Ben & Shae Cecka's family in Gilbert, AZ

Moslty for our own records and some for your amusement, here are some changes in Johnathan we see lately.

Mobility
He pulls himself up to standing with ease and “cruises” the perimeter of the livingroom. There is a notable increase in his speed when he spots a magazine or a pile of mail within reach. The kid loves paper. He has stood for just a couple secounds unsupported and I don’t think he thinks he can walk without holding someone’s hand… yet.

Diet
Djai had a little independent streak a while ago and wouldn’t let me feed him. He would purse his lips shut and turn and shake his head, grab the spoon from me and mash the food off of it and try to get it into his mouth. It didn’t work very well and I decided it was time for finger food.
You should see this guy eat. He inhales whole crowns of steamed brocolli like there is no tomorrow. He loves cheese, and beans are a new favorite. He enjoys jelly sandwiches, but not until he has the two pieces of bread apart and jelly covering every square inch of skin that is showing. No peanut butter- he is highly allergic, he has had a reaction to even just the oil. We alternate water/juice and formula in the sippy cup and only gets a bottle for his one nighttime waking if he has one, and one first thing in the morning. We haven’t practiced with a cup for a while, and after typing that out I’ve decided it’s time to pick it up again tomorrow. We practice with a bowl and spoon at least once a day which seems futile at this point, but I hear they eventually catch on.

Communication
Like any parent, every noise he makes I think he is trying to say something. He babbles mamama and dadada… and one time he stuck his hand in the air at Erinn and said “Bye.” Another, he smiled at a cat and exclaimed “keekeekeet.” Or so I think. I’ve also sworn he gets out “I love you,” and “thank you,” so I probably need someone to back me to be credible. At this point, none of the previously mentioned have been a very clear indication that he is associating a word with it’s meaning.
I have been working on signs with him since day one and he hasn’t used any himself yet, though when I say “kitty-cat,” “more,” and “food,” he looks at my hands and waits for me to sign them.
Oh- but he has taken lessons from his cousin Alyssa and started waving bye-bye… but only to people he knows well and when he wants to.