Growing Up...

[The final Ocean City posts are up so see the posts before this one for the final wrap up!]

It seems that within the past week or two and while we were on vacation, Carter reached a few new milestones that I wanted to record.

- He properly identifies and says "mama" and "dada" all the time now. He said them a lot before, but now he points to who he wants and says their name. It's like his little mind is putting all of the puzzle pieces together.

- He says a few words: mama, dada, kite ("kigh"), duck (sometimes clear as day, and sometimes "cuck"), dog, and bubble. And, interestingly enough, when I picked him up from daycare last week, his teacher said "um, he said blueberry today." What????? She said it was as clear as day and he said it when he was eating them and when they told him to say it. He is starting to comprehend hearing a word and saying it back (i.e., "Carter, say 'duck').

- He is starting to identify body parts - right now, we are working on nose, eyes, and mouth.

- He started signing for "more" and "all done." We've been working on this for a few weeks but he's also connected those pieces too and has started doing it appropriately. By the way, this is totally adorable.

- He responds to simple commands - Come, sit down on your bottom, give mommy a kiss, etc. That made him sound like a dog, but you know what I mean. :)

- He got another molar. We thought he got this one about two weeks ago but it was a false alarm. It is in now, and I think number four is coming this week.

- He can successfully point some things out in books if we ask him where they are. I love when his chubby little finger points things out and when he gets so excited when he is right.

- He started using utensils on his own and shockingly not making that big of a mess.

- He is independent. The other night, we were in the living room and Carter toddled out to the kitchen, which is no big deal. Except that things got very quiet. Next thing I knew, I heard the chains of the hammock stand clanking on the deck, and ran to the kitchen. That little stinker OPENED THE DECK DOOR HIMSELF and went outside. Guess it's time for constanting locking that door! He also doesn't love to be in the stroller, and will find himself a snack if you tell him "no." See?

It is so hard to believe that just fifteen months ago, he was a newborn and now he is running around, talking, eating with a fork and spoon, throwing mini temper tantrums, and developing a little personality. He is such a little cheeseball (as we like to call him, because he is such a ham!), and he is the most precious little boy. We're really trying to slow down, take deep breaths when he challenges us, and enjoy this phase of our lives! :)