15 Months

Last week Derek turned 15 months. I feel bad for missing a blog post then, but seriously we are so busy! I have started working between 20 and 25 hours a week, while Brandon stays home with the boys. It's been...a learning experience. Neither Brandon nor me are in a perfect groove yet, but I do love working! And the extra income is such a blessing. Anyway, more on my job later...for now, DerBear:

-This past month Derek popped some teeth! We discovered that he already had two whole molars in (say what?! Who gets molars before any other teeth?) and he had a bottom and top tooth pop through.

-Words: vroom, dada, more, hello. This month he's 'dropped' some words (like mama), so I'm on the lookout. That's what Payt did at Derek's age; he was saying a bunch of stuff, but then week by week words went away. 

-Favorites:  Elvis (his bird), pacis, Mommy, Payton, stairs, balls, kicking things, bananas, strawberries, beans, chicken nuggets, imitating Payton, trucks (he loves to say vroom), peek a boo, high fives, talking on the phone, sunglasses, airplanes and books

playing peek-a-boo :)

-Derek loves to laugh, and it is the most wonderful sound in the world when he and Payt are laughing together

-Unlike his brother, and much like his mama, Derek has a huge sweet tooth!

-Signs:  milk, more, please (which is a full body pat down, haha), airplane, paci, hi/bye, song

-Derek was sick on and off during the last month, but besides a runny nose right now he seems fine

He got his hair cut this month. This pic doesn't do his hair justice. The back is thick curls (that he loved to style with his food)
and I was always having to tuck his hair behind his ears. 

After. Looking so grown up!

 -Derek liked to wake up every night between 3 and 5am. He doesn't want to go back down unless he's in mommy or daddy's arms. He got into the habit when he was super sick...but about a week and a half ago we'd had enough! He woke up one night and just wanted to play; he'd cry if I wasn't holding him but would laugh as soon as I picked him up. I was so ticked, haha. Gotta love 4am emotions! I moved Payton to mine and Brandon's bed (since the boys share a room) and we let Derek cry it out. Yes, yes we did. I know some people are against it, and I have been with Derek because we tried it earlier on and it, simply, wasn't effective. Often, the Spirit would whisper to me that he needed to be treated differently than Payton (crying it out worked well with Payt and he never cried more than 20 mins). So to each their own...but that night a few weeks ago both Brandon and I felt strongly that he was going to be fine, he just needed to learn who's boss! After two hours--yeah, he's stubborn, a diaper change, a cup of milk, and tears he finally put himself to sleep. He has not woken up in the middle of the night since then! Praise be!

Anyway, Derek is a sweet little boy. He throws big tantrums and has the largest pouty lip, but he is adorable. He loves to make us laugh and he loves to snuggle. Love you, DerBear!