13 Months Old

Dear Oliver,

I love that you are making connections. You understand more than you speak and it's so amazing to see you demonstrate that understanding. A few examples: 

• The other day I was doing the dishes and I said (without even looking at you or emphasizing the word ball) "Oliver, as soon as mama is done doing the dishes we will play with the ball." I continued doing the dishes. A few seconds later, you were standing next to me, holding the ball. You understood that I said ball and you went and found the ball! 
• To test the ball theory and make sure it wasn't a coincidence, today I said to you, "Oliver, go find the ball." I didn't know where the ball was; I didn't point to it or encourage you to go after it with hand motions. You went into the other room and came back with the ball. You understand what I mean when I say ball! It's exciting that we can communicate a little bit more now. 
• We have been working on teaching you the sign for milk for three months. We make the sign when we give you your bottle but you usually don't make it back. Lately you have been making the sign a little bit here and there, but not always when we give you the bottle. I wasn't sure if you associated it with the bottle or not. Yesterday morning I walked into your room with your bottle. You saw it and excitedly started making the sign for milk. It was adorable. 
• Tonight before bed I said, "It's time to brush teeth." You put your finger up to your mouth and brushed it back and forth like you would if it were a toothbrush (I make this sign for brushing teeth with you often but you've never done it yourself.) It was really cute. 
• When something is icky (like the cat litter or when you try to lift the toilet lid), I say "icky" and make a sound with my mouth. Lately when I say "icky" I don't make the sound because you beat me to it. Too cute.
• The other day you tried to put my tennis shoes on your feet. I thought it was really cute how you made the connection with shoes and wanted to try mine on. I pulled out the video camera as quickly and discreetly as I could but I wasn't successful. You suddenly became interested in the video camera instead. 
• Today you wanted a drink of my water so I squatted down so I would be at your level to give it to you.  When you saw me squat, you squatted down too. So we both squatted on the ground while you drank your water. It was pretty funny.

Other adorable milestones this month:

• You have imitated me saying "meow" a few times in a high, falsetto voice. It is so cute!
• You say "diaper" very clearly when I am changing your diaper (and sometimes at other times too). 
• You are very curious and seem to try to figure out how things work. You are intrigued by your baby gate that blocks the stairs. You used to go right past it when I lifted you over it and book it up the stairs. Now you stop at the gate and inspect the different parts with a curious look on your face. You are a smart boy. 
• Earlier this month you started walking backwards and sometimes sideways. I love it. 
• You often point at things, pucker your lips tightly and say "oohhhhhh" as if  you want to say something else about it but don't have the words to express the thought. This happens numerous times a day. 
• You say "oh no" and "dad-o" (I'm not sure you relate "dad-o" to daddy though or what you mean by it)
• Grandma and Grandpa Schultz came to visit this month. They loved spending time with you. Grandma brought you a rocking horse and some clothes. Grandpa was excited to give you a little dump truck and got down and played with it with you. Grandpa called you "Short Steps" while he was here. 
• You clap your hands all the time. Sometimes when I go in your nursery in the morning to get you out of your crib, you get really excited and clap your hands with a big smile on your face. It's adorable and makes me smile every time. 
• You love playing peek-a-boo. You put your blanket over your head and then pull it down with a big smile and we say "peek-a-boo." Even cuter, you put your fists over your eyes and to play pee-a-boo. 
• You love the open the blinds with me. You hold the pole with me and we twist it together.
• You love phones, our laptops, the i-pad, anything that lights up, buttons on the tv and on remote controls, etc. You hold one of our cell phones up to your ear like you're talking on it. It's so cut. When you don't have a phone, you use an array of other things, sometimes even your hand. 
• You love daddy's hat. You love bringing it to us, having us try it on, then put it on you, then back on our heads. You laugh and think it's so funny. 
• Daddy started a game with you where he puts his finger out and when you touch it with your finger, he says, "Bzzz." He like touching his finger with yours and then you go for a finger on his other hand and then over to my fingers. You like this game. Uncle Ty has been doing it with you recently too. 
• You like to pull things off of the table if you can see them. You stand on your tippy toes to try to find stuff to pull down. 
• You continue making noises with your mouth. You like smacking your lips and clicking your tongue. 
• You love to drink from my tall cup of ice water. You get excited when you see it and reach for it. You don't care if water spills onto your shirt. You keep drinking away. You love lots of cold water like your dad. 
• You have eight teeth that are completely in, two front molars that are mostly in, and two other teeth that are going to be coming in any day now. That's a lot of teeth! Poor little guy - you seem to be in a lot of pain from teething lately. Lots of drooling, fingers in your mouth, and fussiness. You've been grinding your teeth lately too. You still try to smile through it all but I can tell you are in pain. We have a little mesh bag that we put ice in for you. It has a little handle so you can carry it around. You love it.

You are such a smart little boy. You are so cute and fun. Everywhere we go, people interact with you and can't help but smiling when you smile at them. You are a ray of sunshine and I'm so glad you're ours.

Love, Mom