18 Months

I started this post on Saturday, but obviously didn't finish. We are talking about someone who hasn't written in his baby book for quite some time so I'm certainly not going for mom of the year. I'm glad I have this blog!

Our little man is half way to two years old! I thought I would be really sad for him to outgrow the baby stage, but I think this is such a fun age. Their little personalities really start to show and they say and do the cutest things...and not so cute things sometimes.

He has really become a chatterbox. Sometimes you can't understand a thing he is saying, but he is definitely increasing his vocabulary. He recognizes pictures in books and says the words. Books are still his most favorite thing. He does motions to songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus and Baby Bumble Bee. So. darn. cute.

He still doesn't particularly care for vegetables, but he ate some carrots the other day so maybe we are making progress. He eats the best at breakfast. Lunch and dinner just depend on the day. I know he isn't starving though because he weighed 29 lbs. at the doctor last week.

When you ask him what a monkey says he balls up his fists, wrinkles his nose, shows his teeth and shakes. I'm not exactly sure what kind of monkey does this, but maybe he knows something I don't.

He likes to wrestle and anytime you are laying down he will attack you. But he also has his sweet side and loves to give kisses.

He has gotten several molars, but he won't let me near them so I don't know an exact count.

We have been giving him showers sometimes instead of baths and he wants to do it himself. I put soap in his hands and he will scrub down. Such a little man. Then he likes to run around naked and scream like a crazy person. Just so you know he gets this from his father, not me. :)

I can't believe we are already talking about "big boy" beds, potty training and early preschool. We are going to transition him to a new bed before too long. You would think an elephant was sleeping in there the way it sounds. He flip flops and bangs his head and gets his legs stuck. He can also easily climb out because he is so tall. He goes to sleep really well and I just hope the transition doesn't ruin that. He tries to take his diaper off and says "poo-poo" and loves to flush the toilet. I'm not sure I'm ready for the task of potty training, but it would be nice to have one out of diapers (or almost) when the new baby arrives. I hear potty training boys is difficult. Maybe I should start now. Suggestions anyone?

He has only taken one nap a day since February. He sleeps anywhere from an hour to two hours starting at about noon. He goes to bed at 8:30 and sleeps until 7 or 8, 7 on the weekdays and we have to wake him up sometimes.

I believe in positive parenting and therefore constantly yelling and spanking are not something we really want to do. Not that I don't believe in spanking at all, but I don't think it is always necessary or effective in every situation. I don't really think it would be effective with Hayden anyway. He is quite stubborn. We have started timeout. We ask him nicely not to do something and when he continues to do so he has to sit in his room for 1.5 to 2 minutes. (Rule of thumb is one minute per year of age) This seems to be working well and when he comes out he is just as sweet as pie!

I could go on and on about how much fun this little guy is! For a while when you would ask him where the baby was he would point to my belly. Now when you ask him he points to himself.

That's right sweet boy. You are still my baby!