15 months

dax will be 15 months on may 21, so here are some things about what he's up to these days.

i love this age. the best parts? his smile and laugh, and the way he wraps his arms so tightly around my neck. watching him experience new things, and seeing him take it all in. the hardest parts? hmm. not knowing what's bothering him at times, trying to discipline him, and saying no all the time but feeling like it's not getting through (or he is refusing to listen?) and he's acting like a wild banshee while everyone else's kids seem easy and angelic. (what's the secret?! how does this work? help!)

{going to the library is fun as long as you can  shield his eyes from the computers at his level.}

- started saying mum/ma ma ma. sounds british, which is adorable. while he says da da in a happy or excited tone, the mum sound/word is reserved for panicked moments and/or sadness.
- loves new places, meeting people
- likes to stare at a person and walk backwards
- squats a lot
- does a happy dance (basically lifting each leg up high and stomping it down while waving his arms and grunting/cheering happily) whenever he 1) sees dad lifting weights, and gets to play with dads weights/bar/bench and 2) when he sees his cousin lana.
- still cries when it's time to have his diaper changed, and sometimes when it's time to get in his car seat.
- it's a victory when he lasts the church service in the nursery
- still in a bit of a separation anxiety phase, very clingy to mom.
- loves water. whenever he sees water outside he wants to go in it. (or else melt down.)
- loves taking baths. he will turn on the shower, then laughs] while he gets drenched and you scramble to turn it off.
- has the biggest smile, and all sorts of great laughs! giggles that go deep.
- loves to be chased.
- likes animals, and pointing at them and jabbering away in a serious tone.
- is a ham with a great sense of humor
- loves to run and explore
- outside is his favorite place to be
- walks "patrick the puppy" (a wooden dog on a leash) outside to get the mail
- loves weightlifting and will lift random objects over his head and look around for mom and dad or whoever is watching to clap, because i always cheer wildly when he plays with his barbell
- naked = happy
- throws pretty well. likes to run up to mom and throw balls in her face from a few inches away.
- fascinated by lawnmowers, vehicles, trucks, tractors, anything with wheels or an engine. every monday after lunch we go outside to watch the neighborhood lawn crew, dax furrows his brow and darts his head around to watch their every pattern. they wave and smile, and he stares and sometimes yells over the noise in delight.
- wrestles with dad and grandpa peifer
- imitates dad
- favorite toys: his lawnmower, barbell, mini kitchen, school bus, trucks, using dad's deodorant as a phone and talking to whoever it is he's talking to
- tries to ring the doorbell every time he walks into the house
- loves to sit on adult-sized furniture, and is starting to enjoy his little rocking chair
- likes books, especially llama llama red pajama! usually prefers to turn his own pages and sort through in his own style/pace
- very tough, doesn't cry for long when he gets hurt
- likes to bang his head into his parents heads/faces. hurts us, but somehow does not seem to bother him. every night when lance holds him to brush his teeth he gets a nixy sparkle in his eyes and somehow still catches dad off guard and WHAM, slams his head into him. if dad manages to miss the head bang, dax will start hitting him with his hands or use the toothbrush as a weapon. it's a mess.
- still teething, but the drool has lessened ever so slightly. (knock on wood ...)
- loves grapes, blueberries, avocados, bananas, teddy grahams, scrambled eggs, sweet potatoes
- drinks water like he just ran a marathon, chugging and panting
- has a special and unique bond with both dad and mom. gives dad a look and smiles because he knows dad will do something crazy to make him laugh. goes to mom for snuggles and hugs and comfort. the rumors i heard about that "mom and son bond are so true, and i love it.