Dear Doster- 18 Months

Dear Doster,

I can’t believe you are already 18 months old—that’s a year and a half!  I’ve tried to find a way to type out what I am feeling about this time we’ve spent together so far, but it’s tough!  Maybe my brain is rebelling against me from sugar-overload (holiday baked goods, hello!) or maybe this is just a special kind of love that isn’t really describable with text. 

You are my heart.  That’s it I guess.

Seriously, Gigs and I spend as much time with you as possible.  And even after you go to sleep, we talk about you, and watch our videos of you… I suppose we are a little obsessed.  You truly amaze us every single day and we are so lucky to be your parents!

Half -birthday = Half a cupcake

Brainchild

Let me take a minute to brag about you document a few things for the record.  At your 18-month checkup, Dr. P asked me to estimate the number of words that you can say.  I had never really thought about it, but I guessed 70 or 80.  He basically looked at me like a crazy-person and said that he would have been happy with 5-10. 

I started to think:  am I exaggerating? Am I one of those moms? An embellish-er?  I made a list the next day, and you DO say a great amount of words—probably over 100.  My little super-genius.

I promise, I’m not trying to be a braggypants but each day, I am shocked about what comes out of your mouth.  Sometimes, I don’t even know where you learned these things.

First library book!

Favorite words:

• Paci
• Mommy 
• Daddy
• Yo Gabba
• Poop (sorry, but true)
• Who Who ( there are owls all over your nursery)
• Pouch (like applesauce)
• Eat
• Color

Other Favorites:

Books: Goodnight Moon, Nicholas the Bunny, The Dog Book

Shows:  Yo Gabba Gabba

Foods: Avocado, eggs, pouches of anything

Toys:  Anything with buttons to press, duplo
You are pretty game to try new things!  Which is one of my favorite things about you! 

We gotta' try new food 'cause it might taste gooooood (Daniel Tiger singing here!)

Dislikes:

• Bed time
• Being put in your high chair (you roll with it once you get started)
• Giving up the paci (since it is only a bed time thing, you have to relinquish it in the mornings)

Demeanor

You know plenty of words but are a little picky about your conversation partners.  With new people and new places, you are a bit quieter and want to hang close to your parents.  I get it; new people can scare me too! We let you take your time and warm up at your own speed.  You love to wave at people, though.  Any shopping experience is full of waves—which people seem to adore.

You are very gentle and sweet. You like to know where everyone is!  You love dancing, spinning and laughing.  You also enjoy making others laugh—if you get a cackle you’ll repeat what you did to earn another.

You know what you want you know how to get it! You point, ask, and say please (and you still do the sign too, which is heart-melting).  Sometimes, you can get a little meltdown-y when you aren’t given what you covet.  I guess that’s just the life of a toddler.

18-Month Well Visit

Aside from learning that you are a wordsmith, we had a pretty typical check up.  You clocked in at 24 lbs and 4 ounces (28^th percentile) and 31 inches tall (also 28^th percentile).  

Don’t worry, you’re head is still big—70^th percentile.

You were not a fan of any of the exam: the weight check, the poking and especially the shots.  You now recognize the shot lady, and it is full on meltdown-time when she enters the room.

Dr. P said it’s about time to phase out the paci, so that will be a fun adventure for all of us!

Randomness for the Record

• When you give a hug, you say: Awwwww
• You associate people with the groups you see them in most.  Like when Grandy comes over you ask about Pop…
• Good lord, you are obsessed with animals that you know (particularly, Brighton and Einstein)
• Last night you could not comprehend why we had to stop coloring and go to bed.  Dare I say, you like coloring more than Yo Gabba Gabba?
• I just can’t get enough of your dancing—you are nonstop entertainment 

• You try to wink-- it's about the cutest thing in the world

• You sometimes think it is funny to hit- which results in immediate timeout

And you take timeout very seriously -- or not.