15 Months Old

Jay is 15 months old today! And with that comes a well-child check-up at the pediatrician's office.

Today's Weight: 21 lbs., 5 oz. (in the 10th percentile)
Today's Length/Height: 32-3/4" (in the 90th percentile)
Today's Head Circumference: 18-3/4" (in the 50th-75th percentile)

He also received two shots (one in each thigh) today.

Here are some highlights of what Jay is doing these days:

• Walks well - and runs! Can walk backward to pull a toy, or drag a towel, or drag a blanket.
• When a friend is over to play he actually is good at sharing. That isn't typical since most kids do that poorly at this age. He is average in that he mostly does "parallel play."
• Enjoys playing with balls, his small trains, his dump truck, his John Deere tractor, etc.
• Understands and responds to sequential directions such as "Jay, please go and get your shoes for me."
• Still loves when we sing songs.
• Claps his hands and moves his feet back and forth (while you are holding him) when he is very happy and excited.
• Enjoys his books; will often pick up and bring books to us to read throughout the day.
• Often you'll hear him babbling in his own language. Can say "uh oh" "Dada" and "Mama" but rarely does so.
• When we look at picture books that we've read often, he can answer questions with his pointer finger, such as "who likes to jump? (in this picture)" and he'll point right to the frog.
• He rarely sleeps longer than 10 hours at night. Takes a morning and afternoon nap still -- typically about 1 hour or 1-1/2 hours long each.
• Three teeth came in over the last couple weeks and now his molars are beginning to poke through the gums. I think 12 or 13 are in or poking through the gums significantly now.
• He enjoys stepping up on the stool and hoisting himself/climbing into the recliner all on his own.
• He is very keen on experimenting with different ways of moving: climbing, jumping, running, marching and ... dawdling.
• He likes to carry objects while he walks around putting his new physical skills to the test. Especially large toys that are at least half his size or bigger. When he tires and can't do it, he gets frustrated - and he lets us know with whining and small temper tantrums. We do our best to distract him from what he was attempting to do or we "help" him until he moves on to something else.
• Being strapped into a car seat is often the LAST THING Jay wants to be. We now expect an earful and sometimes it is accompanied by an arched back when it is time to buckle up. We realize this is just because he'd rather be practicing his footwork than sitting still. Once settled in and driving he settles right down and loves to watch the trucks and cars from his seat.
• Jay gives the BEST hugs and occasional kisses to this Dad and Mom. We love those and him so-o-o much!!