SILAS at 14 months

Silas is an AMAZING little boy! He is THE HAPPIEST, most-content, easy-going little kid you'll ever meet! He (still) sucks his right thumb for comfort and has taken a fond liking to his polartec blanket in his bed, which he sometimes likes to bring with him throughout the house. Silas isn't afraid to miss anything; if he's tired, he's known to just lay down on the floor - with his blanket and thumb.

Silas LOVES to be chased. He loves to play keep-away. He LOVES to be scared. (He likes to hide behind the wall, standing in the dining room, and peek around the corner, announcing "Boo!" Silas LOVES to run with his brother!

Silas enjoys sitting on the floor and looking at books by himself. He isn't as likely to sit in our lap for books to be read because he almost always is wanting to get down.

Silas eats just about ANYTHING! He is SUCH a good eater! He LOVES to go to Sam's Club and get samples. He likes to drink from sippy cups and enjoys trying to drink from water bottles or real cups. Attempting to drink from the hose... or a toy shovel are also favorites of his.

Silas uses sign language. He says: MILK, MORE, EAT, DRINK, PLEASE, THANK YOU, ALL DONE, NI-NIGHT and BALL.

Silas talks. He says: MAMA, DADA, NANA, CAT, MEOW, DOG, WUFF, CAR, BALL, GO, TALK and HOT. He tries to say SHOE, getting an S-sound. He tries to say SOCK, getting the CK-sound. As of late, he's been doing a FANTASTIC JOB repeating words, including his name SILAS and his brother SYDNEY.

When he wakes, Silas flashes a HUGE SMILE, stands up and throws his blanket over the front rail of his crib.

Silas LOVES to JUMP! He keeps practicing his jumping skills. It looks like a toddler audition tape for the old (1992) movie "White Men Can't Jump!" Developmentally, I don't think he is supposed to be jumping yet, BUT... he really wants to be like his big brother. He also likes to stand on the couch and jump... or in his crib and jump. He used to fall down onto his butt when he jumped, but he's starting to be able to clear the ground AND land on his feet again, beaming with pride.

Silas really enjoys helping. When Mommy was wiping the kitchen floor, he ran into the living/dining room and came back with his blanket so that he could use his blanket to wipe the floor like mommy was doing. If he sees me get out the vacuum, he runs to find the toy Dirt Devil vacuum. Mommy has learned to fold laundry after everyone is in bed because she gets too much help unfolding everything that she has just folded. (Sydney used to do the same thing.) He likes when the dishwasher door is open, thinking it is a perfect place to climb inside and help - regardless of it being clean or dirty. He likes to get new garbage bags out of the cupboard, shake them and stand in front of the garbage can - as if to tell us "they go over here!" For months, he has liked to throw his own diapers into the garbage can for us. He enjoys holding the hose to help water flowers/plants outside.

Silas enjoys holding his hands over his eyes while we WONDER "Where did Silas go?" He LOVES to play Peek-a-Boo. He also enjoys Pat-a-Cake and "If you're happy and you know it..." A LOT. He is becoming interested in music. Silas likes to dance. He is also interested in watching tv with his brother - he likes Sesame Street, the best, I think. (Sydney declared "Silas said ELMO!" the other day when the show was just starting and the boys were sitting together on the couch. I did not hear it, but wouldn't be surprised.) Recently, his favorite toy is the talking puppy (or whatever his brother is playing with). He also demonstrates great patience already where he will sit and put shapes into the holes of various shape sorting toys.

Silas likes to pretend he is talking on the phone. He holds all kinds of random things up to his ear, pretending to talk. "TALK!" he announces and grins from ear-to-ear.

Silas still smiles his big, cheesy smile - showing off his teeth and wrinkled nose. It IS cute and totally Silas!

As for teeth, his lower one year molars are quite big. The uppers have poked through, but aren't fully in yet. He has his front four uppers and lowers, missing eye teeth yet. He has a BEAUTIFUL SMILE and twinkling eyes that light up a room.

Silas is a climber. He LOVES to climb onto the couch, the bench, the recliner, the stroller and the deckbox. If we don't push in our kitchen chairs, he climbs those too and SOON, we find him sitting/standing on our dining room table.

Silas imitates us with making kissing sounds to call the cats. It is SO CUTE to see/hear him do it.

Silas gives big, open-mouthed, wet, sloppy kisses and is VERY AFFECTIONATE. He's also learning how to HUG now, too. He is a sweetheart.

When he wants to be picked up, he pats you. When you are sitting and he wants to sit on your leg, he will pat your leg. He's quite good at communicating his wants/needs.

At the library, he enjoys going to the Mother Goose Story Time where the babies get to play with toys. He is NOT TIMID... he keeps an eye on the librarian, making sure that he is first in line to get a toy. (Sydney has always been the first one there, but the last one to take a toy. Perhaps, Silas isn't afraid to take a toy because he is used to someone else... his brother... always taking things away from him, which has taught him to be more aggressive, rather than timid.)

Silas wears size 4 diapers. His clothes vary... 12-24 months. His eyes are BLUE. His hair is blonde and resembles Fraggle Rock.... it is rather whispy and floats when he runs! He enjoys wearing shoes. (5)

He is a great sleeper! Once in his bedroom, Silas practically dives out of our arms and into his crib if we are standing close enough to it. He doesn't make it through 2 rounds of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" before he WANTS to go to bed. He is transitioning between two naps - to - just one.

Silas IS a FANTASTIC ADDITION to our household and our lives.

WE LOVE YOU, SILAS JACOB!