One and a Half

Liam,

You are eighteen months old now which is also the big ONE and a HALF! I know I'm a couple days late but it's only because we had a very busy weekend with it being Easter weekend and we also went to Fairmont Hot Springs.

You are turning into quite the little talker and are even starting to say a couple words at the same time. When you want juice or milk you say, "juice...juice" or "milk...milk", and one time you said, "mommy milk". If you want more of something you say, "more". If we ask you a question like if you're all done, you say, "yes". I love it that we can understand you more and can ask you something and have you reply what you want. I'm sure you're loving it too and aren't getting frustrated as much. Some other words you are saying is hi and bye, bubbles, and your new favorite word is NO. Yes you have learned the big bad NO. We knew it was inevitable and you would go through your NO phase...at least we hope it's just a phase. You are getting really good at throwing fits too and will say no when you don't want to do something and even do a high pitch scream if you get mad or someone takes something from you. So far it hasn't been to bad but the terrible two's are just around the corner. The time change has been really tough on you because now that it stays lighter in the evenings longer all you want to do is stay outside. It is really hard to get you come inside for dinner or even bed. Sometimes we are able to distract you with a bath but most of the time we just have to bring you inside and you throw a fit for a few minutes. Luckily it hasn't affected your sleeping habits too much! You sleep through the night still, it's just sometime it takes you a little longer to fall asleep than others. You get up at the same time no matter what time you go to bed so we always try to put you down at 7:30 or 8 pm and on the weekends sometimes not until 9 pm.

You've been pretty healthy this month except you had a minor stomach bug the very first week. It was your first week in the new room at daycare, the waddler room, and you weren't feeling very good one day. You couldn't hold your lunch down or your afternoon snack so the daycare called me at work and told me you weren't feeling very good and thought we should come get you. So I called daddy since he had just gotten off work and had him come get you. When he got there you were in the office on the floor on a blanket with a bucket between your legs. You were crying and the director was trying to comfort you but you had just thrown up again. As soon as you saw daddy you called out to him and reached for him. Daddy said you didn't look good at all and were a pale white. Needless to say you didn't make it home before you threw up again.  Most of it landed in your lap but you got daddy's new truck. His first mess to clean up! We put you to bed early that night with a big bottle of milk and the next day you were fine. So it must of been a 24-hr stomach bug or something that didn't agree with you. This is the first time you've thrown up and we've never felt so helpless. The look on your face was heartbreaking, you just looked so scared. So we were so thankful it only lasted one day. The rest of the month you had a couple colds here and there and a cough that just won't go away but nothing to be too concerned about. This Friday is your eighteen month check-up so we'll get an update on how you're doing then.

You've been in the new room at daycare, the waddler room, for little over a month now and you're doing really well in there. Every time we pick you up from daycare you're always smiling and running around playing. Sometimes you don't even notice us walking in and we actually have to get your attention. As soon as you see us though, you'll run straight to where your coat is hanging up so we can put it on you and go. And lately you won't leave without bringing your blanket home with you. Normally we just leave it there all week long and only bring it home on the weekends but you've gotten really attached to it and want to bring it with you in the mornings and on the way home. This seems to be the only times you really want it so we aren't too concerned. We just need to make sure we bring it back to daycare so you have a blanket for nap time. We thought you'd have a hard time adjusting to how they do naps in this room but they told us you're doing really well. You don't sleep in a crib anymore, instead everyone sleeps on mats spread out throughout the room. We asked them how they get you all to stay on the mats and go to sleep and they said with a lot of patience. You stay on the mat but sometimes take a while to fall asleep. So to make it easier we always make sure you have your favorite blanket. You also get to sit at a big boy table in regular chairs and you use utensils more and they work on saying please and thank you. They also work on more independence and like you to be able to access your own stuff; your coat, clothes, etc. You have your own bin with no lid on it so you can grab stuff as you please. You really seem to enjoy being in this room which makes us really happy because we know you're happy.

Happy eighteen month birthday sweet little boy! You truly are an amazing little boy and you bring so much joy to my life. Your smile and laugh are contagious and I can't help but smile back whether it be from just a smile or one of your many laughs. How did we get so lucky!?!

Love,
Momma