Highway to the Baby Zone: 15 Months

15 Months. It's hard to believe I have a *toddler* now. I believe the definition of a toddler is when they are officially walking. That's right! We have a full on walker now. He chooses to walk more than crawl and that means he really does not like being held or confined anymore. I can't say I blame him! He wants to be out exploring, like he should be. He's got a big personality; he's running around our house like crazy, he has opinions, and he really "knows his stuff".

My boy's lack of patience is sure to make going out to eat a hard thing to do for the foreseeable future. When he wants to eat, WATCH OUT. He wants to eat and he wants to eat NOW. By the time we walk in the door everyday at 5:30 during the week he is whining, crying and reaching for food. It makes it really hard to cook and get his food ready in a timely manner. His daycare feeds him at 11, then down for a nap afterwards, when he used to eat around 12:30 in his baby room. This early lunch does not buy us much time at night. He has also transitioned to one nap a day and guess what time that nap is? Noon. And because it's only one nap, it lasts at least 2 hours. So, awesome for Mom and Dad....we will not be eating lunch out anywhere on the weekends for who knows how long. Well, unless we make it quick between 11 and 12! It's hard to get used to this new schedule - for all of us!

Ronan went to visit his favorite Dr. Sue on Tuesday (note sarcasm). By all means, she's a wonderful doctor and we absolutely love her but just like she predicted at his 12 month appt., this 15 month check up was much worse. He remembers now. Poor thing cried the. whole. time. Not to worry, people. He was not in pain. Simply put by the doctor - he just doesn't WANT to do the things she was doing to him, like checking his ears or his throat. Just like when he screams bloody murder and pulls at my hand, or swats at my arm, etc. when I try to clip his nails. You would think I was full on torturing him. But it doesn't hurt - he just doesn't *want* to these things. He's got too much of an opinion for a 15 month old, in this Mama's opinion!

But don't get me wrong - with these opinions comes the cutest, sweetest little boy on earth. I'm continuously amazed at just how wonderful he is and how much he knows. He's a man of few words, but you can tell how much he comprehends. It's quite incredible to watch. Is it obvious how proud of him I am?! He has about 6 favorite books - and he has memorized them all! He bounces to his favorite part in one, in another, he points to the same page every single time I read it (what for, I haven't figured out yet), or with his pictures book of animals, he points to the same animals on each page every time and patiently waits for me to tell him what they are. It's the cutest thing. He is such a book worm! We took him to the local book store on Friday night and he went nuts! Our pediatrician admittedly couldn't believe it when we said that he will sit in our laps for multiple book readings at one time.I sure hope his love of books continues. Although, note to future self. Hide the book 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear' for any possible future children. He discovered this book this week and LOVES it. And after only a few times of reading it, I want to throw it out the window. Most of his other books I don't mind a bit. But this one is so repetitive! Okay, I digress.

Ronan got a clean bill of health, with exception to the ear infection she discovered. He had shown absolutely no signs of an ear infection besides his cough and runny nose - usually the tell all is the tugging at the ears which he had not been doing. Our whole family has been one sickly bunch for close to two weeks now. I got an ear infection last week, Rob got an eye infection and now Ronan. And we all have some nasty upper respiratory stuff going on. And the doctor said it's going around and is very contagious...that we can literally just keep passing it back and forth.

STATS!
Height: 32 inches (75%)
Head: 18.75 (50%)
Weight: 24lbs 6oz (50%)

LOVES
BOOKS - books, books and more books. He'd be happy in a room full of books all day long. Some notable titles: Toes, Ears and Nose, Brown Bear Brown Bear, Fifteen Animals, Where is Baby's Mommy, Goodnight Gorilla, Doggies

Food - Anything I've made into mini muffins - broccoli bites, spinach ricotta bites, spinach mini muffins, mini meatloaves, spinach turkey meatballs, pizza, Mommy's special homemade spaghetti sauce, quesadillas, beans and rice - oh lord he could live on Mexican beans and rice. Pears, apples, blueberries, strawberries, bananas....bananas, bananas, bananas. Literally - the kid ate three bananas today alone.

HATES
Getting his nails clipped. That's it!

We go back in 4 weeks to check on his ear. Due to all the antibiotic resistance happening, they do not recommend antibiotics for something like an ear infection (in one ear) anymore. Wish I had known that last week! I went to a 'doc in the box' since I just had an earache, got my antibiotics and went about my business. She told me I should not be taking them. Oh well. Time to get a new family physician, I suppose. Oh - that's right. I happened to get the name of her doc while I was there. No one better to get a doctor rec from than a doctor themselves, right?

Please enjoy the latest photos in the gallery of Ronan, plus a cute video. My sweet, sweetest baby doll (yep, sweet twice in one sentence - he's made of sugar). He's growing up way too fast! I HAVE THE BEST KID ON THE PLANET. Okay, I'm done bragging. :) No really, he IS the best. The best thing that's ever happened to me, anyway....by way more than a long shot.

15 Months Old! March 4th, 2013