Celebrating 14 months!

I never did think we would not have a walker by 14 months but here we are. I've had a few people tell me their child didn't walk until 15 months so I guess time will tell . . . . Ralph still manages to get into "trouble" - pulling things off the fridge, unrolling toilet paper, pulling things off the end tables, and touching the tv and DVD/VCR player.

Ralph continues to have a strong attachment to his hat. Sometimes he puts it on the correctly, sometimes backwards, and sometimes off to the side - it really doesn't matter how it looks as long as it is on. Last Saturday he tried to go to bed with it on; he kept trying to readjust the bill to get it in a comfortable spot but it was not happening. I finally had to take it away.

Ralph now has four upper teeth coming in; the lower tooth count remains at two. He has added spoon and cheese to his repertoire of words - of course, there are a few sounds missing.

Ralph takes great pride in trying to use a fork and spoon at meal times. We've tried to limit the foods we have to feed him and expand the foods he can finger feed himself (or easily pierce with the fork or spoon up). If he is given applesauce or yogurt he'll make a good effort to use a fork or spoon but after awhile he sticks his hand in the bowl. Meal times are a little more messy on these nights.

A Trip to the Zoo

Last Sunday Ralph and I took advantage of the nice weather and visited the Children's Zoo. We went in the middle of the afternoon so some of the animals were resting but we did have a good time watching the smaller animals in the Animal Kingdom building, the goats, the seals, and the otters. I am not sure what he is thinking here but if you enlarge the photo he appears to be contemplating something.

You've got to be kidding me!

I couldn't post something without including a photo though the photo has nothing to do with the post. Ralph loves to have something on his head no matter what it is. (Apparently he has voiced his opinion a few times at daycare when he returns from a buggy ride outside and they try to remove his hat - and rather than fight it they leave it on. Some kids have loveys or blankies - Ralph has a hat.)

Four weeks ago Ralph received his first pink eye diagnosis and we've been fighting it ever since. Every time he finishes the prescribed treatment it returns within 3-4 days. He also has had ear infections with two of trips to the pediatrician. If this round of treatment does not clear it up it may be time for alternate options.

In other "You've got to be kidding me!" news, Ralph climbed onto the couch this morning with a tiny bit of help from a pillow I left near the couch. He was most helpful when he accomplished his goal and moved the remotes I left on the couch to the end table. He is also climbing the stairs on a daily basis.

The last bit of "You've got to be kidding me!" news is that Ralph is still not walking. He is getting a little more daring but is not in a hurry to gain this skill.