Update on All Things Alex...

It has been quite a while since I have given an update on what Alex is doing developmentally. There are so many things to update on!

Alex has three words in constant rotation (along with his “normal” babble).
1. "HI" - He can plainly say “HI” and often overuses this word. He says “HI” nearly a hundred times a day – that is not even exaggerating! In the beginning, he was saying it ALL the time, regardless of the situation! However, he now says it when he is greeting someone. He makes it a point to say “HI” to most everyone – people that come in the house, daddy when he gets back from work, the dogs, random people at restaurants and stores, etc.
2. "NO" – thankfully, he is not using this to be defiant…yet! He hears me tell the dogs “NO” when they start barking, so now he has decided that he needs to be the one to tell them “NO”! He is very clear when he is yelling NO at them and it is very cute! He has yet to understand that NO can be used in many different situations, but I am sure that one day he will learn it!
3. "OOK" (for look) – he ALWAYS points at things, so Larry and I have been pretty diligent to say “LOOK” when he points to things. We are trying to teach him that is the appropriate time to say “LOOK” and he is slowly learning it!

Alex is officially a walker (and has been for about a month). He much prefers walking as his method of transportation. If he happens to fall down when he is walking, he gets right back up and continues on. He is fearless when it comes to falling down (or anything really).

Alex is into EVERYTHING! This child cannot be left alone! He opens cabinets and pulls everything out (we are in the process of baby-proofing the cabinets). We have to keep all the doors closed and for the most part we try to barricade him in the living room.
He is active…so very active! He is constantly on the move. I really don’t think he ever sits still (and if he is too quiet, you know he is into something). I now know why he is only in the 20th percentile for weight – he is burning off calories just as fast as he is putting them into his mouth!

He is eating real food, three times a day! He loves most everything that we give him. He has a habit of letting the food that he doesn’t like fall out of his mouth. I guess that is his way of letting us know that he does not want anymore! He also only gets whole milk now, no more baby formula! He drinks juice out of a straw cup – he never really took to a sippy cup! And one of the most enjoyable things for him to do during any meal times – SHARE HIS FOOD WITH THE DOGS! He takes delight in throwing his food down and watching the dogs scramble to get it! He laughs so hard when they run around his high chair waiting for his handouts! Oh, don’t worry he is plenty fair – he makes sure to throw enough food down for each of the THREE dogs!

One of his favorite new games is to turn off the TV. He enjoys pushing the button and running quickly from it! We are trying to teach him not to do that, but so far we haven’t been very successful!

He LOVES Wheel of Fortune! Sad, I know, but so darn cute! When he watches the show, he will stop whatever he is doing and clap for the contestants. We think that it might be the lights and the wheel that attract his attention! Needless to say, every night we turn to Wheel of Fortune at 6:30 and laugh at Alex clapping along!

He is loving the game “peek-a-boo”. He will put a blanket up over his face and wait for you to say “Where’s Alex?” before he pulls the blanket down. As soon as you say “peek-a-boo”, he starts belly laughing. It is so much fun. A few times, he has put his hands in front of his eyes instead of a blanket.

One of the most special and sweet things that he does that absolutely melts my heart – he points out Grandpa Jim and Grandma Kathy’s picture. When you walk into his room and ask him where Grandpa Jim and Grandma Kathy are, he immediately points to the picture that I have up on his bookshelf. I never taught him to do this and neither has Larry, which makes it even more special. One day I ask him where they were and he pointed at them - I firmly believe that he knows who they are and that makes me so incredibly happy!

He is getting to be such a big boy. Sometimes I look at him and wonder where my baby went! He looks so grown up and even though I might be a little biased, he certainly is handsome! He is doing so many things and each day I am amazed at what he is learning. This age is difficult – they get into so much and they are not comprehending the word no when they are doing something they shouldn’t, but nevertheless it is such a fun age

There are so many more things, but that is enough to brag on for one entry!