Big Boy Bed

Our last baby in a crib is no longer.  It is such a rite of passage as a parent to move your final kiddo into a bed.  It was a little sad taking the crib apart.  After witnessing Jude nearly topple out of his crib head first from climbing we decided it was time to finally transition the crib that we purchased in 2008 to a toddler day bed.  He made the transition very easily.  He stayed in bed and took a normal nap.  Bedtime that night was just as easy.  The next day the freedom got to him but he fell asleep in his chair and took his nap as usual.  We've since found him several times asleep in his chair surrounded by books.  

Vocabulary

16 months

Jude is becoming very vocal.  Its that time when toddlers string together gibberish in such an inflectional way that you can tell what he says has meaning to him.  He says things with such intent.  Although the majority of his vocalizations are incoherent to us, he does say several words that we understand constantly and signs a few words to communicate with us.

Jude's Vocabulary at 16/17 months:

Annie, ball, night-night, wow, whoa, all done, yeah, no no no, momma, da da, moo, baa, outside, bye bye, this, bath

Jude signs for:

all done, more, book, bath, airplane and please

Walking (almost)

This week Jude has been getting much better on his feet and can walk up to seven steps.  He is gaining confidence and getting quicker and steadier.  Crawling is still his mode of getting somewhere quickly but he is recognizing that there might be a better way.

I will be happy to have him a little farther up off the ground.  Especially at places like playgrounds (where he has been known to put everything from pebbles, sand and cigarette butts in his mouth) and play places (where he crawls around in the gross and grime getting his hands, knees and feet as black as possible).  His little feet and toes will appreciate not having the constant wear and tear that come with crawling around on concrete surfaces.  The poor kid's toes are scarred, blistered and all torn up.  Being outside crawling around always involves blood when he's not in sneakers.  He's learned that bear crawling helps to protect his piggies a little bit but usually ends in a face plant so its not always the best option either.

 

Standing Up

 I really wasn't expecting this guy to be on the move so soon.  This week he's taken two trips down the steps.  First, the basement staircase.  Despite my best attempts at asking (and then begging) the older kids to keep the door shut he found his way down one afternoon while exploring.  It was a sound that is forever implanted in my brain.  Jeremy installed a self-closing hinge on the door a few days later. The very day after the basement staircase had been reinforced, he took another tumble from the second floor stairs while the gate was open (clearly he is an opportunist).  Jeremy was here for that one.  I'm so glad.  I would have felt very negligent had it been on my watch.
This week he's been pulling up and standing everywhere, using anything he can pull up on (even if it is mobile and sends him crashing to his face).  He is getting much more stable and sure of himself.  I don't think it will be long before he is letting go to take his first steps.  Yikes!  I thought I had more time.  My baby is growing up!

Pulling Up to a Stand

This isn't a great picture.  Its hard to capture because I always am braced for having to rescue him from falling or from furniture falling on top of him.

Crawls

Jude has been army crawling for several weeks but is beginning to crawl the traditional way.  It is slower and he prefers dragging himself along but he can do it!  Look out world....Jude is on the move!

2nd Tooth

Feels strange in there huh buddy?

Jude has been a big WIMP about getting teeth.  He's been up at night, refusing to nap, fussing and being a little less ideal to be around.  But, look at that cute face!  

Babbling

I realize that he says "Mum Mum" with absolutely no meaning but I'll take it!

Sippy Cups and other new things

Jude tried out a sippy cup for the first time while we were visiting the Finney's.  In fact, he tried several new things...yogurt puffs, eggs and cheerios.  Another indication that this kid is growing up way to fast.  Some reprieve from nursing and bottle feeding nonstop for me.  He always seems to be starving.  I still cannot get him to go longer than three hours between feedings (and that is pushing it).  He is sleeping through the night for at least 12 hours straight (so I won't complain about his frequent daytime feedings because I am not having to feed him through the night).

First try at a sippy cup

Sitting up to play 

A new buddy