jess and the gang: Callum {1 year, 9 months}

Weight: 24 pounds, 8 ounces

Length: 33 inches

tooth count: 16

Likes: climbing on tables, playing with Connor & Isla's toys, popsicles, any toy with wheels, the toy cash register

Dislikes: being put in his car seat, sitting still, being forced to do anything he doesn't want to do

This little guy really has a will, and an independent streak. It's funny how people at the kids school only see him in a stroller, then if they happen to see him outside of it, are surprised how feisty he is...hence the reason he is always in the stroller at their school, haha! But seriously, if he is in a stroller he is content. If I try to hold him, he fights me to the death to get down and run around. After litereally never falling asleep anywhere but his carseat or home, he started napping in his stroller when we went to Boston and still can do it now.

Speaking of sleep...Callum still wakes at night. He had a bit of a good stretch sleeping through, but then molars or something happened. He usually wakes twice a night. With the kids school schedules, I have been trying to get Callum to nap only once a day. I would love that nap to happen after I pick up Isla, but before I pick up Connor. With Callum getting up early in the morning, he really struggles making it that long and often crashes around 11. But the good news is, if I put him in his stroller when he falls asleep, I can easily take him to get Isla and he stays asleep. Also, because of the one nap a day thing, he goes to bed at 7:30 and does so much easier than before.

A few of Callum's favorite things are climbing on anything and everything and playing with the kids toys that they don't want him touching. He seriously gets joy out of listening to them scream. He enjoys listening to them scream so much, that he gets delight out of pulling Isla's hair. No joke. He has a huge smile on his face when he is pulling her hair and she is screaming. He pretty much gets the same joy when he gets in their room and starts grabbing at their toys as they freak out. He also loves climbing in cars, "driving" and touching all the buttons and knobs. Anytime he is around an open car door, he tries to get in and play. In terms of playing with toys, does throwing things count?! It's seriously a favorite past time of his. He also loves stacking anything that's stackable. He has recently gotten in to playing with Connor's old trains and really seems to enjoy them. But, the thing he does most is empty out the entire contents of the play kitchen. Numerous times every day. It's a favorite of his, haha!

Callum still babbles a lot, but now has more noises that he babbles, if that makes sense. He also now says the words - mom, dad, baa (ball), hi, yeah, no and Isla. He points at things and "talks" a lot, but I obviously have no clue what he is saying. And sometimes, if we aren't getting it, he takes us by the hand and leads us to what he wants. He also knows many of his body parts - head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, fingers, feet, toes.

Callum's favorite food is probably popsicles. It doesn't matter where he is in the house, when he hears the freezer open, he comes running. He also stands at the freezer screaming numerous times a day. He is still a great eater, though getting slightly pickier. If he doesn't want something, he just throws it...which is just as awesome as it sounds. But any fruit or meat are usually a win with him. About a month ago, I took the tray of the high chair, so he now sits at the table with us. He does try grabbing at other people's food on the table, but he is learning.

The things I really want to remember about this age are the way it feels when Callum grabs my hand (aka, my finger), how he lays his head on my shoulder when he is tired. How when he knows he's done something wrong, he puts his hands behind his back so you can't grab him. The way he tries to help put his shoes on.