18 Months came like 6 Months did: immediately with changes. I remember Bradley sitting up like no big deal on his six month birthday, and 1 year didn't feel that different from 11 months or 13 months. 18 months feels different.
My sweet little baby has grown up into a
feeling-filled, dramatic toddler. I shall endearing refrain from
calling him my baby, for he is now a toddler, officially a year and a half. I think he also graduates from X number of months old to being solely X years, X.5 years and almost X years. Which, after 18 months of counting months, I'm kind of relieved.
The biggest changes happened this week, and I shall share a la list form.
1) EATING! The week prior to this one, Bradley would eat a huge breakfast, half of a lunch and literally a single bite at dinner (sometimes not even). I am a very relaxed mom (much to the horror of some family), and I tried not to let his not eating bother me. I would think about him going to bed hungry, no dinner in his belly and feel badly for him, but I also figured that if he was hungry, he would eat. I guess he wasn't hungry...until the dinner before he turned 18 months. He had TWO huge plates of spaghetti. Then, on his 18 month date, he had three plates of dinner: what we were having (rice, edamame and dumplings), then a peanut butter sandwich, then a bowl of Cheerios, then grapes and an entire apple. Now he's eating like this at every meal. I am impressed.
2) Opening doors. Our new apartment has lever doorknobs, not round ones. He is not only tall enough now to reach, but he's smart enough to figure them out. There goes peeing alone (Note to self: lock the door.)
3) Speaking in (tiny) sentences. He's always been eager to repeat what we say and learn the meanings of words that are important to him (more, all done, nurse, cookie, cracker, blueberry). However, this week, he said his second sentence (first was Hi Dad the week we were moving from Oklahoma): "Muh blue-blue peeeeeas" (More blueberries please). I almost fell off the couch. He can say (something he wants) peeeeas. Or more more (something he wants). I'm trying to teach him to add "Mom" or "Dad" to the end of "I love you" or "Goodnight" but he's not quite there. He loves to go to the window, say "Snow!" and then turn to me to say "Cold" which is close to a sentence.
4) Pronouncing different consonances in a single word. He has always repeated the first consonant sound in a word to mean the word (for example: muh-muh for Muppets, koo-koo for cookie, blue-blue for blueberries). Just yesterday, I taught him to say Muh-Pits, and if he concentrates, he can say it! If he's too excited, he'll revert to his Muh-muh.
5) Immediately repeating what we say. He is picking up new words (not sure how much he understands), but he can repeat everything from coffee to pillow to whatever we're doing/eating. We are definitely watching what we say - and censoring some of the podcasts we listen to in the car.
6) Critical Thinking/Making Connections. Yesterday, he was reading a book with me and pointing out things in the book. He saw a cherry and said Cherry! Then ran away. When he came back, he brought me the DVD of Wreck it Ralph and said "Ralph! Ralph! Cherry!" If you haven't see this movie, first go see it - it's awesome. Second, Ralph does eat a big Pac-Man cherry in the movie, but it's an insignificant part of the movie and lasts for maybe 30 seconds. I know every parent says it, but MY KID IS A GENIUS!
7) Growing Taller/Not Sitting Still. He is officially out of his 6-12 month pants! Woo hoo! Short legs Buckley has grown an inch and a half since January 4. He is now solidly in his 12-18 month pants without me rolling the bottom (I rolled the bottoms of his green pants for MONTHS). Also, I can't hardly get a good picture of him nowadays because he is constantly running or climbing or falling down or walking away. I keep on trying though.
8) He has weaned. This is such a hard thing to write about because it's very uncommon to nurse a baby past one year. Also, when I first started breastfeeding, my goal was 3 months. My journey has been the most unpredictable part of motherhood for me, and I'm still not sure what I think - or if I will breastfeeding my next kid, but that's another story. Regardless, Bradley has been nursing only in the mornings for a few months now. Just about 10-15 minutes of cuddles and nursing. I think it helps him wake up because he's not a morning person, but he clearly doesn't need the milk. But, he did seem to need me, that close bond. But yesterday (the day after 18 months), he just woke up and wanted to eat cereal with Bryan. Just like that, it was over. I'm ready (and have been), but it went without fanfare, without notice, without a look back.
9) Tantrums! Just random, awful, loud, horrible tantrums. Tantrums when I ask if he wants to play. Tantrums when I give him a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast. Random tantrums in the middle of playing. Tantrums that include flailing around on the floor. SO MANY FEELINGS. ALL THE FEELS!
Thus ends his baby chapter. He is our toddler now, our little man. He can eat by himself with a fork and spoon, turn on lights, throw away diapers, bring me a clean diaper, put his dirty clothes in the hamper, clean up his toys, put Legos together, pick out a movie, and give the best tiny hugs. He's in a gymnastics class now (and I'm not sure who loves is more, me or him!), goes to the library once a week and plays in the YMCA pool once a week.
They say it goes by fast, and I'm not sure if I'm being contrary just because that's my nature, but it feels like a lifetime ago since he was born. Even his first birthday feels like forever ago. I'm cherishing as much as I can, taking lots of pictures and videos and being in the moment when I'm with my Bradley.
Happy 18 Months to Bradley Douglas!
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