Happy Half Birthday, L.J.!
I can’t believe L.J. is already halfway to his second birthday. I think it really hit me when I was in Buy Buy Baby recently and it occurred to me that most of the items in the store don’t really apply to us anymore. We don’t need bottles and pacis or baby swings and bouncers. Gone are the days of burp rags and sink tubs.
Instead we are ushering in a new phase of adventure and discovery. We are delighting in the initial beginnings of conversations with L.J., of seeing him learn new words almost daily. We are continually amazed at how much he knows – the way he runs to the door if we say it’s time to go bye-bye or the way he can follow simple instructions.
Everything is something to explore with our insatiably curious toddler. He may not talk much yet, but he is very smart and clever. He doesn’t sit still for a moment…unless he’s trying to figure something out. Sometimes I feel like we can literally see the wheels turning in his mind.
With greater understanding and budding independence comes one of the less-loved aspects of early toddlerhood: fits of frustration. We have definitely had our battles this month when our definitions of appropriate have conflicted with L.J.’s. I’m still not sure what is so endlessly fascinating about exploring the kitchen trash can. Or what’s so incredibly insulting about having a diaper change.
As I mentioned last week, we (Mike and I) are muddling through the ins and outs of discipline with a strong-willed child who is still a bit too young to understand that “No!” doesn’t mean “Try it again three times!!” We are also working very hard to teach L.J. how to share with others. Consistency is key, but we will get there!
18-Month Stats
Weight: 28 lbs, 11 oz – 94th percentile
Height: 30” – 74th percentile
Head – 88th percentile
Vocabulary
L.J.’s vocabulary has increased since his tubes were inserted, so we are very pleased about that. He’s still behind but is making great progress!
Right now, L.J. babbles a lot and we’ve gotten pretty good at deciphering what he wants. Below are the words in his repertoire:
Mama
Dada
Nana
Bye/Bye-Bye
Thank You
Hi
Dog (pronounced “daugh”)
Cup (though sounds nothing like the actual word)
This?/That? (pronounced “dah?”)
Outside (pronounced “sigh”)
Cracker
Car
Eating
Uggh. L.J. has continued to be incredibly picky, eschewing most meats, vegetables and fruits. Well, we found out last week that this isn’t necessarily true. So now we are muddling through how to get him to eat well at home like he does in school. It’s a work newly in progress, so I’ll have to report back.
Funny LJ-ism: He enjoys yogurt, but if it has fruit chunks in it he spits the fruit out.
Sleeping
L.J. is still a good sleeper. Thankfully, he seems to have outgrown his 9 p.m. happy hour. He typically goes to bed without a fuss and usually wakes up around 6:45. He still takes 2 naps at home on the weekends. I don’t think he’s quite ready to give up that second nap yet, so we plan to let him phase it out when he’s ready.
Playing
L.J. hit a big milestone this month – he moved up to the next room at school! He is doing great with the transition and apparently playing hard, as he went to bed before 7 p.m. several nights the first week!
L.J. now loves to read books and I’m happy to say that “reading” is one of his favorite activities! I’ve waited – and hoped – for a long time for this to happen!
Several toys that L.J. has been enjoying this month include his tricycle, toy cars and garage and his Little People pirate ship. He likes almost any kind of stacking toy. He also frequently plays with a made-up toy – turning an unused wipes holder into a shape sorter.
Outside is still his favorite place to be. He likes neighborhood walks and the park is still a highlight. He is able to climb independently on the toddler side (under the watchful eye of mommy or daddy of course).
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