Went to the doctor today... everything checked out.. again. Little Stephen is still hugging that 25th percentile in all categories. 15 months old and still no words. The doctor also yelled at me for not brushing Stephen's teeth.

Age: 15months
Height: 30"
Weight: 22lbs, 9oz
Head Circum: 18.25"

Related charts, graphs, etc.

Apparently any [and every] symptom can be attributed to teething, but no one really knows why. The diaper rash has just about cleared up. No fever, no frequent diarrhea, much less druel.

Stephen suddenly loves books. He comes stumbling over to me with a huge book in his hand several times a day. He sits in my lap, still and calm. After I read all five cardboard pages, he turns it back to the beginning. I've also been trying to get Stephen addicted to a movie before we go on vacation. It appears that he will not reach that critical age (of sitting still for a movie) before we leave for the beach house. Oh well.

He's getting slightly better at switching from "dada" to "mama" on command, and he has developed a certain word for the kitty cat. He says da-DAAAA with the second syllable being a high-pitch shriek (like a cat's meow). A few minutes ago, he walked over to the pet food cabinet, pulled out a can of cat food and said da-DAAAA.

I haven't touched my camera in weeks. I guess I'm in a lull before I go crazy with it on vacation.

Stephen has a bunch of teeth coming in (several have broken through), and I'm not sure what can be attributed to teething. He has:

Diarrhea
Runny nose
Fever
Diaper rash (first time ever)

He is also eating less, drinking less, and sleeping less. The last two days have been hideous. He has been completely pissed off both days, which usually causes him to do something rash and injure himself. The diaper rash didn't show up until he pooped five times yesterday and last night. I was up for two hours last night with him.

Edit: Well, he's super dehydrated and in rough shape. I left a bottle full of water in his crib when I laid him down for a nap. I can't effectively comfort him because I have some spreading rash all over my forearms and his diaper rash irritates him when I'm holding him.

Hello.

I have had a very fast introduction to Lightroom 3. Less than two weeks after purchasing/installing it, I got a job to edit ~250 photos from someone's wedding. That's why I have been well behind on this blog.

Stephen is moving a mile a minute. I find myself constantly saying things I should never have to say, such as "Stephen, do not lick the bottom of Mommy's sneaker!" He can do a lot of the standard baby tricks like clap, dance, wave, give five. He's been able to climb the stairs for almost seven months, but he is just now learning to climb back down. Still no words besides "dada" (and "mama" sometimes on command).

He is quite willful and throws bigger fits every day, but I have adapted by now. When I say he was "good" on a given day, I mean that he only threw maybe... 4 five-minute tantrums that day. Usually over something like me closing the baby gate or getting him off the stairs.

I have a picture of him eating spaghetti, cottage cheese, and toast that I plan to post today.