21 months

I realized that one of the (many) things I have not done well is give regular updates on Jacob. Hopefully what I write on this blog will someday be transferred into his cute, but empty, baby book.

Sunday Jacob turned 21 months. He is an absolute joy and an absolute toot! Saying he is 100 % boy is putting it mildly.  Rough housing with daddy is a nightly event. Stubborn and ornery like his dad and quick tempered like his mom. Heaven help us! In the past few days when he hasn't gotten his way he will scream/growl and throw himself on the floor. Needless to say we are in a new and interesting stage of growth.

He has a strange and persistent obsessions with the vacuum, anything with a lid and things that turn (wheels, fans etc) Everyday not matter if he is at grandma's house or our house he points to where the vacuum is kept and will sign "please, vacuum". No matter how many times I tell him "no", "not now", "wait", he does not give up. Sometimes it's funny, other times not so much. There have been tears when I won't vacuum or let him play with the tea pitcher.He likes to get on the counter while I cook or wash dishes. He has learned to take the lids of of everything and likes to stir and season whatever I'm cooking.

He has been climbing on chairs and couches for some time, but has now taken it to new heights. Pun intended. I have in the past few weeks found him standing on top of the nightstand, dinning table, his toy bins, and back of the couch, which is not pushed against the wall. I'm thinking he may be a bit of a daredevil and willing to ride roller coasters with us once he is tall enough.

He has developed a love for candy and bribes are not beneath me so it works out for everyone. The other day he was stinky and I told him "go to daddy and let him change you then when you are finished you can have some candy." He signed back "candy" and I said "finish change diaper then eat candy" (yes I did say it like that and yes I know that's not proper English). He drug his feet slowly to where Brancent was waiting and as soon as he finished hopped up and signed "candy please".

As you may have already picked up on he signs a lot, but he doesn't have a lot of verbal vocabulary. His verbal vocab is "momma, dadda, no, pa, ball, shoes, apple, ice/eyes (they sound the same)" with maybe a few more. He has started really trying to have conversations with us, but we have no idea what he is saying. It's pretty funny. His signing vocab is at about 27 signs plus. I say plus cause he signs or tries to sign something new everyday. Of course these are baby signs so not everyone understand him.

We were in Lubbock getting ready to fly to Florida the first of December and while waiting in line I struck up a conversation with the woman behind me. I was hold Jacob who had his paci in his mouth (yes, still. and it was very early in the morning-don't judge me) and all of the sudden he sat up in my arms. He looked at her and pointed to me and signed momma and then turned to see Brancent pointed to him and signed daddy. The lady had no idea what he was doing and said "oh is that your head?" Jacob did it again while I explained/interpreted what he was telling her. She then proceeded to talk about how wonderful that it was that he was learning sign, she knew someone teaching their kid...or dog...or something....but she really was nice. It made me laugh that not only did he try to have his first conversation with a stranger, but that he signed it and I interpreted. HA! In his world everyone signs so I think he was a little confused why she didn't sign back or get what he was saying.

 (Several of the above pics are from our Dec Florida trip, when we were snowed in and at church with our friend DeNae)