It is true, Keaten is starting to say words (specific words). They aren't always distinguishable but they are getting clearer and clearer each day. If you tell him "I love you", he will say back "Love you", and anytime you give him anything (toy, cracker, whatever), he will respond with "Thank You." Lastly, if you say "Momma", he'll respond (with a big grin) "Dadda." Mommy just smiles at the first two, but isn't all that pleased with the latter. :P
If talking weren't enough to accomplish, we have walking down pat now. We can walk bare footed, and with shoes, on smooth terrain and rough, the only thing we don't really care for is grass... (he's a boy, he'll get there!). At this point, this little guy wants to start running! We keep trying to get him to slow down a bit, but he just wants to catch up with his sister.
Walking has led to a whole new level of orneriness. This kid gets into EVERYTHING. The pantry, the bathrooms, the washing machine and dryer, and so on. If there is a quietness to the household, you better go find him! Several times we've found him in the bathroom unrolling the toilet paper (thankfully not into the toilet, just onto the floor). Then there are the times he'll intentionally find his sister and push her buttons. Either tugging at her clothes, touching her, pulling her hair, whatever he can do to get her to scream and yell. Other times he'll be in his room emptying all of sister's clothes onto the floor from her dresser. Sometimes, he'll be in his room looking at books (he loves books -- especially since he now has "manly" books).... it just depends what he feels like doing.
Most mornings (Monday through Friday), Daddy gets up with both kids (usually between 5:00 AM and 6:00 AM) allowing Mommy to get an extra hour of shut-eye. On weekends however, Mommy gets up with the kids, allowing Daddy to get a bit extra sleep. Unfortunately, Keaten had other ideas this past weekend. Mommy got up with Keaten and Keaten was bound and determined that wasn't right! His Daddy gets up with him, no other option is allowed. So apart from expressing his complaint by requesting Dadda over and over again, he decided to put it to action. He quickly worked his way down the hallway and into Mommy and Daddy's bedroom and proceeded to Daddy's side of the bed while yelling "Dadda Dadda". Mommy was none the wiser until she realized the living room was eerily quiet and upon her search found Daddy holding Keaten sitting in bed. It was quite funny (for Mommy), but Daddy can't help but be thrilled with the loving attention he gets from Keaten.
We also officially have Keaten off of pacifiers (hey, it wasn't really our choice!). Keaten upon walks, wagon rides, and stroller rides decided to throw them over-board and Mommy and Daddy didn't realize it.... so they are all officially lost and Mommy and Daddy decided to not replace them! Bottles are starting to go the same route, but this kid will not drink from a sippy cup to save his life! He refuses like no other and will just scream for hours until you give him his bottle. Mommy is determined to get him to drink from one though, so we'll see who has the stronger will (I'm routing for Keaten).
Oh and let's not forget about his teeth! We are up to 4 molars plus 4 teeth on top and 3 on the bottom. With all those teeth, we now eat anything and everything that Mommy and Daddy eats. Chicken, yep! Pork, yep! Sausage, yep! Hamburger, yep! Turkey, yep! Beans (black and baked), yep! He'll eat just about anything (unlike his sister, who continuously leads us to believe she is a vegetarian). It is a major relief being able to just cook a meal and he'll eat what we are having.
Well that's another month in the life of Keaten, we hope you enjoyed it and we can't wait to see what this month brings.
Love,
Matt, Kami, Brianne, and Keaten