Everything to know about DJ at 13 months

DJ is generally a happy and smiley guy. He's also...a guy. He already likes wrestling and laughs at his own burps. He's really big and chubby compared to his sisters at this age, and he never stops crawling or climbing. When he's not allowed to do those things (especially during diaper and clothing changes), he is NOT HAPPY. He would prefer to climb up and down the stairs all day long, with maybe a break to eat, drink a bottle, or stand on the furniture. In fact, DJ's pretty upset about the fact that he's not allowed to do just that.

DJ gets around pretty well by crawling, but I think he'd really prefer to walk--without the effort of actually learning to walk. We've seen him take several steps, several times, so we know he can do it. He's just choosing not to. He also chooses not to sleep all night. He really likes a visit right around 1 or 2 a.m. these days. But it's usually just once, so I try not to complain too much.

This is a marvelously fun age, because DJ loves to laugh and make us laugh with his funny faces, peek-a-boo tricks, and silly games (most of which involve him doing something naughty like sneaking up the stairs, then waiting for us to catch him. He thinks this is hilarious.) He also copies what we say and do and has lots of "words," recognizable only by us: Mama, Dada, doggie, kitty (this was the first clear word he said, when he saw my parents' cat, Max), Papa, woof-woof, Connie, Annie/Nellie (ee-nee), Grandma, cheese, bottle, night-night, blankie, bath, again, more. He also has some favorite songs to sing along with: "Jesus Loves Me," "How Much is That Doggy in the Window," and "Way up in the Sky."

Nellie and Annie love him to pieces...sometimes a little too aggressively. He likes to give them hugs and kisses, climb on them, and pull their hair. They've been enjoying playing outside in the snow - DJ is the third kid to get pulled around in the toboggan, and I think he loves it even more than the girls did.

His favorite part of the day is going downstairs with Kevin to get the dogs out of their kennels. He wakes up saying, "Dada. Woof-woof" and wriggles so much from excitement that it's hard not to drop him down the stairs when we head down to the basement. His favorite toy seems to be the ride on school bus, because it involves climbing and has buttons.

 I'm sure I'll think of more, but that pretty much sums up life with DJ right now!

Spaghetti night!

In the toboggan for the first time (at dusk, hence the weird light)