Today Bean has his 15-month-old doctor’s appointment.  When I called to schedule it, I had to think twice about if he was really that old.  How could that be?  Wasn’t he just a newborn, like, yesterday?  And now, here he is riding around in golf carts and playing on putting greens with me and Chris.  Time flies, I tell you.

Bean’s age right now is just a hoot and a half. He is so much fun. He even has a little sense of humor. He likes to hide from you and then pop out when you’re looking for him and when he pops out, he dies laughing like it’s the best joke ever. My dad taught him how to fake laugh, too, so sometimes when it’s quiet he’ll just throw his head back and start fake laughing until everyone around him is laughing along.

He is becoming even more independent, if that’s possible. He likes to feed himself now, which is really just him picking up food with his hand and putting it on the spoon and then aiming the spoon in the general direction of his mouth. So far we’ve had the best luck with yogurt because it’s thick enough to stay on the spoon. Peas are the hardest. Darn rolly things. He also likes to brush his own hair and his own teeth. And he’s not a fan of holding your hand when he’s walking anymore. He wants to do it by himself.

He is also becoming so much more physically active. He can walk really good and steady now and he’s even started running a little bit. I accidentally taught him to jump on the bed, too. I didn’t think he had the muscle strength to do it on his own, but I was very, very wrong. Now, I find him jumping on beds whenever he gets the chance. Way to go, Mom… We are noticing, too, that he seems to be left handed. I’ve read that kids use both hands until they are a little older and then stick with one, but Bean seems to use his left hand for just about everything right now. I’m interested to see if that sticks or if he’s just trying it out for a while.

What I really love about his age right now is how verbal he is becoming. There is not much that he can’t communicate to us, which has drastically reduced the number of temper tantrums he throws. Although, he can still throw a mean tantrum when he wants to. He can say these words: bear, ball, book, bath, bubble, baby (lots of B’s…), Nana, G-maw (Grandma), G-momamamama (Grandmomma), Ga-dad (Granddad), Mama, Dada, Molly, Lucy, all done, down, no (that’s a favorite), rain, water, bird, dog, cow, kitty, bye-bye, hi, night-night, go, car, truck, bed, piggies (that’s what he calls his toes), nose, eye (although he points to his ear…), mouth, head, tummmm (tummy), snack, juice, milk, all gone, and a handful more than he surprises me with everyday.

He has all but two teeth now and I think he’s about to start cutting those soon because his gums look a little raw. And last week Chris noticed that he’s getting fine little peach fuzz on his legs!! How cute!! His hair is getting thicker – and curlier! And we think it has finally decided to be blond. He was going back and forth between blond and red for a while, but I think it’s going to stay blond this time. He is getting cuter every day, too. And, thankfully, his cheeks are still as fat as ever! I don’t know what I’m going to do when that baby chub goes away.

My favorite part about this age is how flexible Bean is. He’s pretty good about napping twice a day still, usually taking an hour nap in the morning and then a two or three hour nap in the late afternoon. But if we are out and about, he can adapt pretty easily to just one nap and sometimes he’ll skip them all together and be fine. He might get a little cranky early that evening, but that’s alright. He’s also so flexible on what activities we’re doing, too. With us in the middle of moving right now, our days are a little unpredictable. Sometimes we’re home all day, but sometimes we’re running all over town getting things taken care of and Bean Man is right there with me. As long as he’s got his little snack cup, he can go and do whatever it is we are doing. Like practicing a little putting…

Yep, 15 months is one of the best so far. Although, there really hasn’t been a bad month yet. I love that now Bean seems to be growing exponentially faster. He learns faster, he thinks faster, he moves faster, and every day it seems like he has grown overnight. It makes me excited to get up every day with him and see what’s new!

Since we have been staying with my parents, I have noticed certain characteristics in Bean that are becoming more pronounced.  Basically, I think he’s turning into my dad.

But no where has this been more certain to me than last week when I walked in to find Beaner sitting in his granddad’s recliner.

Big tummy.

Laid back.

Watching the Golf Channel.

Yes.  Yes, I do believe that is a very short version of my father sitting right there.  Heaven help us all.

First, I should start by telling you that the meanies who broke into our house stole my camera cable, so I haven’t been able to download any pictures.  To compensate for this, I will DESCRIBE the picture I’d like you to image.  Should be fun.  Hope you’re all wearing your Make Believe Hats today.

Since we are staying with my parents for a couple weeks, Bean thinks he is on vacation.  And why wouldn’t he?  Being at Nana and Granddad’s is a lot like staying at a five star resort when you are fourteen months old.  Bean wakes up every morning to a homemade, cooked to order breakfast.

(Insert picture of cheese toast with a side of grapes and strawberries and a little container of yogurt…)

He begins his day with a stroll around the neighborhood in Granddad’s golf cart, pointing out every bird, dog, cat, and tree that we pass.  When he returns back to the house, he takes a little dip in the baby pool they have on their back deck and he is fed a little snack like a bird, without ever having to lift a finger.

(Insert picture of big, fat, white belly in a tiny wading pool…)

After a little time by the pool, Bean takes a little morning nap in his pack ‘n play that has freshly laundered sheets which have been turned down for him.  When nap time is over, we head to the kitchen where the chef has prepared worthy of any good hotel.  After lunch, Bean might head up to the golf course with Granddad and Nana where he takes his plastic golf clubs and hits golf balls around the practice putting green, just like a real golfer.  Of course, his fans fawn all over him.

(Insert picture of short, fat fourteen month old toddler in Bermuda shorts, waving around a red plastic golf club while he waddles across the putting green…)

After a rousing game of golf, Bean and his entourage head back home in their golf cart where they might watch a little Finding Nemo while they take a snooze in Granddad’s big, overstuffed recliner.  Another homemade snack of oatmeal cookies and blueberries will follow.  And then it’s time for a little play session with Mr. Bear and a set of stacking cups that are Bean’s favorite toy at his grandparent’s house.  Dinner time is a family meal served at the table, where Nana hand-feeds Bean every morsel he consumes with Bean only having to open his mouth to indicate he would like some more.  Never is a finger lifted by the hotel guest.  After dinner is a warm bath drawn by the hotel staff and then it is time for bed (which, of course, has long been turned down for him and where Mr. Bear waits on his pillow).

Yes, life is good for Bean Man at Nana and Granddad’s.  So good, in fact, that when Bean is now out with just me and Chris, he cannot FATHOM why we make him FEED HIMSELF!!!!  (gasp!)

I think they are creating a monster.  We may leave him here when we move.  I’m not really up for a life of indentured servitude.