16 Month Old Meo Recap

Mattimeo, 16 months old

Today, my speedy snow bunny is 17 months old! So it's time for me to recap his 16th month on planet earth. Month 16 in general was a month of extreme physical growth and of intense night nursing. This month I swear he grew several inches; sometimes I noticed changes overnight. He also has several teeth coming in, but in their usual Meo way are taking their sweet time. This intense physical development has been tough on Meo and on mommy and daddy. We have had some of the most difficult nights of Meo's life. And yes, that includes when he was a newborn. We had a couple nights of crying and wakefulness all night so that Robbie and I got zero hours of sleep. On those nights, we played trains at 2 am, read books at 3 am, had a picnic on the bedroom floor at 4 am, etc. I have never seen him so uncomfortable, and of course this means he wants to nurse A LOT. So while I am able to rest somewhat, the non-stop nursing prevents me from sleeping deeply and I have been tired. It's frustrating sometimes, but I know this will end eventually and I want to help him get through this. It's mainly at night where he is most uncomfortable; during the day he is as happy as can be besides having his hands jammed in his mouth to put pressure on his aching gums. So we still have been managing to have lots of fun adventures together despite our sleepless nights.

Here are some other highlights from month 16:

Favorite Books

1. The Cat at Night by Dahlov Ipgar
2. Llama Llama, Red Pajama by Ana Dewdney

Reading with Auntie Sam

These two books he asks to be read at least five times a day, sometimes more. He finds them no matter where I slip them in amongst his numerous other books. He loves many of his other books too, but these two are definitely his favorite, the first for reading during the day and the second to be read before naps and bedtime.

Favorite Toys

Trains, cars, green recycling truck, and blue plane. Basically anything with wheels he is obsessed with right now.

New Antics

1. Saying "Achoo!"
2. Stifling a giggle with his hand
3. Lumpas! In sanskrit, lumpa means jump, and in Meo's yoga sessions I jump around saying lumpa and it makes Meo giggle. This month, he started trying to do lumpas too! He bends his knees and pushes himself up straight, up and down. He doesn't quite get air yet, but before long we will have a jumper!
4. This month has mostly been a month for physical growth as opposed to a lot of obvious mental growth. He did learn how to say "toot" and "Pi" however. He also is very keen on pointing out things that are similar. For example, he will point to his toy brown bear then run over to his bed and point to a different style brown bear, then look at me pointing back and forth so I know they are the same. He also will point to the bed at the end of Llama Llama Red Pajama then point to his bed indicating its the same thing. It has also become apparent that he understand almost everything we say to him as he follows many basic instructions now.
5. He is learning his body parts and will point out his head, belly, toes, hair, and can reach up high and touch his toes.
6. A goofy sense of humor and full of laughter. Our house rings with laughter and it brings me much joy.
7. He learned how to sigh like papa. In fact, he really enjoys imitating us a lot more.

Favorite Games

1. Peekaboo. I sing a "Where is Meo" song, and without fail he will run out from wherever he is giggling to play our peekaboo song/game.
2. Chase. He loves to be chased around a tickled.

Favorite Foods

Cheese, dried fruit, yogurt, applesauce, oatmeal, clementines, crackers

And now for an absurd amount of pictures taken just for your viewing purposes (and memory making of course).

Freeport trip:

Stuffed animals at LLBean

Toy trains at the toy store

Daddy's little robot

Daddy and Meo in front of the LLBean tree

Food:

Meatless orange chicken

Loves to drink water now, thank goodness

Homemade guacamole and grilled cheese with meatless turkey, avocado, spinach and tomoato

Meatless chicken parmasean

Meatless chicken parmasean

Feta, cheddar and spinach omelet

A new way to eat?

He knows he's silly

Making soup while the baby snoozes

soup vegetables

My little begger looking for second breakfast even though he didn't finish his

My little begger looking for second breakfast even though he didn't finish his

My little begger looking for second breakfast even though he didn't finish his

Typical Sunday morning

Monkey

Adorable monkey

Snack

Snack

Mattimeo started facing frontwards in the car seat (as insisted and made happen by daddy)

Facing forward for the very first time

Grandparent lovin

Whole Foods with Mema

Mema's playroom

Reading his favorite book (The Cat at Night) with Grandma

Grandma and Grandpa visiting

Children's Museum with Christina and Grayson

Meo wished these really had raisins in them

Animal lovin':

Pi is said he can't go outside anymore :(

Pi's favorite place to sleep

Theta and Meo

Munching on the cat grass they got for Christmas

Theta lovin

Nap time with Theta

Theta

Hanging out with Mema's dog gang

Hanging out with Mema's dog gang

Nap time with Theta

Naptime with Theta

Nap time for all my boys

Pi!

Pi loves our new bird clock (it makes a bird call every hour)

Outdoor exploration:

Hunting season...don't worry, we didn't walk very far at all

Exploring a new path..."uh ma, I can't see!"

Sebago Lake, just down the street

Fence preventing me from reaching the lake

Snow is difficult to maneuver in

Snow is difficult to maneuver in

Snow is difficult to maneuver in

Snow is difficult to maneuver in

Walking in a winter wonderland

Walking in a winter wonderland

Walking in a winter wonderland

Snow angels with Mommy

I buried him in the snow and he loved it hehe

I buried him in the snow and he loved it hehe

Robbie shoveling our long driveway (this was before we bought more shovels)

Meo watching dad shovel with both his train and car

Fun with toys:

LEGOs

Mmm, polar bear

Mmm, polar bear

Meo's legs are long enough to ride around on this now

blanket fort for Meo

cowbell ringing

stacking cups

stacking cups

stacking cups

stacking cups

Playing with the discovery tubes I made for him

This is how I am woken up most mornings now

Someone made a big old poop on the floor. Gross, I know.

Oh, and it got all over my bed and his car too

At least he's clean! Meo will get very upset if we don't remember to give him his broom whenever we sweep the floor. He takes this job very seriously!

Meo sweeping with Daddy

Sweeping

Window washing

Window washing

Addilyn's first birthday party:

Loving Leela's shiny red shoes

Leela and Meo saying hi to the dog

Meo and the birthday girl

Loving Emma

Getting a kiss from a pretty girl

Leela's pirate smile

One day, I randomly babysat Henry for Kasia. Henry was a little upset about being left at first, but he quickly warmed up and enjoyed being walked around Lowe's with Sam, Meo and I and he eventually fell asleep on my back.

Henry and I

Sam and my Meo

nap time in Lowes

nap time in Lowes

nap time in Lowes

Bath time: Meo really loves to lay down in the bath for a while every night now. I should also note that Robbie likes to have themed baths; this particular series of photos comes from a "red" day.

Meo's new table from Mema and Pup-pup

Helping dad put the table together

Helping dad put the table together

Helping dad put the table together

snack time

watching daddy and pup-pup putting in a storm door

Le Leche League Meeting

Mattimeo and Luke playing cars at the LLL meeting

Mommy and Meo

Showing Meo Fraggle Rock for the first time with his Gobo Fraggle and caterpillar

Watching Fraggle Rock with mommy

Daddy and Meo

Listening to Daddy's music while showing his belly

learning how to walk down stairs

Daddy loves to play games!

poking daddy

Daddy failing to get Meo to sleep lol

Morning reading time