I'm not sure I can keep up with all John is doing these days; I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. But even so, I want to get something down so I don't forget!
A week or two ago, little man decided that one-year-olds (even small ones) are much too big to take 2 naps a day. Oddly enough he gave up his "afternoon nap" instead of his "morning nap"... so we moved his "morning nap" to after lunch, and it seems to be working just fine.
If he could I think John would spend all his time outside; thankfully, the weather has suddenly decided to cooperate in that respect. He will run to the door and pound on it to let me know (or point to the windows). If I tell him to get his shoes, he will pick them up, sit on the floor and tap the shoes against his toes. He knows where they go but not how to put them on yet. :) Once outside, he likes to pick up rocks and sticks to carry around (or his soccer ball, although what usually happens is he carries that outside and then drops it somewhere in favor of rocks and sticks). He'll run around on the sidewalk and kick the ball a bit, but he whines if it goes on the grass and is reluctant to follow it. I think he's not used to the unevenness of the ground so he prefers the flat sidewalk. Still, every now and then he'll get brave and take off across the grass. :)
Someone seems to have told him that, being a boy, he is supposed to like cars and trucks and things that go. He loves to see them go by, points and talks (a few times he's even said "ducka-ducka-ducka" when he saw trucks or cars, leading me to wonder if this little word he's been saying for months now has a meaning). He got lots of little trucks for his birthday, and drives them around on the floor (or on me) -- complete with sound effects! It's the cutest thing in the world.
His comprehension continues to explode and amaze me. He knows what it means to put away his toys and where they go... although "putting away" still often means that he either brings something to the toy box and doesn't actually drop it in, or he drops it in and pulls out something else. ;) The other day I told him to go get his trucks out to play with, and he actually did it! (He always brings 2, one for each of us.) He loves reading books and is starting to show definite preferences for particular ones. He's also starting to flip through the pages on his own, going back to certain ones (eg. one of our "touch-and-feel" type books has a "grassy garden" page that he continually flips back to, because he likes the feel of the "grass"). (And yet he won't go walking on the grass outside. Go figure.) He's fascinated by vacuum cleaners (until you turn one on, then he prefers to watch from a distance) and LOVES the broom. More than once I've left the closet open and looked up to see him walking by with the broom (which is 3 times his size -- so at first glance it looks more like the broom is walking by on its own). ;) I've been on the lookout for a broom that's his own size, but haven't seen one yet... except at other people's houses. *sigh*
John's personality is really starting to come out, and it's fun to see. He's showing introvert tendencies already (just like his parents, go figure). At home he's this goofy, smiling, laughing, happy kid. Out in public? Totally serious. People continually stop to ooh and aah and say how cute he is, waving to him and trying to get him to smile... all he does is sit (or stand) and stare. Not a smile, not a wave, nada. If he's standing and someone comes too close, he'll come cling to my legs, but that's about it. I find it rather amusing, especially when we're out at dinner or somewhere with another family on campus who have a daughter the same age. She is a social butterfly, hamming it up for everybody, flirting, smiling, waving, the whole bit. And at the other end of the table, staring at her, expressionless, our stoic little guy. The most he might do is point at something (or someone) and say "dat?"
Although he seems to be working on saying other things besides "dat" these days. He makes all kinds of different sounds, and sometimes when he's talking you can tell how hard he's concentrating, trying to come out with the right word.
These days when he eats, he sticks out his tongue to taste anything I offer him before he'll open his mouth. (Smart kid; I used to fool him by giving a few spoonfuls of something he wanted and then sneaking in something else, but he's got me figured out now.) He eats pretty much anything, but has definite preferences on certain days (like anyone). Like on Easter he would not touch Grandma's potato salad, but the next day he couldn't get enough of it. He also wants to try whatever we're eating, meaning we can only snack if he's snacking too (or sleeping). But that's a good thing I think. :)
John's still a little guy, edging closer to 20 pounds but still not quite there yet. His 12-month-size pants are still falling off him, depending on what diaper he's wearing. (Thank goodness for cloth, the fluff keeps him dressed!) Most of his summer clothes are 18-month size, but I do have a few 12-month shorts outfits (which, to be honest, I never thought he'd get to wear -- so I'm thrilled that they fit now). He's getting tall though, able to reach things on top of the table and desk now, meaning I need to get more creative about hiding things out of reach (or maybe, you know, organize better and put/throw things away). His feet have grown enough that it's probably time to pack away his first little shoes *sniff* and pull out the next size up.
My baby... still is a baby in a lot of ways, but is definitely growing up.