18 Month Smorgasboard

Wow! Hard to believe we are at eighteen months already! That seems like such a milestone...my baby is a year AND a half old! And he is definitely a full-fledged toddler. We have long left little baby days behind.

At 18 months, Ian:

* likes to feed Mommy and Daddy whatever he is eating.

* thinks Daddy's silly faces are the best!

* loves to get piggy-back rides from Daddy.

* is a climbing machine!

Seriously. It's hard work to keep him from climbing on stuff.

Thank goodness for our indoor Kangaroo Climber.

It certainly keeps our little man entertained!

* still sleeps on his tummy all curled up. And his Mommy still can't resist taking pictures of him sleeping like this!

* loves, loves, loves to sit on Daddy's lap and watch Veggie Tales.

* has a huge fascination with stacking objects on top of each other.

I remember when Ian's cousin, Ace, would stack toys on top of other objects and take them for a ride. I wondered if Ian would ever do that. Now I know!

* used to start the morning in his Pack N Play with his juice cup and a bowl of Rice chex. A week and a half ago, he decided he needed a full breakfast first thing every morning (waffles, eggs, etc.). He now runs to the fridge and pulls on the handle first thing every morning! We have had one hungry little boy!

* is getting better with a spoon, but still prefers to eat applesauce with his fingers.

* is all boy and then some! I love this cute little picture of him in just his jeans bouncing the jumperoo.

* is still wearing a size five diaper and 18 month clothes, but has moved up to a size six shoe. I have a feeling we will be in sevens before too long.

* has started saying "okay" and "oh good" pretty clearly.

* still loves going on long walks and playing with leaves, rocks, acorns, and sticks.

* has learned he can take Mommy or Daddy's hand and lead them to whatever he wants. It definitely helps us know what is on his mind when he leads us to the front door, the tv, the fridge, or the office, but it has been hard on little toddler patience levels to realize Mommy and Daddy don't always come when he wants or do what he wants them to do. Fortunately, he usually finds something else to occupy his time if we don't come with him right away.

* has really developed his fine motor skills. He is able to use his index finger and thumb to pick up just about anything now and place the object where he wants it to go.

* has had a pretty rough month with several vomiting episodes, supposedly due to acid reflex. We haven't been letting him have as much apple juice and applesauce to see if that helps before we give him medicine for the acid reflux.

* is quickly turning into a little boy before our eyes!

Ian, we love you so much and are so grateful for the joy you bring to our lives. I know I say that every month, but it is true every month! You light up our days as only a child's joy can and give us purpose and reason beyond ourselves.