Almost 16 Months

Last Thursday, we took Aiden in for his 15-month check up, even though he's almost 16-months. He got pink eye right around the time he was supposed to have his 15-month check up, so the doctor didn't want to do vaccinations at that time. We postponed until he was healthy again. Here are his stats:

• 2'7" tall
• 22 lbs, 4.4 oz

I actually didn't catch what percentile he is in. Aiden was so frantic about the whole visit that we forgot to go over that information. The doctor asked if I had any concerns about him and I said the only problem is how he suddenly, about a month ago has had a complete 180 in his attitude. He always used to be a happy, easy going kid. Lately, he has been quick to anger or get frustrated. And once he gets in a bad mood, it never ends. He cries and fusses for the remainder of his waking hours.

It's horrible and I'm concerned. Ironically, as the doctor was giving me tips on how to handle him, Aiden gave her a taste of his wrath. The funny part was that he learned how to throw a tantrum after slowly lowering his head to the ground so he didn't smash it into the tile. He's a careful tantrum thrower.

We have already taken the doctor's tips. We were partially already doing what she recommended, but not fully. I can already tell a difference. I feel SO MUCH BETTER.

Despite Aiden's increased anger recently, he has been coming along nicely. His new favorite words are 'ball' and 'uh-oh'. Everything has turned into 'uh-oh' though. He throws everything on the floor, then 'uh-oh'.

He does most everything we ask of him, although lately he has been fighting us more than not. He gives us hugs and kisses, and he always pats the seat where he wants to be seated.

The cutest thing he picked up in the last week or so, is when he walks up to one of the cats, squats down, sticks his finger out towards that cat and makes a clicking sound with his tongue, like he's calling the animal. He does EXACTLY what I do when I try to show him how to pet the cat. And it WORKS. Aiden doesn't usually move too quickly for them, so they usually let him pet them. It's hilarious. Especially since he really does not need to squat down to reach the cats. I do that because I'm too tall to reach them while I'm standing. Aiden is not more than two and a half feet from the ground. Definitely close enough to pet a cat's back. LOL!

This past weekend was filled with milestones for Aiden. Saturday, I had to go into work. The best way for me to do that, since Travis was working, was to drop Aiden off at Auntie Ayo's for nap time. I set up his travel crib, blanket, Mr. Lion - all the normal bedtime parafanalia - only thing missing was his pacifier. Where's his pacifier? Not in his diaper bag... not next to his car seat... WHERE IS HIS PACIFIER? No. Where. To. Be. Found.

I have nothing to work with. There is no substitute for his Binky, AKA Bink. We can say pacifier all day and he has no idea what we are talking about. Mention Bink and the Crank Monster comes to town.

So, I have no choice, but to leave Aiden for nap time without Bink. Turns out, Robert laid him down for naptime no problem. I figure, why not see if we can keep the ball rolling and just not offer it to him at bedtime. He goes down no problem. Nap time the next day? No problem. And so on. So Bink is out of the picture.

We had already made the decision to remove Aiden's last bottle feed. I didn't want to mess it with during the holiday season, and I am REALLY hoping to start promoting peepee in the potty after the New Year. Last thing I want to deal with is multiple life changes in one month for our toddler, so removing the bottle ASAP seems like a good decision.

I decided to do this during the weekend so I would have more time to deal with the unpleasant side effects of weaning. Saturday morning was pretty funny. I handed Aiden his sippy cup, filled with milk. He instantly denied it. I set it on the floor in front of him and the chair he was sitting in. He got out of his chair, crying, and sat on the floor. He "noticed" the sippy cup and drank from it. It seemed to soothe him. Until he realize it was not his bottle, which is when he threw it and started crying again. Then he noticed it again and took a drink. This went on until the cup was emptied.

Sunday morning went by without a hitch. It was like he knew what it was and he wanted it. No problem. Amazing. I hope this continues...