This is the last chance we'll get to be really excited about "half birthdays", so of course, we had a lot of fun with it! Of course we took more photos!
Watch me Catch!
Watch me Learn!
Watch me "ham it up" for the camera!
Watch me Bicycle!
We Even Got Xander a REAL bicycle- although he is still figuring it out!
Xander's latest stats:
Height 32.75"- a little under the 75th %ile... he's either slowing down, or getting ready for another growth spurt!
Weight 27.6 lbs - 75th %ile - yep, that's our kid, He does love to eat!
(One question is whether Xander will hit 30 lbs before Mom gains that much for #2? Let's hope not!)
Head - 90th %ile. The kid just has a big head. It runs in the family. Hopefully he'll grow into it.
Language skills: Xander is a regular mimic and loves trying out new words and sounds. It's amazing how fast he picks things up. Sometimes he'll just babble on for minutes at a time, especially in the car. His favorite words are Dog, Doggie, Otto, Ball, Big Ball, Bounce, Bang, No, Mommy, Daddy, Dee-der (Xander), Jack, Up, Snack, Agua (Water), Pizza, and Outside. He has a recognizable vocabularly of approximately 100+ words, is starting to form basic sentences and I swear he understands everything we say. We're learning more and more that his vocabulary is larger than our ability to interpret it!
Body: he can point to his key body parts (head, hair, eyes, ears, nose, booggers, mouth, hands, fingers, belly-button, feet, toes) and likes to find them on others as well.
Xander is finally getting more interested in stuffed animals and books, but still prefers playing with sticks, rocks, balls, and blocks. Xander can kick a ball around the room, and even catch a ball in the air! He's getting better at shape puzzels, but still has a little ways to go before he can work them on his own. He's pretty good at playing with friends, but is too quick to take things away if he wants them, doesn't like to give things up, and in general, needs to improve his sharing skills.
Much to our joy, Xander still loves listen to and make music and loves to dance. He is starting to get more interested in art projects, although the best part of markers is putting the top on and off and on and off...
Xander has become quite jealous of Mom's attention, so it's a very good thing that we have regular playdates/babysitting opportunities with Leah and Jack. We'll have to ease Xander into the idea that he has to share Mom's lap with a new baby!
What wonderful pictures - how I wish I could be out there to scoop him up in a big hug from his "gran". I'm glad he's getting interested in stuffed animals - I think they are so much fun for a little kid.
ReplyDeleteHugs to all of you. Incidentally, Xander's picture in the pumpkin last year is hanging in the Pumpkin Patch here at Immanuel, and lots of people admire it. Two kids in a pumpkin next year?