Jake - 18 months

Why does 18 months old sound so much older? 
These days:

• Jake has 12 teeth - the big molars he's cut so far haven't given him too much grief, thank Goodness.
• He can still wear some of his 2T clothes, but most of those pants are too tight around his middle and the shirts are riding close to his belly button, so I bought him some 4T stuff yesterday (3T's weight recommentions stops at 32lbs). 
• size 7 shoe

words (doesn't say them all consistently)

• hey
• oh? - hello (into his toy phone)
• bye bye or bye
• ahhh nuh - all done
• gah - block
• yiy - lilly
• ticka ticka - tickle tickle
• baaw - ball (this one's a constant)
• dada
• mama
• shoe
• nigh nigh - night night
• eye - points to his eye or at/in yours
• okay
• tee - teeth
• no - nose
• go
• uh oh
• nana - banana (i haven't heard this, but aunt Shelby heard him say it while pointing to bananas)
• no (this one's popular, too, although it doesn't always mean no.  sometimes it means yes)
• + a million words of jibber jabber that only he understands.  He "talks" all day long.
• Even though he doens't have many words, it blows my mind what he can understand.  Sometimes, to test his comprehension, I'll tell him a weird task to do like, "Jake, put the ball on top of your choo choo train" and he'll do it! 
• He looks at you very intently and speaks in jibberish sentences.  He knows exactly what he's saying.  It's only a matter of time before we know, too!

food:
Good Lord this child loves food.  There are some things he doesn't like (green beans, in particular), but he is not picky, overall.  He would truly eat all day long if we would let him.  I feel strongly that he would be obese if we didn't try so hard to feed him a healthy diet.  Drinks milk at wake and bed and water during the day.  And I know I've said here that most breakdowns are related to food.

schedule:

• 6:30/7am wake and milk (he sits on the couch with me and snuggles while he has his milk.  This is one of my favorite parts of the day)
• 7:15/30 breakfast
• (no more morning nap.  he dropped it on his own.  we're still in the transition period though, so he can be a bit fussy mid morning when he used to nap)
• 12:00 lunch
• 12:30 nap (2 - 2 1/2 hours)
• 3:30 snack
• 5:30/6pm supper
• 6/6:15 bath
• 6:30/7 milk and bed  - He likes bed time and goes down very easily.  Every once in a while, he'll fuss for about 20 seconds, but that's rare.  I'm thankful that he's such a great sleeper.

potty:

• Ms. Bea started him potty training (i.e. learning his BM schedule and sitting him on the toilet based on that until he goes).  Though we do have a little potty, I am not doing any traning, as I don't think he's anywhere close to being ready and I'm not wasting my precious little time with him in the mornings and nights on the potty.  BUT, I am thankful that she's getting the ball rolling.
• He is still soaking wet from chest to knees when he wakes up every morning.  He just lets it all out during the night, I guess, plus he sleeps on his tummy, so that doesn't help.  At least it doesn't bother him.  And it helps me stay on top of the laundry.

favorites:

• hoots (the owl lovey)
• lambey (the lamb lovey who stands in for hoots when he's being washed, which is often because poor hoots gets tee tee'd on almost every night)
• If both lovies are out of commissoin, any soft animal will do (thank God)
• his thumb - only his left.  I still love that he's a thumb sucker.
• balls, balls, balls - he LOVES balls (baaws)  He has a medium sized ball from one of those cages at the drug store which has made it's way into the bath with him several times and into his crib a few times, too.  He hugs it in his sleep, bless his heart.  He also looked up at the moon the other evening and said, "baaw!".
• eating
• brushing his teeth  - he gets very excited in the mornings and at night when it's time to brush his teeth.
• his potty - since he's not "using" it, he uses it to store his toys. it is also a lot of fun to open and close over and over and over again. :/
• being outside. 
• taking small toys in and out of containers or larger toys
• sitting on things.  especially balls and his Old McDonald tractor. 

dislikes:

• being told "no"
• having his hair rinsed during his bath.  He gasps for air, his eyes bulge out, and he stands right up and tries to climb out of the tub every time.  but then he loves the bath when that part is over.
• not eating

Jake is so animated and has the funniest facial expressions.  He is very silly and loves to make us laugh.  He is easy going and makes transitions well.  He plays alone well, but likes to know we're not far away.  He is busy, busy, busy and into everything.  He rides in the car well and is pretty good when we're out to eat (this depends).  As sweet as he is, he does have a stubborn and fiery streak and can give us a run for our money.  This is a tough age in that he's into everything and it can be exhausting, but it is also the most fun age so far.  What a blessing he is to us every day.  It is the joy of my life watching his personality develop.


18 Month check up (3/6)
Jake's check up Thursday went well. He is right on target with milestones and growth.

Stats
weight: 29.2 lbs - 85% 
height: 32.8 inches - 61%
head circ: 19.5 inches - 89%

even though it's blurry, I love this picture.