A Few Goodmans: Jonah Nicholas, Month 12!

Our little Jonah has turned 1 year old! We weren't sure if we'd let him, but he insisted. He has been doing so many new things in the past month, almost as if he has been getting ready to be 1.

Growth: Jonah had his 12 month checkup today and he weighs 19 lbs. 10 oz, measures 28 inches, and is in the 10th percentile on both. His head is 50th. He has reached the end of his 9 month jammies and fits best into most 6-12 month things, but is wearing 12-18 tops and one-piece outfits. We know for certain that he is growing since he can reach drawer and cabinet handles that he could not a month ago.

Sleep: Jonah continues to be a night owl, drifting in dreamland from about 9:45-6:45 on average. By day, he tends to take one long nap (2+ hours) at school on MWF and 2 medium naps (1-2 hours) on the days he is at home. He gets a book, ocean waves, a sleep sack, and some pats on the tush for a few minutes to kick start his slumber. At nighttime, he nurses before bed.

Eating: In short, this kid likes to eat! He will eat anything we put in front of him. He reached for a lemon wedge and we let him have a nibble just to test the waters and he kept wanting to go back for more. Silly Jonah. He's up to 8 teeth, and he knows how to eat with them! His very favorite foods are plain yogurt, all kinds of fish (even anchovies and gefilte fish), quartered grapes, and puffed cereal. We enjoy feeding him what we are eating, and only avoid shellfish, honey, sweets, and anything that is sharp, hard to chew, or poses a choking hazard. The baby has endurance too! He sat in a high chair in a restaurant, eating continuously, for a record 2 1/2 hours. It's impressive how much he can eat and still breastfeed as much as ever. Talk about a growing boy. He drinks water from a cup if you hold it for him and gets the general idea, but he's earned the nickname "Bellagio." If you've seen the fountains there in Las Vegas, you get the picture. Jonah's first real dessert came at his first birthday celebration. More on that in the birthday post.

Covered in gefilte fish. Normal.

Personality: Curious as can be. Busy busy busy. Sweet as sugar. That's our Jonah! One favorite activity is taking things out of things. What things? All things. Got a drawer, cupboard, or box? Jonah will empty it, and fast! He will be very helpful with unpacking when we move! He especially enjoys the drawer of hair brushes in the bathroom (which are fun to beat on the floor) and the cupboards in the condo we rented on vacation. Once the things are out they must all be explored and thoroughly investigated through hitting on the floor and eating.

He loves his kitty cats so much! He smiles and his extremities flail with excitement when he sees Alton or Olive. After chasing them down, he makes a high "aaaa" he reserves just for animals, pats with an open hand most of the time, and gives kisses. French kisses. He has gotten better about not grabbing and pulling their fur, but Alton just sits there and takes it, which makes it harder to enforce. We are doing our best and hopefully he will keep improving.

Our little Jonah is happy to entertain himself for quite a while, showing a preference for bright colors, hard surfaces, and toys that make noise. Another favorite activity is pushing things around. He likes to move chairs, end tables, strollers, and walkers. Jonah also loves to snuggle on your lap for a book, and has a few bedtime favorites that he knows well enough to flip through and look for a favorite page. He can turn pages in board books very well now, and lift flaps too. We turn the paper book pages, and he sits quietly and listens to the story.

Loving The Ear Book.

He wanted nothing but The Ear Book while he was getting over his ear infection! Ears, ears, ears!

Current dislikes are hats (unless distracted by interesting beach toys) and getting a diaper changed when there are better things to do. Getting into pajamas after being wrapped up in a towel after the bath is the least favorable. Also not always a big fan of napping.

Milestones: It has been exciting to see Jonah expressing himself more. He has started pointing at things, mostly lights and fans, and looking at your to tell him what it is. He will wave "hi" or "bye" on cue or when he senses someone is leaving. He stands for about a minute without holding on and took his first steps unsupported, walking up to 8 steps. The cruising has reached expert status. His babbling now involves "amamanamamana" when he comes toward Mom. We aren't sure if this counts as a word. He will respond correctly to a series of questions. When asked "where is your tongue" he sticks his out. When asked "how old is Jonah?" he holds up a finger. When asked to clap, he will. He can also look at the correct individual when asked to locate family members. He loves peek-a-boo, and cracks up when he sees your face popping out at him.

Taking some steps to Mommy on the beach

Answering "where's your tongue?"

Events: Jonah celebrated his first Passover. Lindsay was too sick to attend the Columbus seder, so we missed out on that. The second seder was spent in Detroit visiting Grandma and Grandpa. While there, Jonah played on his favorite stairs, played with their toys, and crawled in hot pursuit of the kitty Buffy. We are sad that he will not get to play with her when he becomes older and more responsible with a more sensitive older cat since she just passed away a few days ago. We miss you, Buffy! During the week of Passover, Jonah enjoyed the heck out of some gefilte fish and matzoh balls.

Jonah and Mommy at Grandma and Grandpa's

Jonah playing with Buffy

Grandma snuggles

After Passover, but just before the Bendler birthday season, we took a vacation to Florida with Mimi and Poppy. Jonah did great on his first flight, nursing, napping on Mommy's lap, and walking and crawling across our laps, snacking and playing. He hardly made a peep on the flight there or back. The pilot caught on that it was his first flight and invited Jonah and his Mom into the cockpit. He even got to wear his hat! The experience seemed to overwhelm him, but we appreciated the gesture. After that, came his first monorail ride, boat ride, bus ride, and all kinds of Disney rides.

Checking out the airplanes with Poppy

That scary cockpit

Not a fan of hats

Jonah and the pilot

Ready for take-off!

Flirting with whoever was seated behind him

Playing toys with Mimi

We stayed in a condo on the beach in New Smyrna Beach, FL, which is on the Atlantic coast. The beach was just what we wanted, large, uncrowded, clean, and nearby, with shallow warm water and small waves. Jonah was very happy scooping up sand, knocking down sandcastles, playing with beach toys, snacking, walking, crawling, standing and sitting in the water, and watching the sights.

Lots of fun applying sunscreen. Turned out to be the most fun toy we had.

Playing with toys on the beach

Snuggling on Mommy

Playing toys with Poppy

Taking a beach walk with Mommy

Family beach pic

Knocking down a sandcastle

Our little sea turtle crawling on the sand

Cheering on Daddy and Poppy

Surfer dude worked up an appetite

Thanks for the Cheeze-it!

Taking a bite right off the banana for the first time

Keeping hydrated

Jonah walked all the way into the water holding Daddy's and Poppy's hands.
Can you see them? Can you see his tracks?

Jonah just loved the water and wasn't afraid at all

Loving the water!

The cutest foot we have ever seen. Except for the left. It's pretty cute too.

Jonah loves to swing. Found a park nearby the beach.

Jonah Trouble Nicholas Goodman

For the second half of the week, we packed up and drove to Orlando and checked in to a hotel near Downtown Disney. We spent 2 days in the park and the days before and after going on other outings in the area. He was a very good boy for many restaurant meals while on vacation and even had his first selection from the kids menu.

Walking in Downtown Disney after dinner at House of Blues
Jonah ate a flatbread pizza. See: Julian's sleeve for evidence.

First boat ride, across the Downtown Disney lagoon.

The morning of the first day in the park, we had breakfast in the hotel. Jonah really enjoyed his Mickey waffle. We spend the first half of the day exploring Magic Kingdom, then the late afternoon and evening in Hollywood Studios (MGM, as we remember it). The second day we went back to Magic Kingdom for a few attractions we missed and then spend most of the day in EPCOT. He was pretty content in his stroller, looking around and taking naps when he was tired. The weather was mostly cooperative except for a rainstorm that came through both days and forced us to find indoor activities. Jonah's favorite rides were Imagination, Winnie-the-Pooh, it's a Small World, Prince Charming's Carousel, and The Maelstrom. He also went on the ride in Mexico, The Great Movie Ride, Dumbo the flying elephant, the train (where he nursed!), and Spaceship Earth. We tall people took turns going on the bigger rides, like Splash Mountain and Hollywood Tower of Terror.

Enjoying Mickey waffle #1

Knew better than to buy this baby a hat. Just snapped a quick shot.

Going on it's a small world

In like for Pooh

Lots to look at on the Pooh ride

Dinner at the Sci Fi Dine In Theater. Lots of fun, yummy food, funny old
movie previews, eating in a convertible, and low lighting for pictures, sorry.

Jonah with Mommy and Daddy on Main St. USA

Little prince

Dumbo, The Flying Elephant

In England, EPCOT

Playing in Imagination

More Imagination play

Got stuck in "The Seas" in EPCOT when it rained

Good thing Jonah likes the aquarium so much!

Geosphere. Baby.

Checking out the ladies

Norway!

Allllll tired out on Mommy's shoulder on the shuttle to the hotel

Our last day in Orlando was Mimi's birthday! We had breakfast at Olivia's in Disney's Old Key West Resort. It was also home of Jonah's second Mickey waffle. He showed off his clapping skills when we sang to Mimi. After that we went to a Disney miniature golf course featuring the movie Fantasia. Jonah just loved his little golf club. Once, and only once, we put a ball on the ground and helped him hit it with the club. Who would believe it went right in?! We were laughing so hard!