The Gauck's: Noah is 17 months

We've been keeping busy lately. I started babysitting an 8 month old little girl 2 days per week. Noah is very sweet with her. He will rub her head or hand and kiss her out of the blue. He does take her toys sometimes, but only after buttering her up after a kiss! Where'd he learn that?! He LOVES being outside and it is very difficult to get him back in once he is out. Daryl and I try to run or walk in the mornings-he loves the peaceful stroll and points out the animals and school buses. His favorite toys right now are his lawn mower, bubbles (he likes screwing the lid on/off the most), balls and cars. He makes a kind of a vroom noise while he drives them around. He loves playing in the dirt and stomping in rain puddles (which we have had plenty of lately). Daryl will sometimes take him with him on the tractor when he mows the lawn. This is probably his favorite thing lately. As soon as he hears the engine start, he will run to the door or window and make an "OOO" face. Noah is very interested in cars, trucks, bikes, etc that go by our house and he will usually stop what he is doing to wave. He is getting very good at using a fork and spoon and is eating pretty well these days. He continues to love music and will often break into a head bop or dance move when he hears a song that he likes. He likes to practice jumping, but doesn't clear his feet yet. He loves jumping on the couch cushions when I put them on the floor. He recently had a couple of opportunities to jump on a trampoline at our friend's house. Noah LOVED it and did not want to get off! Daddy got quite a workout jumping around with him! Noah has 2 top molars now. Getting molars was alot more difficult for him than the other teeth. He was pretty miserable, not eating, waking up extra early and just not himself. We have quite a few more teeth to go, so we'll see how he handles them. Fun things we have done this past month:

Strong Museum-Last time we went, Noah wasn't walking. Now he is all over the place. He had a blast. We spent about 3 hours there one day while Daryl had off of work. Great fun!

Redwings Baseball game

Various farms, festivals and trips to the playground

Duff's for some chicken wings

Noah is starting to say more words, but only we can really understand them.

He can sign consistently (some signs are not the proper way but his own version of it)
-more
-done
-eat
-drink
-daddy
he will do these after me or sometimes on his own
-no
-cereal
-help
he says:

-duice (juice)

-shoe-do (for drink while signing it)
-lala (for Ella our dog)
-chs (for cheese)
-sss (for raison)
-mama
-dada
-dis (for this)
-da (for drop)
-do (for up)
-do (for down)
-ss (for sleep will doing the "shh" with his finger to his mouth)

-HHH (for help)

-ma (for more)-lots of babble

He follows directions, points to things you ask, and will make a cow noise. He knows where his head, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, bum, belly, hands and (sometimes) his feet are.