16 months

Dear Isaac,
You're 16 months old and you definitely have the hang of walking..there is no stopping you now. Its rare to see you sitting still any more, you are always on the move.

Walking, almost running, exploring everything. Id forgotten how full on this stage is. No longer can we go out somewhere and know you will be content to sit quietly in your pram and watch the world go by, or sit on my lap while I chat to a friend or watch the boys. You want to be down and walking, and doing it your way. If you don't get to do things your way, we sure hear about it. The ear piercing squeal that you have drives us crazy at times. But for you it is the most effective way of getting a reaction....from anyone with in ear shot usually!

It was time for another haircut this month too. As cute as your baby curls were looking, they were constantly in your eyes so they had to go.

You look so much older with them all cut off.
You have developed a fascination for shutting doors...any sort... cupboards, the microwave, big doors, the sliding door, the fridge....the biggest frustration is of course that to shut a door it must first be open! SO of course you also feel the need to open the doors, then close them, then open them again...and so the cycle goes. None of us have that much patience with this little idiosyncrasy, especially when you decide to explore inside the cupboards as well, or when your constantly trying to shut the fridge door while I'm still in it!!! Maybe its a sign of things to come. Perhaps you will be a tidy methodical person in later life...I can live in hope!

Too cute. That's just what you are sometimes. I thought you were down in the playroom with your brothers. You had come outside the office door where I had tipped all the washing ready to be sorted and folded. You had somehow managed to pull dummy and teddy out of your cot and snuggled down in the clothes and fallen asleep. So sweet that you wanted to be close to me, and so precious when I opened the door to see you there! Your speech and communication skills have developed a little more. You wave this cute little palm up, hand twisting wave and call out your version of 'see ya'. It sounds more like ee a, but in context you can tell what your saying. Its nearly always followed up by your open hand being flung from a wide open mouth with the sound bwaa, bwaa which translates to mwah mwah. Its your cute little way of blowing kisses, and everyone gets them, even the garbage truck! We are hearing more of the word Ta, as well as mum, and the occasional dad. Oof oof, the noise a dog makes...a a the noise a duck makes, eeeeeooooowwwwwww the noise a cat makes, and aaaarrrrrr the noise a lion makes are a few other sounds you are able to make. You are signing a little more often now as well. You hold your hands up...gone...

in answer to the questions..."wheres Daddy?, wheres teddy?, wheres dummy?, wheres the boys? You competently use the sign for finished and drink....although they look very similar and its sometimes difficult to tell the difference. You soon let me know if I have misunderstood though. You are also starting to use the sign for more. You have started shaking your head to mean NO as well. I'm constantly amazed by your comprehension of the spoken word. I can ask you to go and find your dummy, close the door, do you want to have a shower with daddy, have you got a pooey nappy and your reactions show that you fully understand what Ive said to you. It must be so frustrating not yet having the words to communicate with us at that next level.

Finally all of your molars have cut right through, which might explain the marked improvement in your general disposition and eating during the later part of this month. Its lovely to have my happy little man back again. Its amazing what a difference the absence of pain and the presence of a full tummy can make. You have started dribbling a lot in the last week, and I'm guessing its your eye teeth. Your poor little thing, I just hope that these don't cause us as many problems. You have started to feed yourself messy things. Mummy isn't really good at watching the food go everywhere but your mouth, but Ive been letting you have a go anyway. Your doing a pretty good job most of the time. You did get really grumpy one day and throw your spoon. As I reached across the table to get it back for you, you took a swipe at your bowl and knocked it crashing to the floor. It smashed into lots of tiny pieces, and food went everywhere. Not good baby, you have to learn to be a little more patient, and Mummy learnt to only give you plastic bowls from then on.

Your ability to walk everywhere has lead to a new discovery...pull along toys. You love your puppy, and your train. You love that as long as you hold that string tight, they will follow you where ever you may go. You still look as pleased as punch every time they do it too!!! You have become rather clingy to me lately. You don't like Mummy to be out of your sight, and will burst into tears if I'm out of your sight for long if we are at someone elses house, or if I have to leave you. Even with Grandma...I know its just a stage, but I hope its one we can pass through quickly.

The daily rituals are becoming something you love to be part of. Taking the nappy sacks out to the wheelie bin is something you love to do. As soon as I tie that little orange bag up you are pointing and grunting at it. You grab the handles and head for the front door. I lift you up and lift the lid of the bin. You hold the bag over and drop it in. You love to watch the postie deliver the mail, although you are surprisingly apprehensive about his motorbike. The garbage truck is another source of fascination for you. We either sit on the front window sill or look through the front window as the big grabber picks up the bin and flips the rubbish into the truck, before the bin comes back down with a big thump. The driver always gives you a wave or a toot when he sees you! I'm sure that being the mummy to a little boy is the only thing that could make me feel excited as I hear the rumble of the rubbish truck coming down the road!

You LOVE spending time with Daddy. You don't really get to spend a lot of time together, so you treasure your time with him. He lifts you up and lets you push the buttons and push the door shut on the microwave when he gets you a bottle, he lets you in the shed with him, he brrrmms cars around with you, and builds sand castles. He gives you horsey rides and shares in your excitement as you see a birdie in the back yard or a plane flying in the sky. He lets you have a shower with him and he has put a little box near the water feature so you can climb up and see the water and play with the rocks. He loves you so much baby, and it makes my heart melt watching the two of you together.

I know I say it every month, but time just seems to be going by so quickly. When I look at you I no longer see a baby. In so many of my photos lately I see a little boy looking back at me and wonder where my baby has gone. This next month might be a bit light on with photos though, Mummy's camera has packed it in! So its back to Daddy's little one till its fixed. I hope its not too long. I dont want to miss a thing!

mwah mwah my sweet little one.

I love you to the stars and moon and back again!

Mummy xxxx