Jason at 15 months: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Wow - I feel like I haven't posted an update about Jason in forever!  But it's officially time.  Because he's growing like a weed (he eats as much as Ryan did a few weeks ago...and Ryan now eats as much as Mike!) and he's talking and getting ready to walk any day now (yeah, I know...my kids are so slow) and before I know it, he's going to stop doing a lot of the cute things he's doing now. And I don't want to forget any of it!

So, here goes...

Such a happy boy...most of the time!

The Good:

- Jason is unbelievably social.  He says, "Hi" all. the. time.  To anyone, anywhere.  Even to us at home and especially when he's doing something wrong.  He looks over and says, "Hi!" when he gets caught going up the stairs or playing with the phone and always after he's told, "no."  It's his universal word for, "Everything's good on my end...are we cool?"  He's such a little charmer.  After strangers say, "Well hi! (then to me) Isn't he cute?!" and he continues to say, "Hi...hi...hi..." I always say, "He's going to be my politician."  He just loves the attention.

- Jason is a total parrot.  If someone is talking to or about him, he repeats whatever word stands out to him as best he can.  Yesterday, we were on our way to In & Out Burger and he was begging to "eat" so I said, "Do you want a hamburger?"  He repeated back, "booger booger!"  All of us cracked up and he had no idea why, but he joined in on the laughter.
- When Jason gets excited, he rotates his feet (at the ankle) in opposite directions.  This happens often in his high chair when he sees food coming.

- He blows on almost every bite of dinner before he eats it. (clearly I must serve dinners too hot!)
- A few weeks ago, I finally noticed four new molars.  They were the suspect of his bizarre behavior and screaming outbursts for most of December.

- When he needs a diaper change, he starts singing, "Chugga chugga chugga chugga...POO POOOOOOS..."  As if smelling him wasn't warning enough.
- Jason loves to be chased, saying, "I gah geh choo" and crawling away.  When we scoop him up, he yells, "GA-KAH!" for "gotcha!"

- He's becoming increasingly less picky.  And now knowing his molars have arrived, I'm giving him different foods that require more than front-teeth rabbit-nibbling to consume.
- When we forget to pray at meals, Jason puts his hands together and says, "ah-bah" to remind us to give thanks.

- This kid loves baths.  Loves, loves, loves them.  He would sit in a tub full of water all day and night if I let him.  He might be part fish.
- He also loves books.  Almost as much as baths, but probably a little less, since he can enjoy them every day and isn't limited to enjoying them 3-4 times a week.
- Jason's favorite songs are "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." 
- His favorite foods are Trader Joe's cereal bars, pretzels, bananas, blueberries, dry cereal (Cheerios and Go Lean), applesauce and recently, almond butter sandwiches.

- I've moved him into his crib in Ryan's room full time now.  Sometimes that means one or the other wakes up first and starts a party in the dark, but the transition had to happen sometime. 
- This weekend, I started teaching him to clean up, singing that horrible song from Barnie.  He got the concept today and put some of his mega-Legos back in the bucket.
- When he does what he's told right away, I make a huge deal out of it, saying, "Good boy!!!" and everyone in the room starts clapping.  He now says, "Bah BOH!" (if I forget to praise him) and claps at himself.
- He can also use the walker on the tile without it slipping away from him.  His strength and balance is improving daily and it won't be long before he's walking!
- Just today, he started standing on command.  He'll let go of whatever he's holding onto when asked to stand or if we ask him to "let go." 

I'm not completely convinced, but *I think* Jason might not like his baby swing...

The Bad:

- Until recently, he had no interest in the stairs.  He crawled up to the second step, turned his head around to make sure everyone's cool with his feat, then climbs back down on his belly.  This week, I made the mistake of standing behind him as he crawled up by himself while he chanted, "Go, go, go!"  Now he wants to crawl up the stairs all the time.  Just this week, he's gotten so fast that from the time one of the kids tells  me he's on the stairs to when I walk over to grab him, he's already up the 2nd flight. He doesn't see the difference in me standing behind him for safety and him doing it alone. I'm working on this!

- Except at bedtime, Jason has no interest in giving me kisses or hugs.  It's terribly offensive and makes me so sad!  How can I not take it personally when he hugs and kisses everyone but ME?!!?

- This kid is per. sis. tent.  Certain off-limit items (remotes, phones, Wii accessories, the fish food and net, toilet water) are just too tempting for him.  Some days, as soon as he's out of his high chair, he cruises over to any of these things to get a good, healthy "no" lecture to start the day.  Why, oh why?

The baby mullet before Jason's first haircut.

...and The Ugly:
- Last week, the baby mullet went bu-bye.  It made me unusually emotional, for some reason.  He looks like a little man now with his fancy, trimmed up hairstyle.  (*sniff*) 
- He hits.  In the face, specifically.  "Jason, can mommy have a kiss?"  "NO!" (*smack*)  "No hitting...be gentle."  Then he pets my hair like a dog while slowly saying, "Gen-tolllle..."

Jason-speak:
muk = milk
wah-wah = water
bah-ma-na = vitamins
eck = egg
ma-na = banana
boo-beh-beh = blueberries
pee-oo = pear
ah-po = apple
ah-pa-dah = applesauce
toe-toe = tomatoes (he LOVES tomatoes, even in balsalmic vinegrette dressing from my salad)
ah-boo = oatmeal (today he actually said, "oh me-oh")
bree = bread/toast
chee-oh = Cheerios
see-ee-oh = cereal
bah = cereal bar
pee-tah = pizza
pah-tah = pasta
pet-zole = pretzel
booger-booger = hamburger
ch = sandwich
bye = bite
bah = ball
sh = fish
dock = dog
guck = duck
guck = also means "stuck"
hup = help
go go go? = he wants to be allowed to go up the stairs
side = outside
up = up
dow = down
boo = movie
toe = toys
shoooo? = shoe
hew = hair
ew = something gross is on his finger
eee = eat
mo = more
ah-dah = all done
ah-guy = all gone
peas = please
tay-too = thank you (he says this every time he's handed something)
gen-tole = gentle
bah-dah = blanket
pah-doe = pacifier
Kay-Kay = Kaylin
Ry-Ry = Ryan
bah-doh = brother
dit-doo = sister

Pictures that will be scrapbooked with these accomplishments:

The pesky molars

This boy constantly has dirty hands and knees.  I can't wait till he walks!

Such a "reader"

That's all I can think of at the moment.  Every time I look at Jason with his new haircut, I get sad that he's growing up so fast.  My baby boy!  (*sniff*)  I'm getting all choked up!