La Primera Dia del Guadaria!

Anoke is 15 Months Old Today!

The little man with his fire truck! Anoke loves "Ka" (cars) and motos and trucks. When I found this Tonka toy fire truck with flashing lights and buttons I knew I had to get it for him. He actually fell asleep with his new truck in his hands.

So, Anoke is 15 months old today and he is running! Being an early walker, he's perfected his step and his balance and is now running. He's climbing chairs and stairs and couches and beds and all sorts of things at the playground. He hates to be strapped down in his car seat or stroller and will arch his back, scream his cranky scream, and flail his arms and legs in protest. These mini-tantrums don't last long, and less if they're ignored. He's curious about the effects his behavior has on those around him. His current phase is learning which behaviors cause different reactions by testing his boundaries and everyone’s limits. Anoke is a curious energetic mini-explorer that rarely sits still.

He's making sounds and can say, "mama" and "dada" and "mum mums" (the brand name for his crackers) and "ka" for cars, and he meows when he sees a cat, but mostly Anoke is signing to communicate. It's amazing how quickly he's picking-up sign language. In addition to the sign for milk, he's also signing for diaper change, plane, eats, please, and more. He waves, "Hi!" and "See you later!”

Anoke understands language and knows how to communicate in many ways. He will point to whatever word you say: "Anoke, where's the light?" and he'll point to the light; "Anoke, show me the tree?”; "Where's the girl?”; "Where's Snuggly?" (his Bear), and he'll look at it and point to it. If you say, "Let's go outside" he'll walk down the hall to the front door and point. If you say, "Diaper change", he'll walk to where his diapers are and pull at his changing table. If you say, "Bath time", he'll run to the bathroom, reach for the faucet AND turn the water on. If you say, "Cereal", he'll go to the kitchen and point up to the place where the cereal is kept. If he's at a steep ledge, incline or step and I say, "Careful!", he knows not to keep walking, stops, sits down and crawls off instead. If I say, "Anoke, get a book." he goes to his cubby of books and gets a book, returns and sits down in my lap. Or he'll just sit on the floor and go through the pages, reading to himself. I hope he never grows out of what appears to be a love for books. He also enjoys throwing and catching balls: small balls, big balls, soccer balls, and rubber balls. I don't know if this is typical of a 15 month old, and it doesn't really matter if it is or isn't, it's simply amazing to observe. Amazing watching him grow and learn, at what seems to be a faster with each day. It's a joy seeing him smile proudly or clap his hands after accomplishing a new feat or discovering a new thing. He puts his new physical skills to the test.... every day. Anything within hands reach will be grabbed and torn and observed and banged and dropped. Which reminds me of something that happened that made me laugh....

I was walking with Anoke in his stroller along the beach and as we passed by a little boy holding a yellow pail and his mommy's hand, Anoke, swiftfully grabbed the pail out of the boy's hands without missing a beat. I didn't even realize this happened until I heard the little boy behind us cry out and a few (impressed) witnesses laugh and explained to me what happened.

He has recently introduced Hi-5's, blowing kisses, hugging, and chillin' on his tummy (to read, look or play with something) to his repertoire. He recently mastered the Hi-5 watching the They Might Be Giants 123's video (one that I highly recommend and one of only 3 that I'm allowing him to watch). And, of course, Anoke continues to "Dance! Dance!" Anytime there's music playing he moves his little body to the beat, to the rhythm.

Anoke seems more intrigued by objects that seem to have a purpose than most of his toys. Objects like keys and phones and brooms and toothbrushes. Luckily I have some spares that I let him use to play and mimic with. He likes to keep his hands occupied trying to figure out how things work: open and close, turn on and off, push and pull, cause and effect...

Anoke will soon visit his pediatrician, Dr. Osler. When he does, I'll find out how tall he is and how much he weighs. I have a feeling he's in a high percentile since he's wearing 2T clothes and is the same height as most of the 2 year olds in the playground. We'll see...