Cole-Monster,
18 months old is getting big-time buddy! You have grown and changed so much in the past few months. It's awesome to sit back and watch your little personality blossom... although I wouldn't say your Daddy and I do much watching. Usually it consists of chasing and getting your down from things, wrangling you into strollers and car-seats, or keeping you entertained while you want to be everywhere and into everything!
The biggest news in your life right now...
You are a c-l-i-m-b-e-r. You seriously scare me daily. You have fallen many times, and luckily (knock on wood) you haven't done any major damage to yourself... just quite a few of Mommy's things. :( You've broken glass picture frames, a blender, and a banister railing, just to name a few. We've mourned the death of many books with flaps and toys with little parts. You climb up the outside of the staircase, and on top of the kitchen chairs and furniture. You also drag chairs around the house to help you get taller. You brought me a large kitchen knife the other day while I was cooking. Maybe you'll be a mountain climber by day, and an engineer by night when you grow up?!?
Speaking of engineering... You are quite the problem solver. You can get the lids off and on things so easily. It is amazing... I don't think most children can screw lids off and on jars and cups until they are 2 1/2 maybe 3? You also know what do do with objects like remotes and phones. You find the remote no matter where we hide it and walk up to the TV and start changing channels and opening menus. When I walk toward you to grab it back you run and laugh. When Daddy asks for it back you walk it back to him, hand it to him, and smile sweetly. Hmmm
Speaking of behavior... You are still the happiest lil thing on the planet! However, you have become quite an "insistent" toddler, and act out at times with me.... but not really Dad. At times when you don't get your way you throw yourself on the floor and kick and scream. It's pretty funny. We just ignore you and you get over it pretty quickly. You do tell us "no-no" quite often and shake your finger at us. It is hysterical... I mean a really bad habit and we never EVER laugh and say it back to you while telling you how cute you are. Note to self -- probably why you treat Mom and Dad differently. :) You give great big hugs and kisses too!
Teething - You had a spell a couple weeks ago where you were teething big time
(which is the first we ever really noticed you in pain with your teeth)
and you would chew on your fingers, drool and whine. After a dose of
Motrin, you would act completely normal, so we figured it was teeth.
You were back to normal after a few days. We do notice you rubbing your
gums with your fingers sometimes pretty hard, but haven't had to
medicate you at all since! You have 12 teeth. Your canines are the
ones that seem to be causing you some trouble. We've started brushing your teeth at night and you love it. Your big bro hated brushing his teeth for about 3 years, so this is awesome and makes life very easy.
You still suck your thumb when you are tired and at night and sleep with a blanket, "b" is what we call it. I called it my "b" growing up, and that's what we called Grady's as well! You are still in your crib... thank goodness. I am shocked you haven't figured your way out of it yet... knock on wood.
Eating - You still like most any food we give you if you are in the mood for eating. You went through a spell a few months ago where you wouldn't touch vegetables. Luckily, you are back to eating everything in sight. You snack from 3-6 every night and then eat a full dinner most nights as well. I try to hold off on snacks but you are a persistent lil bug! You carry a snack-trap cup with you always and love to use it when we are out and about. It usually is filled with goldfish or the organic Elmo crackers. Your favorite foods seem to be white rice, green beans, berries, eggs and all breakfast foods really. You love ice cream as well! You drink very well from your sippy, but have figured out how to smash the nipple just right so all the liquid pours out on the table, floor, car-seat, etc. Today in the car I saw you doing it and told you no. You told me no-no back and then threw it across the backseat. I'm pretty confident had it of been Daddy you would've handed it back nicely to him with a big smile.
We got your first hair cut a while back and you handled it like a pro -- calm and happy -- typical Cole! You lost all those precious baby curls, but you do look really cute and grown up now!
Speech - You say lots and lots of words now. The cutest word you say is "shoes" and you pronounce it "soos"... you say it over and over again and play with them at the same time. You also pronounce "juice", "jews"... Again, so sweet. You tell us long sentences of all kinds of things while looking at us very seriously. It sounds like a foreign language most of the time. Occasionally we catch a word. I'm working on "I love you" with you and all the farm animals. You do point to my nose, eyes, teeth, hair and ears on command. You regularly call Grady "D". You are starting to put two words together. When you see Grady you say, "Hey D!" You also like to yell and shake your finger at the dogs. I have no idea where you picked this up. You have also said "Bye Daddy" a time or two when he drops you off at Stephanie's house.
You still play pretty well independently, and enjoy playing with Grady... more like he plays with you and you run with him or laugh at something silly he does. You do have a somewhat cranky time of night - from 5-6 when we are home and getting ready for dinner. You want food and me to hold you... which is impossible! To make the food that you so desperately want, I need to be able to use both of my hands. You still take 2 naps a day, but we are about to drop the morning nap. We spend every Saturday morning at Grady's soccer games and you miss your nap anyway. You have also started waking up a bunch during the afternoon nap. I have a feeling that once we drop that morning nap, you will sleep a good 3 plus hours in the afternoon.
You wear a size 5 diaper, 2T clothing and a size 6 shoes. I think you weight about 28 pounds and are about 33 inches tall. We'll see Tuesday at your flu shot. I'm opting to skip the 18 month well check because I have no concerns or questions. You are all caught up with immunizations until 2 years old anyway!
Mommy and Daddy love you so much buddy and feel so very blessed to be your Mom and Dad. Your Brother told me the other day that you were his best friend... we all love you to pieces! Happy 1 and a 1/2 years old!!!
Love,
Mommy
