18 Months

I just realized I never did an 18 months post for P! He has been 19 months old for two days, so here is what he is up to these days.

Dear Preston,

At your check up a month ago, your stats were:
Weight: 26.6 lbs (50th percentile)
Length: 32.5 in (50th percentile)
Head: 75th percentile

What an age. I LOVE this age. It's these days that I am thankful for an extremely hard newborn and infant. I tell people this all the time, but when you FINALLY stopped crying nonstop from his colic and reflux at around 6 months old, FINALLY started sleeping and taking naps at 7 months old, and FINALLY stopped projectile spitting up at 11 months old, I felt like I had mastered parenting. :) We attended your cousin's baptism recently - you won't see anything about your baptism because we had a purple-faced, blood curdling screaming infant that everyone was afraid of. haha! ;) Case in point:

May 2011. Brian's face is priceless. I might be smiling, but I was pouring sweat!

It's these days I can look back, pat ourselves on the back for getting through it, and enjoy you - our precious, all-boy toddler.

Disclaimer - I work at a children's hospital - for a little while longer anyway - and I know very well that it could have been much worse. We had a healthy baby, and that was most important.

I say all of this, because I think being put through the ringer that first year gave me the beautiful gift of living in the moment and enjoying what comes as it comes. As our pediatrician says, it made me "the perfect toddler mom." It taught me to be brave, flexible, and gave me the perspective I needed. I was just telling some friends lately that I feel like a much tougher (non-weak) person since becoming a mom. I'm amazed at the patience you are teaching me, son. For me, toddlerhood is pure bliss.

He loves this toy he got from his Nannie!

Here are just a few of the things I love about you lately:

• You can sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Jesus Loves Me, and a few other songs. But no matter what song, you always end with "eeee iiii eeee iiii oooooooooo".
• You can count "1, 2, 3, 2, 5, 7...." We are still working on it. :)
• You can say so many words. Everyday a new word comes up. You told me you were "happy!" the other day and it melted my heart. You're most recent phrases are "awesome!" and "yay football!" :)
• You're starting to switch from mama and dada to mommy and daddy.
• You can name every character on Sesame Street and most of the characters on Yo Gabba Gabba.
• You are rowdy at school and have to go to time out fairly frequently. Mainly for pushing or hitting. They are teaching you to be gentle with your friends. Of course, being a worrier, I wanted to talk to the teacher more about this. When you get over-stimulated or super excited about something, you basically go crazy. As your teacher said - "He has loads of energy!" You'll show this by throwing toys, hitting, pushing or "acting out" all in the name of fun. You'll usually laugh as you're doing it.  All we can really do is watch you and make sure you don't hurt people, and teach you that gentle is the way to go.
• You've got a mouth full of teeth. You have most of your molars, and there are only a few holes left. I had no idea teething was going to last two entire years. We will be very happy when you have them all!
• You have always loved books, but now you really love them. You're always bringing us books, and you have some of you favorite books memorized. You "read" them to us!
• We were dancing with him in the playroom the other day, and for the first time, you jumped with both feet leaving the ground at the same time and said "jump! jump! jump!" These are the little things parents notice and get a major thrill from!
• You are getting physically stronger. You can go up and down the stairs by yourself (although we stay right next to you for safety), climb up and down off of furniture on your own, and even try to climb over gates. 
• You're still an awesome eater. So thankful for that! Not a picky bone in your body and you are NEVER full. We have to watch portions or you will make yourself sick. 
• You are strong willed and pretty stubborn. I don't think that is just you being a toddler either. ;)
• You love art and music. You do an art project and sing songs everyday at school, and your teacher says you just light up when it's time for both activities. You can also carry a tune - could you have inherited our musical genes? 

Showing off some of that lovely toddler attitude!

This is how I play with my toys now - dangerously. 

Ikea special... he loves this thing.

Eating one of his favorites - strawberry yogurt!

"You're bring very sneaky, mommy..."

Preston, you are SO FUN. You light up any room and are just pure joy. Your daddy and I love you more than you'll ever know. We love watching you learn and grow. It is so neat to hear you say words and express yourself. The connections you make to things at this stage are just fascinating and of course, your daddy and I think you are BRILLIANT. We love your personality and your spunk for life. Thank you for making us laugh and for teaching us things, too. Happy year and a half. We love you, Preston!