Makin At 18 Months

Wow. I cannot believe we have an 18 month old! But then again, part of me has no trouble believing it since you are so active and the size of a two year old!. :) It is actually getting really fun around here with you being older and being able to play more with your big sister. We have so much fun with you little man!

Our measurements...
Height: 33 1/2 in
Weight: 28 lbs

So far you love things sports related...any ball, right now basketball, baseball and golf are your most-played. We have the kid's clubs hung up out in the garage but yours usually end up in the house because if you see them hanging there, you point to them asking to get them down to play with them. You also turn anything you can into a ball/club...the other day you were using a sword to hit a cup.

You know your animals well and try and say the name of many of them, along with the sound they make. Your animal noises are the sweetest I have ever heard. You like to quack like a duck, roar like a lion, trumpet like an elephant, and my favorite, meow and purr like a cat. Cutest. Meow. Ever.

When you do something good, like make a basket with basketball or get a car to go fast, you hold your arms up victoriously like its a touchdown and say "AH!!!" (YEAH!)

You talk all the time. Probably around 30ish words that I can understand. Now most of the time, no normal human would know what you are saying, but you always RESPOND. Many times you say "mama" for any word you don't know. You are very good at getting the first consonant of the word correct with what it should be, so many words sound the same. Other than Mama, I would say "ball" is the second most "real sounding" word you say. Lots of B words. And you are actually good at your Ls and say Lorelei very well if you repeat after we say it.

I should probably discuss sleep, since I was not happy with this at the 1 year mark. You go to sleep around 7:30-8 PM and are up at 6 AM, sometimes earlier and now we make you go back to sleep. Of course since 6 is my cut off, you are usually up at 6:01. Its a treat if you sleep until 6:30. You usually take a 1 1/2 hour nap. You are better about going to sleep at night and just fuss a little, if at all, when we lay you down awake. At naps, I still rock you to sleep, but then you sleep in your crib for a decent nap. So, its not so bad. :) Just need to work on getting you to sleep on your own a bit more. You also sneak in a cat nap in the car if we are driving in the morning. It usually helps if you get a short one, but if its too long we are in trouble getting you to sleep later.

And as for food. You still love it. If we mention a meal while you are playing, you stop and start barreling towards the kitchen. :) You love your milk. Like I'm thinking 2 gallons a week for you when you are a teen. ;) Unfortunately, you have gotten much pickier. No veggies. None...unless you count potatoes. ;) And fruit? The occasional banana and applesauce. And raisins, if they count. Wishing your sister would rub off on you here! Going to talk to your pediatrician about this and hope we can figure out vitamins you will take.

You are often listening to us, even when we do not realize it, and then you try and help if you can. A couple of examples...Lorelei was asking us for her water and Brad and I were looking around for her cup. You simply walked into the playroom (note, you also remembered where SHE left HER cup) and brought it out to us. Another day, Lorelei and I were searching all over for a Ziploc baggie that some felt pieces went into. A moment later I saw you trying to open up the pantry door. Of course, you had thrown it away for us and closed the door. (I should also mention you love to clean up, and put things in the trash. And the door must be closed. Any door.)

You love to turn things into airplanes and zoom them around. Latest I caught you with was the foam letter X in the bathtub.

It has been this way for quite a few months but forget to mention it. When we are reading any books that are touch and feel, you will move our hand to make us feel it too. Guess you don't want to leave us out! :)

You are very affectionate. You love to run into us and give us a hug around the legs. If we are sitting we can get a hug around the neck. You also give lots of kisses and hugs on the arm. Just loving it.

Cute story...as you were driving a cement mixer around the kitchen you ended up crashing. I gave you a little kiss on the elbow to make it better. You then pointed to your cement mixer that was crashed on it side. It needed a kiss to be better too. :)



And your favorites:
Cereal: Crispix
Book: The Little Engine That Could, counting books
TV Show: Curious George, Clifford
Food: Mac N Cheese, Hot Dogs
Snack: Goldfish, Graham Crackers, Raisins
Place At Home: Your Room
Place Out: Park
Toy: Balls and Things That Go
Song: Point Your Fingers And Do The Twist, Ring Around The Rosie

You brighten each day and are getting so grown up little man!