Fourteen Months (or For Love of Naked Librarians)

I thought I'd be able to report to you that Walt is a full-fledged walker by now, but it seems that he has decided that there's no need to be hasty about this upright mobility thing.  You see, there's always the chance that one might fall, and when you're standing up, you've got further to go before the ground gets you.  Plus, isn't it nice to be shuttled about anytime you raise your arms and whine a little?  If only we knew then what we know now . . .

While the walking hasn't really picked up, the talking has.  The child rattles on constantly.  He doesn't have any real words besides the ones already reported, "slicky" ("kiki") and "Evie" ("Eeeee"), but he never stops with the grunts, cackles and squeals.  It's particularly amusing when he cocks his head to one side, looks you straight in the eye and says, "Unkhah?"  He expects some reply, we just haven't figured out exactly what.

As reported earlier this month, the sign language is progressing rather nicely.  Some days he's more communicative than others, but overall he's making progress.  Some of the more popular signs are "more," "eat," "milk," "Evie" and "no."  Not necessarily in that order, but usually all within the same meal time.  The progression goes something like this: he "eats" (cheese, bread and skillfully hidden vegetables) until his stomach looks like it's going to pop, then he asks for his "milk," then he asks for "more" graham crackers, then he sees "Evie" and throws the uneaten, non-graham cracker food to her, and we say "no."  Pretty much the same drill every meal.

Bathtime is still a blast.  He's slowly learning the difference between ducks and fish.  (An important distinction made easy as they are two very popular bathtime animals.)  He especially likes it when Daddy makes the fish high dive from way above the tub.  He claps his hands, grabs the recently fallen fish, holds them as high as he can get them and drops them.  All while sitting down, because standing is NOT allowed in the tub.  It's dangerous. 

To summarize, he's still the same sweet boy we've been gushing over for, oh, about fourteen months now.  He's beginning to really show a personality.  He's at times defiant, but generally willing to comply after a  little reminder from Mommy or Daddy.  He's extremely nosey when we're at home and when we're out in public.  And he's always flashing smiles that could melt the polar ice caps.  Even if he grows up to be a naked librarian, we think we'll still love him.