The Dixon Family: 16 Months Old

I'm not really doing monthly updates anymore but I felt like Connor has changed so much this last month I had to write some of it down (plus I have a LOT of pictures). The biggest change this last month has been in communication - in what he understands and says to me!

Christmas day he started to shake his head yes and no. It was so funny how by day two of this he already was nodding yes yes when I was telling him "no, no!"

Another word he says is "shoes". It started sounding like "shouks" (mix of shoes and socks) but he just says "shoes" now. Connor loves it when I put his shoes on and brings them to me often hoping I will take him outside. He LOVES being outside! Today I took him on a walk (pic to the bottom right) because it was such a nice day! 72 degrees in January feels great!

Connor used to kinda copy the "Totoro" sound but he hasn't for a while. Still I was impressed the other day when he found his stuffed animal Totoro and then went digging in his toy basket. After a little while he brought over the stuffed animal and the little plastic finger puppet Totoro. I was shocked he remembered the other one after months of being gone and not seeing it until then and he knew that they were the same thing even though they are different size and one is soft and the other is hard plastic! He did the same thing with the Dog next door. We didn't see it for the first few days we were back but Connor still barked and tried to look each time we passed. Without being taught or influenced Connor just loves stuffed animals, balls, dogs and balloons.

Look what I found at the thrift store here on base for only $1 (the music pusher toy just like the one he loved at Katie's)! Baby boy loves pushing all things. When we were out at the store today he was done being in the stroller and nicely asked to get out so of course I let him. I expected him to quickly start pulling everything off the shelves and have to put him back in but he pushed the stroller like this the whole time except for a minute when he saw some toy balls he had to stop and throw a few before going back to pushing again.

Connor is not really naughty (I don't really think a one year old can be naughty) but he is extremely curious - to a fault! I was putting groceries away and all the sudden things got too quiet! I literally put what I was doing down right away and ran to the bathroom where I knew I would find him and I did. Even at the Dixon's they all laughed at how much more Connor is into things then the other cousins - even the ones his same age.

Phrases I know he understands:

His newest word is please. Like all done, he signs it but he also actually says the word out loud too!

Sit on your bottom - in the bath, in chairs, on his scooter.
Do you want to go upstairs? - starts running for the stairs.
No no - this really only works when he knows he really can't do something but if he has successfully touched or gotten something before he ignores me completely.
Lay down - to change his diaper. He does it half the time and the other he starts running away!
Spit it out/Yukky/Don't eat that! - I say this for everything and all the time. He still puts everything in his mouth including a bug nest and cigarette at the park yesterday!! EW!
All done? (Here I am trying to get him to say please - I'm holding his toothbrush hostage but he mostly just made stinker faces and then says "All done" ha ha). He says all done when he doesn't want a food anymore or wants down out of his high chair/stroller/car seat/shopping basket.

Say it nicely - Connor got in a bad habit of whining and throwing fits for things he wanted. Thats when I said this to him once and he totally shocked me by stopping and saying/signing please for the first time! Now he does a great job of either asking nicely or starts getting upset and will often stop himself and say please without any promptings. He gets a lot of things this way. haha
Its hot! - he sticks his palm out and shakes it while making a shhh shhh noise. He often reminds me that the oven is hot when we are in the kitchen. It is so cute!
Where's the baby/I'm going to get you!/Peek a boo! - All fun play words.
He understands the words for cars and stool.

I feel very lucky to have gotten a loving little boy. I really love cuddles and hugs and I think Connor does too! I love how he is so willing to hold my hands when we go somewhere or if he wants to go up/down stairs he will usually come find me and take my hand to lead me where he wants to go. I love how he runs to me with open arms to give me a hug as I swoop him up! He still gives the best open mouth kisses too! Logan may be gone but Connor still takes care of me!

Every time Connor hears a Plane he sticks his little pointer finger straight up in the air! He loves seeing them fly by and lucky for him they do all day long because we live on a Air Force base.

He loves taking his diapers to the door to throw them outside. Today he helped me with the bag from the upstairs trash. I love that he already "helps" me with the chores.

One other thing I think is really remarkable is seeing how Connor is starting to play make-believe! I know a lot of it is also copying but he is doing it on his own and I think making creative connections. For example, the other day we practiced using a bowl and spoon in his high chair. Later he was in the living room and started to use a hair clip as a spoon and pretend the steering wheel of his scooter he was sitting on was the bowl. He would touch the wheel and then pretend to eat off the end! Yesterday he found some foot spray in the shoe basket and then walked around the house holding it out and saying "shhh" like how I spray air freshener. Also when he plays with his cars he likes to push them across the floors and make zooming sounds. And one of my personal favorites is how he pretend snores sometimes when he lays on a blanket or pillow on the floor. I think all of these show how he is learning so much!

The other day I decided to do a little photo shoot because I love my new camera and wanted some new pictures to edit. It definitely isn't as easy as it used to be to take a few cute shots of him on the couch. Pretty much as soon as I put him down he is either standing and turned away or crawling off. I got one. haha

As part of my photo shoot I also decided to get some good picture of Connor's distinguishable marks so I could have them in case of an emergency. He has a little birthmark on his right forearm and a mole on his left hip. He still has a bit of a red spot on the back of his head but luckily he has enough hair now you really can't see it.

Indoor pictures were not working so we took it outside! I loved these two on our front porch.

I knew we would get lots of happy faces if I took him to the park so we walked to the one just one building down from out quadplex.

Connor still needs help getting set up to go down the slide but he is so brave and will do the rest himself. I LOVED these 4 shots in a row. He is so happy! Even after he fell off the end, he just popped right up to go around and get back up.