Fourteen Months

Diego is now 14 months old! Time just doesn't slow down! Our little-big boy is now walking backwards, and he has also started sliding across the floor on his belly. He just pushes himself with his legs and also his arms. Whenever I see him do this I call him my little "spec-ops," like he's on a special operations mission, crawling under barbwires. He likes to do this backwards sometimes, as well. Diego identifies better with body parts now - mainly the nose. He grabs my nose when I ask him "where's mommy's nose?" but he doesn't grab his own when asked yet. He's getting better at feeding himself - he is now practicing with the spoon. Dinner time is soooo messy, as he gets his fruit in his hair, on the floor, and on his clothes. When he uses his spoon he flings the food, dips his fingers in his bowl, and wipes everything on his tray. When dinner time is over, I simply pick him up from his seat, and bring him straight to the tub. He is a lot better at following simple commands like "bring me the ball, the book, your shoes" etc. and "put it back," "close it," "pick it up," "out of your mouth," "don't touch," "come here," and so much more. Lately he has been sounding like he is speaking chinese. He makes sounds like "doi doi doi," and "zher sher," and "wey tew." He also turns the pages of the book for me when we read, and has more patience now for actual short stories. Diego knows how to take off his diaper. When I discovered this, I decided that he always has to have pants or shorts on to keep him from undoing his diaper tags. One night, he was complaining in his crib, and, when I walked in, he was standing there with his pj pants off. His diaper was completely undone, and just hanging there. The chunkiness of his thighs were the only thing holding it up!
Diego has changed his dance moves from bobbing up and down, to twirling in circles, and swinging his hands up and down. He is able to roll the ball in the direction he purposes now. He learned to roll the ball to me or German months ago but he would just hit it and watch it roll. Now, he actually is better able to aim it in our direction. He is also starting to throw the ball in the right direction, instead of just haphazardly tossing it about.