Levi 15 Months

The last few months have been filled with so many changes for our sweet, little boy! For starters, after his first haircut, Levi officially looks more like a toddler than a baby. And wouldn't you know it, the only way that we are able to get his haircut is if we play the Frozen "Let it Go" video for him on repeat! Almost a year later and he still LOVES that song.

 The last few months have come with many new firsts for Levi as well. We took Levi (and his cousins) to a pumpkin patch for the first time and he loved crawling around all of the pumpkins. At the end of October, he also got to attend his first "Trunk or Treat" at our church! Mitch & I's small group did a "Despicable Me" theme  and Levi made the cutest little Minion (but I guess I'm biased). October was a very full month but Levi loved every bit of it!

Levi has a new tooth pretty much any time I look! He also LOVES food and will eat almost anything that you put in front of him. He also will eat things you do not put in front of him but put in front of his cousins. We have had many-a-cousin-meltdowns because "Wevi took my chicken!" and many apologies from Mitch and myself on Levi's behalf. So if you ever go out to eat with the Jaeger family and you are stuck next to Levi, guard your plates!

In addition to new events, Levi also stood alone for the first time last week! This was a HUGE thing for him. Levi also started holding his own cup/bottle in the last month as well. Both of these small steps forward have really encouraged us about his development. As I mentioned in his last monthly update, Levi's pediatrician has been monitoring his delays since this summer. At his 12 month check-up, we decided to observe him over the next month and reevaluate after that. In November, we re-met with his doctor who encouraged us to have some tests done and to have Levi start visiting a physical and speech therapists for his delays.

Meeting Levi's newest cousin Wesley

All of this has sadly brought out so much sin in my heart! My pride burned the first day that our doctor suggested something might be wrong with my child. My pride was bruised when I watched other kids Levi's age far surpass him in development. I am ashamed to say that I have had feelings of embarrassment. Not embarrassed about Levi himself, but embarrassed because I sometimes feel that Levi's delays could have been caused because I have not been a good enough parent. All of these feelings, and many, many more dark thoughts that lie in my sinful heart, are all proof of the vanity and pride that lives in me. So while we are not sure why or what has caused these things to happen, I am confident that the Lord was not surprised in the least that these sins laid waiting within me. And I am also confident that the Lord is using this time to sanctify my heart.

Happy Howl-a-ween

These are just a few of the recommended "warning signs" that suggest a possible delay and/or hearing problem in a 15 month old (and that we have seen in Levi):

                 -Does not respond to his name
                 -Does not use any words (such as Mama, Dada, or Bye-bye)
                 -Does not understand words or commands (come here, or are you all done?)
                 -Does not use gestures or pointing to show things he wants or needs
                 -Does not point to objects that you name (where is the dog? or where is mama?)
                 -Does not mimic sounds or gestures
                 -Does not walk by 15 months

After some consideration and prayer, Mitch and I decided to hold off on visiting a neurologist until after he had been evaluated by the pediatric therapists. With the start of the new year, Levi will be doing speech and physical therapy in hopes diminish his delays all together. Although his process has been scary and uncertain, Mitch and I are very encouraged by Levi's forward progress and are thankful that he has yet to regress in anything so far (which is a huge answered prayer!). We are also very thankful that Levi's personality has not been effected by his delays so far and he is an absolutely joy to be around (about 90% of the time- no baby can be perfect!) The Lord has been so faithful to us in this journey and we know that his faithfulness and goodness do NOT change; and in that promise we are resting!