15 months

Today, Evan turns 15 months old. I hadn't realized it until later this afternoon while we were visiting my parents. We've been having such a great time with him lately - running, chasing, cuddling, screaming, pouting, shaking (not Evan, toys), eating, dancing, and on and on.

At 15 months, now:
- wears 18 month clothes (although he can fit into some 12 months shorts).
- can open the doors.
- has become more particular about his cuisine. He no longer wants carrots, squash, or zucchini
- still loves berries, bananas, yogurt, cheese, ham, applesauce, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, mac 'n cheese.
- will let you know that he has finished eating by throwing his food on the ground.
- no longer wants to use utensils (other than to play with the) and would rather eat with his hands (left hand especially).
- will smell new foods, bring them to his mouth, look at you with a smile, taste it, then spit it out.
- has begun to climb (and fall).
- has endured severe chapped lips. Although I know think it's more than that because it seems to be lasting a long time. He has these red spots on the left corner of his mouth and today it looked like it's now on the right (good thing he has an appointment on Monday morning).

- still loves to nurse first thing in the morning and before bedtimes. On the weekends he'll nurse more often.
- communicate what he wants/needs even though he still isn't speaking. Evan does make sounds, but no actual words. It's making me worry.
- identify his head, ears, belly button, and my nose.
- put his hands over his eyes to play peek-a-boo, over his mouth to go "ah-ah-ah-ah" (as in a "Native American" chant).
- carry my phone around while music on Pandora is streaming.
- dance all the time!
- walk around with his hand down his pants all the time. (I'm careful to check for wet diapers and wash/wipe his hands afterwords.)
- thinks he is the strongest person alive

- put his "lego" type blocks together, not just take them apart.
- makes connections from what he sees in books to the real world (points from book to actual object, e.g dog in book to Layne, our dog). He has been doing this for some time now, but I forgot to mention it.
- "brushed" his own teeth last night

Some of my favorite things about Evan include:
- that he still loves to nurse and he loves to touch my hair, nose, ears, cheek, or chest while he eats.
- his laugh when he is tired
- how excited he gets to see his dad (he LOVES his dad)
- his love of wanting to be outside ALL THE TIME
- that he mimics everything we do (e.g. put on chapstick)
- his little shoes that aren't so little anymore
- watching him sleep when I can

- his hugs
- how he burrows into my chest when he's tired/wants to nurse
- his sly smile when he does something and he's waiting to see if I will say no
- how excited he gets at the grocery store when he sees bananas - everyone in the produce department hears him
- how exploratory he is, yet how standoffish he can be when he sees someone/thing new and just stares
- that he still "sings" himself (to sleep) on car rides
- that he can put things back when you direct him (and even closes the door)
- bath time (although he now stands in the tub)

I could go on and on...he is just...

indescribable.

I am so thankful for these past 15 months.