One And A Half Years

Our baby boy is eighteen months old today! Not exactly a baby anymore, is he? It seems as though he is changing daily now, or maybe by the hour. He is such a bundle of energy and personality and we are finding him just endlessly fascinating and funny. Each day brings new adventures and usually a new word. Today’s word is “Abby” for his newborn baby cousin. Yesterday it was “apple” and “blue.” The day before… who remembers, that’s almost a lifetime ago in toddler time. We counted last night and he is up to about 50 words now, with probably 15 or so used on a daily basis, including some fun new phrases like the heartwarming “I love you” and hilarious “Hey, ‘Gobi’ (Colby)!”

At his well baby check up today he weighed in at 28 lbs, 9 oz (85th percentile), stood 35-1/2 inches (way off the charts), and had a 20 inch head circumference (97th percentile). It seems that for the first time in eighteen months we have reached a minor slowing in his growth (just weight ‘though). He is still so tall, as we are reminded daily by friends and strangers alike – as if we don’t know. According to the growth chart, he is the height of the average 2-1/2 year old. The Dr. seemed really impressed with his vocabulary, activeness, and fine motor skills.

Thanks to Landon’s Aunt Lynanne he is obsessed with the dvd “Cars.” He was very interested in cars and wheels before then but since watching the movie it has turned into a full-blown love affair. It is a pretty adorable movie. He asks to watch the dvd daily but we don’t think that is probably a good idea. We are collecting the matchbox cars from the movie for him and they are his absolute favorite. The Lightening McQueen car is pretty well his new appendage.

The past six months included mastering walking and running. Climbing has reached all new levels; with him doing chin ups to see what is on the kitchen counters and climbing on to the toilet to play with the ceramic canisters that Mommy doesn’t think he should touch. He has even started using large toys as step stools to reach much-desired items. Yeah scary, we know! He also thinks that he can jump. It’s pretty cute but, no, his feet don’t move off the ground. His arms sometimes find it appropriate to dance to his favorite songs, however the rest of his body has yet to join.

His perfect eating habits have changed somewhat, the past month or so. A few foods have dropped off the edible list; cheese omelets, spinach, and spaghetti. Grapes and green beans are the stand out favorites. Protein and whole grains are somewhat of a challenge to get him to eat, but not a problem yet. He still loves his Yobaby yogurt and will easily eat cheese. Meat and poultry, cottage cheese and mac n’ cheese usually have to be camouflaged with lots of veggies! We’re hoping his love of vegetables continues.

He likes to be a helpful reminder of several body parts that you may have forgetten you have; “ay-bow” (elbow), “bay-bow” (belly button), “e-uh” (ears), and tongue! He also loves to mimic us.

We can’t wait to see what the next six months bring and how our little man grows and changes!