15/16 month Update

So Carter is now 16 months old!  I meant to write a post when turned 15 months because that is when he went to the doctor for his last well check up. As you can see that did not happen  ; )
I will say that he weighs around 24-25 lbs and is 30-31 inches long.

Food: 
Carter eats a well rounded diet but definitely has his preferences and opinions on what he wants to eat each day.  Some days he may love one thing and then the next day won't even want to touch it.  I don't mind him having an opinion but it's tough since he isn't communicating real words yet.  I'm looking forward to the day when he says he wants something specific.  I'm sure by that point all he'll want are cookies. :)  On a positive note he is eating more protein.  He really likes his chicken nuggets and will give pork and beef a try, but doesn't eat as much of those items.  He still loves his milk.  In fact I think if I allowed him to he would suck on a straw of milk all day long.

Morning milk with his puppy

Discovering a new way to drink from his water bottle

Sleep: 
At 15 months after talking to our pediatrician about our problem napper, we decided to try to go to one nap a day.  I actually really like this new routine as it opens up our mornings for play dates and outings.  I'm not sure Carter was and still is quite ready to go to one nap.  He still wakes up around 7, so by lunch/1:00 he's getting good and cranky.  If we're out and about and he falls asleep in the car, I just let him take a little cat nap (no longer than 30 minutes).  Then he goes down for his nap between 1 and 2, and usually naps for 1 1/2-2 hours, and on really tired days even up to 3 hours.  Night time sleeping is still going well.  Carter now even sleeps with a lovie.  Actually a couple of them.  He has a stuffed dog and bear that he sleeps with at bedtime and naps.  He loves his puppy and even insists on taking it out of the crib when he wakes up.  I love that he's becoming attached to something.  Now we'll just have to figure out how to wean him from the pacifier. :( 

Sharing his milk with his puppy

Activities:  
As mentioned in his 12 month update, Carter is still a BUSY boy.  He is now a walking, running, trying to jump busy boy.  Carter started taking his first steps around 13 months.  He now moves very quickly, almost like a trot.

Carter loves to play with his toys and moves from one toy to another.  Some of his favorite toys right now include his toolbox, ball, things that stack, his choo choo train, and KITCHEN UTENSILS.  Yes this kid loves whisks, spatulas, tongs, etc.  In fact, for Valentine's Day he received a whisk from Grammie and Grandpa Jack and a set of wooden spoons from Kurt and me.   I see a kitchen set complete with food and dishes in his future. :)  Carter also loves his books.  He has always enjoyed books, but he's even getting a point where we can read longer ones and he'll actually sit through the story.  Now just like food, he has preferences on books as well.  Right now he loves his Thomas the Train, Elmo, and truck books.

This past month Carter, started Kindermusik.  He is in a class with 4 other little boys all around his age.  In this class, they listen to music and play with different toys, books, scarves, musical toys, balls, and parachutes.  Carter really enjoys music and therefore this class.  If you ask him to dance, he will spread his legs apart and rock/sway back and forth.  We still try to go to library infant lap seat once a week.  What's really neat is now he will do the actions to the songs "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "The Wheels on the Bus", and "3 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed".  If we are not at one of his classes then we try to schedule play dates with his "friends" or run our errands.  Luckily it's been warmer in Houston (not hot yet) and we take time to play outside.  Carter LOVES playing outside.  He chases the balls, checks the mailbox, pushes his car, blows bubbles, and when the neighborhood kids are home from school, he likes to watch them run around and play their games.  In the next month or so it will probably be warm enough to start going to the pool.

Trying on hats while shopping

I love kitchen utensils!

Talking:  Carter is a talker!  Okay, so we can't understand anything but he sure has a lot to tell us.  When he's just around Kurt and me or other people he knows well, he just babbles and carries on like he is having a real conversation.  I love his facial expressions as he "talks" and the intonation he carries in his voice.  His current words include "mama" (when he's really mad he screams this), "dada", "uh-oh", "ba" (for ball), "pa" (for puppy or papa), "mmmmm" (for moo), and "cack cack" (for quack quack).  It's been really fun to see him start to use words.  The downside to not being able to communicate yet, is that he gets easily frustrated.  I think we have a biter.  He has tried to bite me a couple of times when he has been upset, and I even seen him try to bite the the floor or wall. :(


Personality:
We sure love this kid and his personality.  Carter is so sweet and loving.  He still really likes to be held throughout the day and cuddled with at night.  He likes to play and point to his toys.  He also can be naughty and he knows it!  For example when he does something he knows he is not suppose to, he will look up at Kurt or me, wait a second, and then break out in a big grin and laugh.  He does this stunt frequently with our kitchen cabinet doors, dirt and plants, etc.  He can be such a stinker!   Luckily his fun side comes out more frequently.