Two Years Old

We can't believe how time has flown! Jack is now two years old. He recently had his 2-year checkup at the doctor, and here are his new stats:

• Height: 36 inches (87th percentile)
• Weight: 26 lbs (24th percentile)

Besides being tall and skinny, the doctor said he is right on track for everything. He has more than 20 words (usually I'm the only one that can understand them though), he can follow instructions, he is running, climbing, playing and getting into everything. The doctor gave me some tips for potty training (poop parties!) since Jack has shown some interest in the potty already. I'm not under any delusions that he'll be potty-trained any time soon, though. The nurses who gave him his immunizations said they have never seen a calmer two-year-old. He didn't even shed a tear and was actually smiling once the shots were done (the grape sucker didn't hurt, either).

Jack had a great second birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa Lanz's house. All of Jack's grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins were there. He received some pretty awesome trucks and Thomas the Tank Engine toys. If he wasn't obsessed with them before, he definitely is now. He pretty much walks around all day with a truck or train in his hand, saying "Choo Choo!" constantly.  He has also taken an interest in puzzles lately. Puzzles that frustrated him just a couple of weeks ago he does a couple times in a row with no difficulty. He's getting smarter before our eyes!

Of course, besides being brilliant, he's also adorable:

19 months!

I know, I know, it's been ages since I've last posted. I've been meaning to for awhile now, but Jack and I have both been sick for about a month now and we're just starting to get better.

Since I last wrote, Jack has done a lot of growing up. At his 18 month appointment, he was 22 1/2 pounds (25th percentile) and 33 inches long (68th percentile). Tall and skinny boy! Since he has been feeling better, I think he's gained about two pounds...he eats everything in sight! He is still rocking the spoon and cup, and now he is practicing using a fork. At least he hasn't poked his eye out yet.

As far as other development goes, he's walking and running and kicking and throwing a ball right on track. The doctor and I were both concerned that his speech was delayed, so he gave us a referral to a speech therapist. She asked me a bunch of questions about what sounds Jack makes and what words he recognizes, etc. She came to the conclusion that his speech abilities are only a few months delayed and it is not anything to be concerned about yet. If he hasn't caught up by the age of two, then she'll want to start seeing him regularly. She gave us some ways to emphasize speech at home, and Jack seems to be catching on really quickly.

The speech therapist also said that his speech comprehension is advanced for his age, which is great. Some examples of this that I've noticed in the past few days:

• When I'm getting Jack dressed in the morning, he helps me get his clothes. He knows where the socks and pants and shoes are. 
• He can point to various body parts (nose, eyes, ears, teeth, feet, and belly)
• When we say "Bathtime!" he walks over to the bathroom door.
• When I say "Do you want a snack?" he walks over to his high chair and tries to get in.
• When I put my shoes on, he gets his shoes and brings me my purse.
• When I say "Blues Clues," he brings me the TV remote and makes the hand signal for Blues Clues that they do on the show.
• Yesterday I asked him about baby monkeys and he found the ONLY book on his entire bookshelf (out of hundreds) that has baby monkeys in it. I was amazed by this one!

So, he's a pretty smart little guy, but definitely not wanting to talk too much. I'm trying not to anticipate his needs and to ask him more questions, hoping that he'll answer me. Hopefully it shouldn't be too long before he's talking up a storm (and then we probably won't be able to shut him up!).

15 months old!

I was going through a box of Jack's baby clothes today when I found one of his preemie outfits. It was soooo amazingly tiny! I remember thinking he was always going to be a tiny little baby and now....well, now he is not tiny nor really a baby anymore.

Jack just had his 15 month checkup and he is still doing great! He weighs 22 lbs 11 oz (22nd percentile) and is 31 1/4 inches long (54th percentile). When I laid him down on the bed in the exam room, he seemed to know that something bad was coming...he got three more shots...ouch. I thought he would be really tired after his shots, but that day he didn't take a nap until 5:30 pm. Argh.

He continues to learn to do new things all the time. He is soooo close to walking. He has taken a few steps on his own, and can walk around the whole apartment while holding our hands, but doesn't want to make the final leap to independence.

Other things he does:

• Eats with a spoon. He prefers to feed himself...which makes for messy and slow meals, but he usually gets most of the food in his mouth.
• Claps all the time! Whenever I say "Good job, Jack!" he congratulates himself with a round of applause and a huge grin.
• He now has four teeth!
  
• He is growing out of 12 mo. size clothing and into 18 mo (right where he should be!)
• Whenever I yell at the cat to stop scratching the couch, Jack starts snapping his fingers (more like just rubbing them together) to say "Stop that, Izzy!"
• He gives big sloppy wet kisses.
  
• He knows where socks go, where his nose is, and where his belly button is.
• He likes to pick up the remote control and point it at the tv and play with cell phones. He really, really, really loves playing on the computer.
  
• His favorite toy is still a book. He loves to sit on the couch and "read." He will sit with a book or photo album and flip pages all day long.
• He loves to push his shopping cart around; he has also started pushing other things around: laundry baskets, toy box, garbage cans...
• He is looking more like a little boy and less like a baby...which is definitely bittersweet for me :)