Jonathan at 16 months

Jonathan is at that super cute, but somewhat frustrated age of 16 months. He toddles around getting into whatever mischief he can. And he just doesn't quite understand no yet... I mean, he understands the meaning of the word no... but he can't quite follow through on a no. We have to follow through for him, which leaves him howling in protest.

The other day I kept on seeing him putting things in his mouth. I wondered what he was eating and where it was coming from, but I just thought that he had found a little cheerio on the ground or something, so I wasn't too worried. (Cheerios on the ground are fair game in our house, a perfectly acceptable snack). Then I finally figured out the truth. I caught him in the act. He was opening the kitchen garbage can and digging out little pieces of pancake that had been thrown away after breakfast. "No buddy! You can't eat that!" I pried his latest prize out of his tight little fist and threw it away. He opened the garbage can, ready to pluck it out again. So I took the trash out... which left him howling in misery.

He also loves putting his hands in the toilet whenever he can. One morning he dunked his gummy vitamin in and then was about to put it in his mouth, I snatched it away... and he screamed his little head off. Luckily he gets distracted by hand washing... which we do many, many times a day. He definitely keeps me on my toes.

He's starting to develop some really cool dance moves. The turn-around-then-squat-down seems to be his favorite move right now. And he also is really starting to get into pushing his cars and trucks around. He has a big Tonka truck (Christmas present - thanks John and Kristine!) that he often gets out and pushes around the house while making his interpretation of "vroom".

As far as talking goes, he is just beginning to repeat sounds and say a few words. We think he says Momma and Dadda. He also says, "Na na" (Night Night), Hot, Up, and "How-o" (Hello - into a pretend phone). He does the signs for more, all-done, and milk... but only when he feels like it. He's learned that standing in his high chair will yield results far faster than signing all-done.

He loves playing outside. He particularly likes going up and down the stairs and the hills outside... trying to master them. When we go to the park he LOVES the swings and the slides. A couple weeks ago we went to the park on a very cold day. The kids were bundled up, but it was still just too cold to be there long. After 45 minutes I decided we had had enough. Jonathan was hunkered down in his swing, his lip quivering every few minutes from the cold. But he still howled his protest when I got him out of the swing, and cried all the way to the car.

He eats absolutely everything (except, of course, the things we want him to eat, like vegetables). Play doh, crayons, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, markers, bar soap... they all go into his mouth.

He loves clapping hands and giving high-fives. He laughs uproariously even when he doesn't get the joke. He is such a joy.

Here are his stats at 16 months:

Weight: 24 lbs. 4 oz. (37th percentile)

Height: 31 1/2 inches (45th percentile)

Head: 19 1/4 inches (87th percentile)