Gabriel is so much fun. He is such a lovable, giggling little fool. I say fool affectionately. He finds humor in everything. He has shown a lot of emotional growth over the last month alone. His separation anxiety has alleviated a bit and he is happy to run off to family members. He takes off without a moment's hesitation to run off to do whatever it is he wants so we have to make sure to be extra vigilant with him while out and about.
He enjoys playing with balls and 'reading' Green Eggs and Ham. Favorite daily activity is unloading my clean laundry basket, looking at me mischievously, and loading it and unloading it again.
He and Louis play together all day long. They have their battles over what toy they want or where they want to sit but they work it out in their own way. They are very rough and tumble boys and I spend a lot of time trying to get Gabriel to understand he IS small. He has other things in mind. He is very physically capable of doing a lot of things. Like getting up and down the big kid slides at the playground, playgrounds meant for children much older than himself. Right now he has very little fear so we try to stay nearby to make sure he isn't taking any leaps off playground structures. He is STILL a baby and while it is easy to forget as we watch him run everywhere, we try to remember so he is relatively safe but still independent.
He has increased his vocalizing a bit over the past few weeks but he is still more of a doer than a talker. If he wants something he will either attempt to get it for himself (like if he wants to eat he will climb up into the high chair on his own) or he will gesture for you to get whatever he wants for him. I've noticed he is saying the few words and phrases he knows much more clearly now.
He has been cutting two of his upper molars over the past 2 months. We have a week here and there when the teeth really bother him and he goes without any sleep. Those weeks have been difficult but we've made it through them in one piece.
His food palate has expanded quite a bit lately. He is not a lover of cheese like his siblings but he has started to eat mozzarella cheese. He still prefers avocado, broccoli, a wide variety of fruit and pasta. He LOVES beans. He nurses every 3-4 hours if we're home, if we're out it spaces out a bit more. He doesn't always sleep through the night, will get up to eat now and then but it's never for very long. Happy and proud to say our nursing relationship is still going strong.
13 Months Milestones
Mastered Skills (Most kids can do)
- Uses two words skillfully (ie. "hi" and "bye")
- Bends over and picks up object
- imitates activities -
He likes to pretend to talk on the phone, type on a laptop, pretends to cook in the kitchen
- stand well
- take a few steps
- walk with help
Emerging Skills (Some kids can do)
- Enjoys gazing at his reflection -
I noticed he is doing this more often in the mirror in our playroom.
- Holds out arm or leg to help you dress him -
makes for a much easier time getting him dressed
- drink from cup independently -
has started to hold the cup and minimize how much he sips but most of it still ends up all over him
- Respond to command without gestures -
He will pick up and bring what you ask or go over to where he is told to go
- Scribble with crayons and markers -
loves to scribble on the driveway with Louis with chalk
Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
- Combines words and gestures to make needs known -
not there yet
- Rolls a ball back and forth -
loves to play with balls, will sit and roll it to you and back again
- walk well -
off and running
