was sign the word eat. I thought that was pretty neat, but, then again, I am his mother. As far as I can tell, Kayden is not a big fan of water. He sat in the pool for about 30 minutes but was done after that. I thought he was going to be my water baby but I don't know. If that lady that I mentioned in my earlier entry teaches one year olds how to swim in 3 days, I'll be signing him up for that.

Left to Right: Kayden being creative with sidewalk chalk (6-01); porking out on an egg salad sandwich--it's amazing how much he can stuff in his mouth; and taken yesterday at the pool--he was having fun at this point, didint' last long!