Sixteen months

If you ask Michael "Cuántos años tienes?" he can now answer "uno" -- so cool! Elizabeth just showed us that this week. Michael is a lot of fun right now although he has some interesting behaviors he's trying out, and we're only a step or two ahead of him on childproofing things around here. On the funny behaviors, one morning this week when Mike and I were getting ready in the morning and Michael was in the playpen for a few minutes, he kept asking to get out like usual ("Up, up") but when that didn't work, he crumpled up his face, put up a hand to his eyes and slumped down to the ground with a wail. It was quite the acting performance and we have NO idea where he got it from! We could not stop laughing.

As spring weather starts to come in, every time we open an outside door Michael is ready to head out. He has no fear, which is good and bad -- good for seeing what a self-assured little person he is, bad for safety! He will start down the sidewalk and be four houses away before he even looks back, if then. At the St. Patrick's Day parade today, the one time we put him down (when we were sure there weren't cars or floats driving in our area) he promptly ran down the row of floats, around a bus and out towards the parking lot curb. Oh, goodness! I'm glad he likes being outside and is doing so well running around and playing. He is having a lot of fun at the local playgrounds with Elizabeth and us. He loves seeing other children around and sometimes will go up to them (if they're closer to his size) and reach out to touch them (pat on the head, or just to make some connection?). If they run away he starts laughing and chasing, just because running is fun. The interaction is so interesting to observe. He is cautious but observant with bigger kids. He is just now learning how to climb (heaven help us) so at some point this summer I'm sure he'll tackle the playground equipment.


Today's pictures show the amount of talking, playing, and lounging Michael likes to do every morning before he's ready to get out and go eat breakfast. Funny guy.