Braving the Cold at 16 Months

It's been colder here this week (in the 40's), so we haven't been outside much except to get in the car. Yesterday, Steven and I braved the elements (at this point our Northern friends are laughing) to walk over to get the mail. I bundled him up and put him in the wagon, and he absolutely refused to wear his gloves. He's looks really cute in his camo coat that Mammaw bought him though.

Steven turned 16 months two days before my Lasik surgery and I didn't have a chance to update everyone on the new things he's been doing. Like I said in the 15 mo. post, we have been really focusing on developing Steven's language skills-- we're not worried just anxious to communicate. While we've been repeating words we think he might be interested in, we have also doubled our baby signing efforts, and boy, has it paid off! He now signs more, please, thank you, milk, shoes, socks, music, hot, candle (he sniffs when he sees one so that we'll pick him up to smell or look at it). He also can point to his (and our) belly button, nose, mouth, and head when we ask him where they are. He knows what a duck is and was very clearly "quacking" all this morning. He has only officially added "up" to his vocabulary, but understands just about anything we say. For example...Can you bring Daddy his Bible? (he runs to C's study and brings back his Bible), Let's brush your teeth (runs to the bathroom door), Do you need a snack? (he runs to the kitchen and goes to "his" cabinet where they are stored).

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He runs just about everywhere these days and still loves to dance. In fact, we listen to music a lot during the day and when music isn't actually playing, we sing through a lot of his activities-- especially mealtime because it keeps things fun and light so that neither one of us gets frustrated when he's picky. He also loves to be outside and around other children. He has suddenly become very aware of babies in the last month and has to "love on them" whenever they are at his level. Poor Meadow has already endured many kisses from Steven, and while his motives are very sweet, I doubt that she feels anything but fear in her little heart when she sees his huge (to her) head bow under her carrier hood to lean in for a big one. Steven has gotten very good at kisses and Charlton and I ask him for one all the time. He actually puckers and delivers one now instead of just leaning in. I can't get enough of them.

In unexciting, non-Steven news...my eyes are continuing to heal well. Today marks two weeks since my surgery and almost all of the blurriness is gone. I forget that I had it because I feel and am seeing normally. Although, I forget that I don't wear glasses anymore, and yesterday I reached up to take them off when I brushed my hair. When I didn't feel anything to grab, I looked at the mirror in surprise and thought, "oh yeah." That was a great feeling. =)