Jonah Nicholas, 13 months

He has done it again. Jonah is another month older.  He makes us laugh every day and does some pretty hilarious new things.  We just love him to pieces!

Growth: Jonah got weighed at the doctor (yet another ear infection) and is up to 20.5 lbs. He is certainly taller because we notice he can reach to open the next drawer up.

Sleep: We are trying to get our little night owl into a somewhat earlier bedtime routine, inching closer to 9 than 10.  He has been doing 9:15 pretty well, and getting up at 6:15. He takes 2 naps by day and is really doing well when he gets his milk to make him sleepy.  We hope this won’t backfire when he stops nursing, but for now we are just going with what makes us all happy and enjoying the cuddles.

Eating:  Nursing is just the same, and he continues to be an adventurous eater.  His techniques are improving somewhat. He has started putting a spoon into some applesauce or yogurt and bringing it to his mouth. At school on Friday I watched him feed a bite of applesauce to a classmate.  Oops!  He can hold a sippy cup or an open cup with a device to meter the water flow on his own.  His communication has improved too. He says “mmm, mmm” and points to what he wants. If he doesn’t want something he places it on the floor to his left. We really wish he’d ditch that habit, and we try to tell him “no” but it’s just his only way of saying “no thank you” so far. 

Eating some vegetarian sloppy joe

Showing us when he wants his water

Feeding Daddy

Feeding Daddy some more

Personality: Jonah still enjoys emptying drawers, baskets, and bins, but now also likes filling them.  He has even stacked his blocks one on another a few times, which surprised us.  He enjoys swinging and lets out a laugh when Poppy plays the “don’t kick me. Oh no, you kicked me” game.  He is eager to make you laugh and will pull out all his tricks.  Jonah’s favorite shape is a stick; he absolutely can’t get enough of a broom handle, crayon, or toothbrush.  He got his hands on a swiffer at Mimi and Poppy’s and pushed it around tirelessly for about 3 hours. It was the first “toy” he really objected if we tried to take.  All that practice seems to have led to his next big milestone! 

Showing off 4 out of 9 teeth

Fun times with Swiffer

Milestones:  Our boy is walking!  Last month he would take a series or steps unsupported but mostly cruise. Last week he started standing up from the floor without grabbing onto anything and walking across the open floor.  When he falls, he no longer crawls, but stands right back up.  His perseverance is impressive! 

Walking through Aunt Maggie and Uncle Bob's backyard

He has started to learn what different objects are for.  We mentioned feeding himself with a spoon, and he also brushes his hair and teeth.  We won’t grade him on how effectively he does these things. 

He likes to dance when he hears music, and will also dance when you ask him too. He gives big wet open-mouth kisses with an accompanying “aaaaah” when he wants to show affection, if you kiss him, or if you ask for a kiss.  We’ve had to keep toilet paper out of reach since he is very interested in unrolling it.  He has started flapping his arms wildly while he stands or walks and cracking himself up. If you do it back he laughs even harder. We started calling it “Godzilla!!” and now when we tell him “Godzilla!” he flaps his arms around.  He likes to hold up a toy toward you to take, tell him what it is, and give it back.  He looooves books, especially with flaps, and has started getting one out and bringing it to you to read to him.

He brings us a book when he wants to read.

Dancing baby

Events: Jonah traveled to Pittsburgh Memorial Day weekend for Julian’s childhood friend Dave and Melissa’s wedding. He enjoyed the heck out of the rehearsal dinner and breakfast and had lots of fun at Lindsay’s Aunt Maggie and Uncle Bob’s house.  He ate his first piece of watermelon, holding onto the rind, and made a huge wet sticky sweet mess of himself.  Cousin Paige danced her heart out with him, played, pushed the stroller, bathed, and helped babysit while we were at the wedding. 

Jonah with Daddy and the groom, Dave

Poppy, Aunt Maggie, Mimi, and Jonah

Uncle Bob trying to make Jonah a Pirates fan

He loves finding your nose, and looooves cousin Paige

Poppy, Aunt Maggie, Paige, Uncle Bob, Mimi, Jonah, Daddy

Paige introducing Jonah to the glue stick

Dance party with Paige

The watermelon obsession begins

Getting cleaned up from all that watermelon

On May 29th, we closed on our new home in Bexley, where Lindsay grew up and where her parents live.  It has been a whirlwind of packing to get ready for the move, and Jonah has been happy to help push things around the house and hand us packing peanuts and pieces of paper.  Just to make things extra fun, with the house at its worst and Jonah’s 4^th ear infection hitting, we got 2 showings on our condo.  Wish us luck!!

Carrying around packing peanuts

Jonah played with some friends this month, including seeing the Caverly family, in town from Colorado.  He had fun with Pete, 2, and Caroline, 9 months.  We had a picnic with the Zartman family and Jonah and Charlie, 9 months, played on the swing together.  Jonah also likes to play in the neighborhood with his friend Emmett, also 9 months.

Tanner, Pete, Daddy, Jonah

Jonah and Charlie