15 Month Update

Eden @ 15 months ...
weight 20lbs 6.5oz - between 10th and 25th %
height 28 3/4 inches - 10th%
head 18 1/4 inches - 50%

Although her stats haven't increased dramatically since her 1-year check-up, the doctor says Eden is growing well, and we can definitely see her "stretching out" now that she is walking around and moving a lot more.

What she's up to these days ...

• Eden "said" her first sentence this morning. Ashley was drying her hair, and Eden and I were sitting at the table eating breakfast (well, I was eating, and she walked up wanting what I was having). She kept pointing, and I kept trying to give her things. She didn't want the muffin she had been eating. She didn't want the quiche she had been eating. She didn't want milk. No to water. After exhausting what I thought were all the options I said, "Eden, can you please tell Daddy what you want?" At that, she signed please then more then she squinted her eyes and smiled while pointing at the camera. We sat there for the next 5 minutes look at pictures.


• On top of her sentence, she says 3 verbal words and about 15 signed words ... Mama, Dada, ball ... milk, more, eat/hungry, bird, dog, book, bath, please, flower, bye bye, hello, all done, out, up fish, diaper change, blink, brush


• She also knows her tongue, head, nose, eyes, feet, belly, where her shoes and pants go, and how to brush her hair


• Although she only started walking a short while ago, she is now "running" everywhere.


• She is also stacking things like blocks.


• Eden has also shown an interest in art. Her first drawing, with crayons, was made last week.


• We are happy that she is finally remembering things she's not supposed to touch - for instance, she often looks at the laptop and shakes her head "no."


• She's really good at following instructions and will take things to someone for you if you ask.


• She also can walk to the right room, "Where do we take a bath?" "Where do you sit to eat?"


• We just taught her "eyes" and how to *blink.* We are currently working on how to "hulk up" and show that she is "strong" by flexing her muscles.

At this appointment, the doctor finally said that teaching her to sign was a good thing. Until now, it was like, "Okay. Great, she signs." Today, the doctor said, "You know. You are the only people I know who have actually done the sign thing for real." She then went on to say that it was a good thing and that it made sense since we are "communication people."

We also learned some things today ...

1. Don't swing Eden by her arms and be careful when helping her down or up stairs not to pull on her arms too much (she's still a baby with growing, delicate joints). It's not her shoulders that would likely pop out of joint but her elbows.
2. Shoes should be flexible and protective, not hard and restrictive. This is a good thing since the former are slightly less expensive.
3. Between now and her second bday she'll probably drop one of her naps (right now she is taking 2 on 3-4 days of the week)
4. Approximately one tablespoon is still a serving size.
5. She needs between 16-24oz of dairy a day.
6. She may get a fever in a few weeks to up to a month as result of her immunizations today (as opposed to the 24 hours with other shots - today was MMR and chickenpox).
7. OffSkintastic is a great bug spray to use on toddlers because it has less than 10% deet.
8. Eden is a great patient, especially when you explain what it about to happen. Today was the first appointment that Ashley explained and pointed out everything to Eden just after the nurse/doctor asked to do something - "See, here is where your head will go and then they'll see how long you are on this tape ...". She may have looked a bit crazy, but Eden was extremely cooperative - definitely worth looking crazy.

As we were leaving this morning, the doctor commented ... "She's a social little thing. Even when she came in sick last time, she was still waving at everyone. She's just so cute and sweet." We couldn't agree more :)

Here are some more pics taken on Saturday, her official 15mo day, showcasing her newly acquired skills of smiling for the camera (squinting her eyes) and making the sign for bird ...

Eden, we love you so much and are so grateful to be able to spend our days with you! You amaze us every day!