What happens at 16 months?

Maybe its part of a twilight zone or some supernatural brain physiology that represents a window of exceptional speed development, but the magic that happens between 15 and 17 months at the ripe age of 16 months is nothing short of amazing. I'm not sure how to document the changes but its in some way it seems as though magically, he's changed over night, continuously, every day for 30 or so days.

Really, I think he woke up one day with very clear ambitions to talk (a little more somber ambitions to walk, because well, he just isn't all that interested, since we'll pretty much carry him anywhere and even though he can walk, he still toddles like a drunk little man), and an even greater intention to clearly communicate with purpose. Suddenly at 16 months we're having little conversations. Owen's insistent about clarifying what he wants -pwease + the sign for milk, --, his clear and intentional phrases- "night night" and my latest favorite his own person rendition of I love you, which sounds something like "Iluboo". Its adorable, so tender and so precious. I can barely stand how precious it is. And while my favorite is I love you, his favorite word this month is a very loud rendition of "MINE" and its for everything he wants, desires, needs or feels as though he has some right to (read: EVERYTHING). If Collin has a piece of cheese that he wants he reaches for it and says "MINE!!!!", if I'm two feet away and he'd rather I hold him than his dad, he leans towards me and says "MINE!!!" its pretty funny to see.

Owen also continues to expand his vocabulary with new words popping up everyday. He loves to say wah-wah (for water- including with fire engines) all the time, cracker, pwease, thank you (which sounds like fankoo) and peek when he's trying to get you to play hide and seek. Every morning when he wakes up I go to get him and he plays a little game of coy. I say "Owen do you want to get out?" and he shakes his head no and topples down to his mattress. We do this three or four times- his getting up, shaking his head no, and plopping down on the mattress. Then, on the fourth or fifth time I say "do you want to go get some nom noms?" being that this child loves food, right away he always reaches up as though he's finally ready to get out, and why hadn't I just asked to begin with???? Now that his vocabulary is exploding he's finding new ways to tell us all sorts of things- he's clear and concise with his messages: "Up! Up! Up!", "Down, Down, Down!", "Bubbles!!!!"(+ the more sign), and most recently, poop (see the next post to hear more about that). It seems as though everything he tells us he does with such passion, as though its the first time he's experienced whatever it is.

The kisses. Oh the adorable, sweet kisses. Blowing kisses. Giving kisses. Kiss noises. Nuk in mouth kisses. It's so cute. I wish I could hold on to those moments forever. The particular moments he gives kisses to remind me how adorable he is, or to manipulate me into not putting him down for nap, or to get more food or drink. Sometimes he's too smart and I fall victim to his adorable tricks.

Owen also loves to give hugs but he recognizes them as "squeezes". If you say, can I have a squeeze, he nuzzles into your shoulder and gives a big deep hug. Its so precious. I love that he calls them squeezes. He's starting to have favorite books and clearly chooses the ones he wants to reads. Currently he's loving "Listen Listen", "Oh, my,oh, my, oh dinosaurs (Sandra Boynton)", and "Boats on the river." and beer. You know, he likes to be eclectic in his tastes (okay, not beer, but he really seems to think the bottles are fun).

Its time like these that I wish with all my heart that the moments weren't so fleeting. I'd resolve to remember every moment of how he is changing and learning in each new moment if I could. I wish I could see how that little brain is working, how he's making so many accomplishments before my very eyes. But alas, I can't, so I just get to savor the moments as they come, little gifts in time, meant just for me to hold on to, if only for a minute.

He's moving on to climbing new things. I find him (often) precariously balanced on the tank of the toilet, reaching across to the counter, pulling on and off the handle to the sink. Or, in the mornings he goes to the bathroom and gets inside the tub, sits down and plays with the bath toys (sans the water) like its an amusement park just for him. He's been taking the stairs, going down, one foot at a time (always holding my hand of course, and the other on the railing), but it still makes me cringe a little bit to see him take such giant leaps.

This kid is a fish. He loves water. Loves to play in it (sinks, sprinklers, water tables), loves baths, loves to put his face in it. I imagine we'll have an excellent swimmer when we actually get him to swim class. In the meantime we turn the values to the faucets off so he can't run about the house turning on every spigot here and there to play in.

At 17 months he's transitioning from 2 naps to 1, which is sort of sad for me, but needed for him. I'm looking forward to the boys having overlapping afternoon naps to get a nice chunk of time to get work done, but I hate that he's growing up into such a big boy so quickly.

And so, one less nap, lots of milestones, and suddenly there are no more babies in my house. Its sort of sad.

But we do have naked cowboys, so I guess its probably going to be fine.

Teeth! Did I mention the molars? This kiddo had all four molars that all came in within about 3 weeks time. The poor guy couldn't catch a break. As soon as one broke through another would start and he'd be in it all over again. Other than being crabby though, he didn't fuss very much. To be honest we didn't even notice the first two were in until after the fact (although that could be just neglectful second child parenting on our part I suppose).

And so, the world has opened like a flower. Two kids into this parenting gig and I really think this is maybe my favorite age. You can really start to see the world make sense to them, to see their thinking and inquires, which is such an amazing thing.

Owen, you're pretty darn amazing.

But, I'm guessing you already knew that given the way you've got us wrapped around your little finger.