14 Months

Our little boy is 14 months old! I can recall this time of year last year, just a few days before Christmas when we had a 2 month old... my how things will be different this Christmas!  I can't wait to see both boys on Christmas morning when they see all of their new toys.  Collier is quite the little character, still the happiest kid with such a friendly personality.  He smiles and talks to every stranger that passes our way.  He has learned a few new "tricks" in the past month, one being that when we say "touchdown!" he'll raise both arms in the air.  Another trick, is we'll say, "Collier, shhhh..." and he'll repeat "shhhh..." then we'll go "Ahhhh!" and scream outloud and he'll do the same and then laugh.  It's so cute! :)  He's become a really good walker and goes so fast that he's almost running at times.  He likes to be chased and will walk/run as fast as he can, giggling uncontrollably.  He has so much energy that he literally walks in circles around the den, back and forth across the room. He LOVES blankets.  He'll lay on them, grab one end and roll around, wrapping himself in the blanket like a little burrito.  We took him to Chuck E. Cheese this weekend for a birthday party and he wasn't the least bit interested in riding the rides, he wanted to walk all over the place! I literally followed him around as he circled the building, just giggling.

As I mentioned, he's right under 20lbs and seems kind of small to me (although his stats put him in the 50%).  He's in size 3 diapers and can still wear some 6 - 12 month clothes.  His 12 month clothes that we bought him for his birthday are kind of big on him.  He doesn't say a whole lot of real words but jabbers like crazy.  He has conversations with people where it's like he's telling this intense story, all the while he'll shake his hand while he's talking.  It's hysterical and people always comment on how funny it is to hear/see him do this.  The only real words that he currently says: are 'hey', 'bye', 'mama', "ooice" (for juice) and 'dada' has now evolved to 'daddeee'.  He has begun saying "ho, ho, ho" but it sounds more like "ha, ha, ha." He has started shaking his head up and down and from side to side and will sign "more" and say "moh."  One of his favorite toys is a old, empty medicine container (the kind with the childproof top from the pharmacy) that he found in one of our cabinets. He carries it everywhere.  He also is a little shoe thief and carries our shoes all over the house.  For the most part, he has left our Christmas tree alone but will test me at times, by trying to touch the ornaments.  I'll respond with "no, no Collier" and he'll look back at me and smile and try again.  The more stern (sterner?) my voice gets, the more he takes me seriously and when I say, "Collier, Mama said NO" he knows I mean business.  Sometimes, when we get on to him, it hurts his feeling and he'll cry (just from us telling him "No.")  He does have a bit of temper at times and doesn't like things to not go his way.  He especially gets upset when we try to take something away from him (like our shoes or other items he doesn't need to play with).  He's just a mess and keeps us on our toes but so much fun to be around!

Collier is such a fun child to raise.  I just love his little personality and know that it's only going to get more and more fun the older he gets.  I love this little guy with all of my heart and am so thankful that God chose us as his parents!

"Touchdown!"