18 Months

Dear Sam,

First, I must apologize for no 17 month post.  Truthfully, it was the 9th or 10th of August before I realized that the 7th of the month had past.  I had every intention of getting the post done, but by the middle of the month I could no longer remember what had happened when, so here we are.  Yes, you are the 2nd child, but we love you lots.

We go to the doctor Monday for you well-check, so we'll get new measurements then.  Mid-August you were still 26 pounds like you were at 15 months.  I feel certain you've grown in height.  We are retiring most of your 18m cotton one-piece outfits and some of your bubbles.  You have a pair of Carter's 18m pants that fit, but I think after a few wash cycles they'll be too short.  It is almost time to think about the next size in pajamas, and we'll be measuring your foot soon for fall shoes.  You are wearing a size 4 diaper.

Eating has been a bit of a challenge lately.  Things you loved like french fries, waffles, and pancakes can be hit or miss, depending on your mood or your location.  Breakfast and lunch still go pretty well, but dinner usually turns you into a puddle of tears.  You have no desire to try anything new.  Sometimes you will pick it up and put it right back down.  You still get what we get for dinner, but I make sure there is at least one thing you like on your plate.  Dinner is usually a lot of yogurt or cheese and applesauce or fruit.  You did eat chicken spaghetti last week after crying over it the night before.  Maybe we are slowly turning a corner.  You've had your first juice in the last 2 months, but only the remnants of Avery's juice box.  Luckily you haven't shown interest in it since, but you did suck it down.  For several months you would steal Avery's sippy cups with straws, so you now have your own.  We got you your own cup of water at Applebee's tonight and you drank 2 cups like a pro.  I think hot dogs have been your only new major food introduction.

I took away your morning nap when we came home from the beach and you did well.  You were going down for you afternoon nap around 12:30 but now it is anytime from 12:30-1:00 and occasionally later if we're out.  You sleep 1.5-2 hours.  You wake up around 6:30 a.m. and were sometimes sleeping later at the end of the summer.  You still go to bed at 7 p.m.

You talk all the time and are adding more and more real words to the mix, although a lot are still only understandable to your family.  Daddy is now Deda and Mommy is Mema.  You call Daddy more than me.  In the last 2 months you've added go go go, teacher {from Brown Bear Brown Bear}, snack, achoo, ball, Caillou (Yayou), rock rock {pronounced with Cs}, baby, chip, beep beep, please {meeee}, and Poppa.  You've been saying Yaya for awhile.  I'm sure there are more that I'm forgetting and many that I'm not picking up on yet.

You are still happy to just play and see what you can find.  Lately you love to push the golf clubs around inside and outside and throw the balls in front of you.  You still love your books and have added a nursery rhyme book, Sniff!, and Toes, Ears, and Nose! to your favorites.  You do love TV but rarely sit to watch it for long periods.  You like the Disney favorites Mickey, pirates, Sofia, and Doc McStuffins, and you also like Caillou.  You will bring the remote if you are not pleased with what's on.  We watched a little Barney this summer and you seemed to like that like Avery did.  You love to wander around outside and have no problem wandering away from us.  You are busy, busy both inside and outside.  It is not uncommon to find you on the living room sofa looking out the window, about to tumble off the ottoman, or halfway up the stairs.  One day you made it all the way up and went to your room to turn your sound on.  My bathroom products or kitchen items are never in the bathroom or kitchen thanks to you.  And yes, we have babyproofed the dangerous items and areas, other than the steps.  As busy as you are, you are still happy to cuddle multiple times during the day.  You are not a hugger, but will lean your sweet head in for a kiss anytime you are asked.  You and Avery get along very well and love each other very much, except for the times you don't.  Sometimes Avery gives you a hard time because she doesn't realize you will soon be able to give her one back.  You are starting to show her it's coming though.

You seem to be out of the fussy stage that you were in several weeks ago.  You were drooling, chewing on your fingers, and fussing in your sleep.  I even took you to the doctor but nothing was wrong.  I'm thinking that your 2 year molars must have been moving.  I don't think they have broken through and you don't seem bothered now.  You are usually very happy.

Sam, I can't believe we are halfway through your 2nd year and halfway to 3!  You are growing, changing, and learning faster than I thought possible.  I could kiss your face and look at your bright smile and eyes all day.  You are such a gift to our family.

We love you to bits and pieces!
Mommy and Daddy