15 months.

Dear Clara,

Well, you are now 15 months. I apologize for my non-diligence in updating your future self on your current self's activities and development. It turns out that keeping up with your antics cuts into the time I have to spend documenting them. Who knew!

You are 29.25" tall and 18.6lbs. At your doctor's appointment, you stood on the adult scale all on your own, and then flipped out when the nurse tried to measure your head. You really don't like it when people touch your head! Dr. Granite asked a bunch of developmental questions - stacks toys, walks backward, cleans up, removes clothing - which you passed with flying colors. You then proceeded to further demonstrate your status as a developmentally normal 15 month old by refusing to submit to stethoscoping or examination of your ears (same head issue), howling, turning beet red and then resentfully sucking your thumb in his general direction. You then redeemed yourself by waving to him when he left. Also featured - DTaP shot, resulting in 45 seconds of apocalypse and then heading home for some raisins, which are your new favorite food.

Last weekend, you learned how to climb onto the couch on your own, which once again changes the dynamics of the house and will likely result in the relocation of certain plants and breakable objects from their traditional home. You love to stand on your tiptoes and lean against the wall. It has been suggested several times that you should train as a dancer or a gymnast since you are small and agile. You like to walk backwards in a circle, which almost always results in getting very dizzy. You like blow and give kisses too.

You are demonstrating very clear preferences for things and are no longer distractable if you want something. As you get older, we are able to do both more and less. It is becoming less possible to take you to any old place. You don't like sitting still at a table and are no longer content to just watch the world go by. You want to get your hands (and everything else) dirty. You want to be the center of everything. You want to do rather than watch. It is very cool to watch you learn how to play games with us, to watch you figure and remember and experiment with your world.

Love,

Mama