life with max: 15 months.
How do I have a 15 month old?!
My snugglepuppy. I die over him.
This bug is still so incredibly happy. I have no idea how I got so lucky. SERIOUSLY. I still feel that way and it’s just so different from how I ever assumed I would feel.
He brings me so much happiness throughout the day, even when the days are stressful or sad.
My days are spent listening to him babble and talk and giggle. I love him talking. I love hearing him make conversation, I wish I knew exactly what he was saying all the time.
[He currently runs around the house screaming “purple” – somehow my mom taught him this word and it’s his favorite thing. It cracks us up.]
I still also feel super lucky that he is such a pleasant kid. I don’t always have him at home with me all day while working, but on days that I do, he does fairly well playing on his own for chunks of time. It’s wonderful. I do things to make it easier, like set out some of his favorite toys, let him go wild in the cabinet that holds all the pots and pans, set up a coloring station and what not, taking certain breaks – but he’s just so happy.
Yes, things are certainly more challenging at this age! He wants to run and play everywhere. He doesn’t like to sit still very long, so if we head to a restaurant, it’s usually at breakfast or lunch or the early bird special. Our trick for taking him out (we take him out to eat every weekend, at least once) is one my aunt gave us: don’t put him in the high chair until the food comes.
This works like a CHARM! We hold him on our lap while we order and pre-food, he colors or plays with a toy or reads some books. Occasionally we will walk with him, depending on the location. Once the food comes he goes into the high chair, is hungry by this time, and we all can eat at the same time. Not sure how much longer it will last, but it was great advice that we have gone by since he’s been big enough for the highchair.
With that being said, when he’s done, he’s DONE! When he wants out, he screams and yells and that’s that.
My favorite thing right now is how much Max loves to go outside. Multiple times per day he runs to one of the doors or windows and starts pointing and shouting to go outside. He loves to be in the yard and loves to RUN. It really stinks that right now it’s freezing and snowing again outside, but later this week I’m hoping it starts to warm up permanently because the fresh air does wonders for us both.
I love getting him outside to walk, run and explore at least once a day.
My only concern now is that he wants to walk and run so much that he might not want to sit still in his stroller for a long walk? (aka, my favorite thing.) But my plan is to go early or go around naptime.
Speaking of naptime, nope still doesn’t sleep through the night. But! I said to my mom that I can somewhat sense that he is enjoying sleep more. He can self soothe and settle himself back to sleep (I’ve watched it) and I can tell that we are on the brink of better sleep.
I’m over it and just completely used to not sleeping. The overwhelming exhaustion hits me once every few months and I have a complete and utter meltdown (this happened two weeks ago) – but once I get it out, it’s out. And I can survive again!
I think the (non)sleeping would be taking more of a toll on me if Max was fussy or not as generally pleasant as he is. It would be easier if I could sleep when he sleeps at night, but most of the time I need a good chunk of time (5 to 6 hours) to work at night. It is what it is and as long as I don’t go overboard on caffeine, sugar and crap eating, it’s manageable.
What blows my mind the most is that when I really need that “me” time, when I have to get out or just have a few moments to myself, it’s insane – because within 15 minutes or so I miss him. I want to be back with him. Is this crazy?
I honestly feel pretty crazy sometimes.
I can’t imagine leaving him overnight yet. I am missing out on things and opportunities and saying no to many things that could further my career (and/or social life – HAHAHAHA) but I just can’t imagine being away from him overnight. Now trust me, I’ve had great full days being apart from him, but there is just something so special about the nights that I love. I know that this time is so fleeting, will be gone in an instant and I just can’t give it up.
This makes me feel really uncool sometimes, but I think that it’s my insecurities coming back to haunt me. I know that pre-baby, I used to privately judge others in my brain when it seemed like they could never leave their child. And now I’m totally that person! I just didn’t understand it until now.
Eeeeeep I just love him so much.
One of the most fun things that is happening right now is that Max is taking swim lessons and I can’t even believe how much he LOVES IT. He has always loved baths, but I wasn’t sure how he’d act in a pool for 30 minutes straight.
Turns out, the big smile never left his face the entire time. He was dunking his face in and giggling and trying to blow bubbles. He loved “jumping” (aka, walking to me) off the side of the pool into the water and kicking and splashing. It is so much fun and I can barely wait until summer when we can swim often.
My little fish! I’m hoping that Eddie can come one of these weeks and get some pictures of us, otherwise it’s basically impossible to snap a picture since I can’t take my phone into the pool. Plus, hello, do I want to be that obnoxious person? (< yes I do.)
Foods!
Max still likes to eat. A bunch of you have asked if he has entered the picky toddler stage or the “surviving on air” (ha) stage. I haven’t seemed to notice a general pickiness yet, but I did start noticing shortly after he turned one that he began eating less at meal time. Nothing else really changed, it’s almost like he started picking at bites that he wanted to eat. That could also be because I was giving him more food or more options, but that’s all I’ve noticed so far.
And yes, he’s pretty great at eating everything, but he also has days where he wants to eat nothing and days where he throws everything on the floor and thinks it’s HILARIOUS.
Spoiler alert: it isn’t! But sometimes it is.
After my last update I started taking some photos of breakfast and lunch to share with you, but the lighting in our kitchen is so awful (and we often eat early before it’s light out) that I couldn’t stomach the photos! Here are some ideas of what he eats for breakfast and lunch. For dinner, he eats what we eat (within reason, i.e. no overly salty food, no spicy food, etc.)
breakfast:
scrambled eggs + cheerios + bananas (or whatever fruit is in season)
oatmeal with blueberries, touch of pure maple syrup
banana + spinach + blueberry + yogurt + almond milk smoothie
spinach + cheddar omelet, berries
bananas spread with peanut/almond butter, full fat greek yogurt
lunch:
AB+J on sprouted grain bread, full-fat greek yogurt, strawberries and blueberries
broccoli and cheese mini quesadilla, peas, cinnamon apples
avocado toast, turkey slices, cucumber rounds, goat cheese
whole wheat pasta, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, hummus
grilled cheese on sprouted grain bread, pickles, black beans, dried figs
He absolutely loves chicken and things like meatballs or burgers, so sometimes he will have that as leftovers for lunch. His favorite food is an orange, and he always get that as an afternoon or after dinner snack. He could probably eat TWO whole oranges a night if I let him. He also loves anything bread-like or carby and will eat that at pretty much any time if given to him.
And that’s fifteen months! I can’t even stand that time is going so fast, but at the same time I am so happy I’ve thoroughly lived and enjoyed every moment with this boy. Am I missing anything? Thanks for loving on my little bug! P.S. you can find our 15 month favorites here.
34 Comments on “life with max: 15 months.”
Jessica, I’ve absolutely LOVED watching max grow! I sat this every time but Max is the sweetest, cutest boy. In some of your photos and videos he looks like such a tiny little nugget, and in others he looks like such a big guy! Thanks for sharing your sweet little baby with us :)
Long-time reader, first-time commenter!
Just wanted to say you are not alone on the no sleep thing! I have a 17 month old little boy who still wakes up all the time. Sometimes we’re lucky and he’ll sleep for 2-3 hour chunks, but most of the time he wakes up every hour or so.
I’m hoping once he weans he’ll sleep, but more than likely I’ll have to rock him to sleep when he’s in college!
My daughter finally started to sleep better after weaning a couple of months past her 2nd birthday (my milk dried up b/c I was pregnant with our son). I’m giggling over your comment about rocking your son to sleep at college! ;)
Love Max updates, such a cutie! I have a question about food since our babies are so close in age. When did you wean Max and did you notice a big difference in his eating then? My daughter is almost 14 months and still nursing 4 times a day, she is a very picky eater so I feel like I can’t wean her yet since I feel like she still gets the majority of her nutrition from me, but I also wonder if I do start to wean if she would start trying and eating more real food since she’d be hungrier at meal times.
hi! i am still nursing! i haven’t weaned him yet – i still let him nurse on demand, but i do make an effort to give him breakfast, lunch and dinner first before nursing (sometimes this is tough if he wants to nurse, but i try to play with him or make things fun and get him in his high chair to eat first). there are days when he doesn’t nurse for 8ish hours during the day and i honestly don’t see much of a difference between those days and eating foods and the days where we wants to nurse a million times!
Max seems so much like my 20-month-old! Super happy and fun and outgoing and just plain fun to be around. I night-weaned about a month ago and sleep is getting a little better, but still far from perfect! So glad you are cherishing it so much – I really relate to your sentiments!
Jessica, I think it’s so awesome that you’re still nursing and going with the flow sleep-wise! My daughter was a non-sleeper up until my milk dried up a couple of months past her 2nd birthday when I got pregnant with our son. I used to nurse her at every wake-up, but after a few nights without milk, she started to sleep so much more soundly. She sometimes sleeps through the night these days, but she usually wakes up once and my husband lays down with her until she falls back asleep (which is usually immediately) while I’m in with our 4 month old son… who is also very wakeful.
So love the Max updates. He is just such a cute little bugger!!!!!!!!! As usual, I want to reach into the photo’s and hug him!!!!!!!
he’s so cute!! Like always! You can totally tell that you and Eddie love him so much…I’m so happy for you!
And that bear sweater…is it weird that I want one in my size? So darn cute!
He’s a cutie! And I’m the same way with leaving my daughter. She’s 7 months old, and I miss her when I leave for an hour to go grocery shopping! I’m glad I’m not the only one :).
hey girl Love the post! Max is so cute! God has blessed you so much!
Such a cutie! I juuuuuust stopped nursing last month (my son is 20 months now). If it was up to me we would’ve kept going, but one day I asked him if he wanted to nurse and he went “Noooooo” and hopped off my lap. And my heart broke in a million pieces haha. It’s so cliche to say it all goes so fast, but it does! Enjoy the snuggles!
I can’t believe how big Max is now!! I he been a subscriber of your blogs for a while but haven’t commented in a while either. I wanted to know where you do most of your clothes shopping for him. He is such a styling little man. And his shoe game is always on point. I admire your taste in tot clothes. I have a 4 year old and am always looking for new places to go shopping for him at.
thank you! i get most of his clothes at target, h&m, zara and gap!
He’s a cutie!!! Did he EVER hit a picky stage? My son is 9 months and has refused almost everything but bread (carbs!) cherrios, puffs etc. he’s learned to spit out what he doesn’t like so I keep trying but he just is not interested in anything else!! love the ideas you gave for foods!
he hasn’t yet, but i’ve heard it comes around 2! so i won’t be shocked if he gets pickier. honestly, i think that he isn’t so picky yet because we did baby led weaning! so a lot of these foods, he’s been eating for almost an entire year now.
I really appreciate these insights into motherhood. He just the cutest thing!!!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Jessica- I just love LOVE how you share with us your nugget of loves journey! He is so precious, I just want to reach through and kiss his cheeks!
Ugh your the best!
Xo
Dawn
These are some of my favorite posts, especially with our boys being so close in age! It’s wonderful that Max is such a great eater! Kieran has become SOOOO picky these past couple months. Meal time has almost become battle like. He refuses anything green except avocado (even things he used to eat before!) and is still really weird about a lot fruit and even meat. I just keep trying, though! My hope is that it’s a phase. Fingers majorly crossed because having a picky eater would crush a tiny part of my foodie soul. He is a champion sleeper, though, so maybe that’s the trade off? :) Oh, and I SO FEEL YOU on the missing him after 15 minutes. There are some days where I look forward to bedtime, and then as soon as he’s asleep, I’m fighting the urge to go wake him up! Crazypants.
I got this amazing (and cheap) baggie thing to put my iPhone in during a Vegas pool party, and I also took it snorkeling on vacation, and it held up beautifully both times: http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Ace-Teah-Universal-Transparent/dp/B0118QANQK/ Plus, you can get the neon green, and be THAT mom in the pool, but revel in it!! You’ll get great pics of Max, and keep that phone safe!
He is SO adorable! He is just a little bit younger than my twins, and I’ve loved following along with your journey. This age has been kind of tough for me because they want to “go, go, go” all the time physically, but haven’t really figured out how to listen to mommy yet :-) It’s really fun though. So glad you to read that you are still nursing as well!!!!
Jessica, from an old grandmother – it seems you are doing it right. The main thing is L-O-V-E. And occasionally that will be the tough variety. It’s called discipline and without it you will end up with a kid you may love but you won’t like.
At some stage, Max may decide he doesn’t like certain foods or even that he doesn’t want to eat entire food groups. When I was young with a son just a few weeks older than Max plus a brand new baby, I was given this advice: if your child won’t eat, offer food. If they still don’t eat, don’t force the issue, take away the food until next meal time. No child ever died of malnutrition if he/she was offered good food. He will eat when he is hungry. Most kids go through growth spurts when they seem to grow like weeds and this is when they will be super hungry. This will pass, they may stay the same size for months and not eat nearly so much.
And finally, it won’t hurt either of you for him to be left overnight so you and Eddie can have a proper night out. He will love you in the morning and you can give him a special treat, like running in the park for as long as he likes.
Best of luck to you all. And just enjoy it, as you say it doesn’t last long.
Being a new mom is like being a kid again. Every moment gives so much pleasure and as you mentioned at times long sleepless nights will be exhausting as well. Loved the pics in the post, it made me regain all my sweet memories back. Very sweet kid.
love these updates! hes growing too fast!
Hi Jess! My husband and I just announced that we are expecting (our first) baby via video on YouTube and it’s silly, goofy and colorful… I instantly thought of you. Ha!
We spent a lot of time on it so having people enjoy it is half the fun!
http://youtu.be/HErcr9C1DUI
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Are you kidding me with that first outfit? Your kid has the greatest style. So dapper!!! And I want that puppy sweater to be mine. Looks so comfy.
Everything about having a kid sounds so fun – especially the parts where it’s almost like YOU get to be a kid again. Playing outside, swimming, bubbles.. that stuff was all wonderful as a child!
He does always seem happy!!! What a sweet lil family you have!
Love the food ideas, love the tips and the mommy sentiments. I have a 16 month old boy that is a charmer and a handful. They are such awesome little creatures, that need us so much. I’m proud to be his momma. He still nurses and is a great sleeper, but can’t find anything usefull when it come to sleep training to get him in the crib and out of my bed. Although i will probably miss him once he’s out.
I am in the exact same boat as you….I never want to leave my babies. Ever. Especially not overnight! True story…when my husband and I have a date planned, he tells the babysitter that even if I text her and tell her we’re not going anymore that she needs to come anyway. Crazy much?! I always am so so SO glad once we’re alone together having an uninterrupted conversation…but getting out the door is SO hard! Time FLIES (like faster than a speeding bullet)…us mommas need to soak in every single second! :)
Are you still nursing?I would love to nurse for as much longer as possible, my little one is only 8 months yet.
yes! i am. max is almost 20 months and i am still nursing!
Awesome!!! Congratulations!!!Big fan of your site, and the way your raising Max.
So I loveeeee your posts. My son isn’t only 14 months but I love to read your detailed max posts. My son is still not sleeping through the night yet. He is sometimes giving me longer stretches sometimes not. It’s refreshing to know max didn’t at this age either. Were you still nursing at 15 months? How did you stop? Ok back to reading Max updates! OH! Where did you get swim lessons? We want to start soon! ( we live in Pgh)
NEEVVVVERRRMIND. JUST READ MAX’s older updates!!!! I honestly think Sonny and max are the same! Except we just went on vacation and there’s was definitely no sleeping through the damn night! I nurse him before bed but can’t stop the 5am nursing. He just cries. Who knows!