Connor: 18 Months (or so)

(I apologize for any formatting issues.  My laptop's acting up so I'm using Blogger and I don't have as much leeway with picture placement, etc.)

Well, while I’ve been not-blogging, Connor’s been growing like a weed, both physically and mentally.  We had his 18-month check-up mid-August and he weighed in at 30 lbs (98^th percentile), stood 34” tall (93^rd percentile), and had a head measurement in the above-99^th percentile!  Luckily his noggin has always been big so we aren’t concerned that it’s more or less off the charts.  No shots at that last visit, and he randomly showed the doctor his problem-solving skills and was more than happy to show off his excellent walking ability so she is happy with all his development.

We moved right before that appointment and although we didn’t go far, it was enough of a jump that we had to switch Connor from his home daycare, which we LOVED, to a traditional one.  I was very sad to leave Ashley, but I think the timing was good for a toddler who’s learning to test limits.  He adapted right away to his new school environment and we couldn’t be happier with where he spends his days.

Connor is still a very good eater, but he has more of an opinion about what he wants to eat.  Lately, he’s been eating a big breakfast (one day he ate two waffles, a sausage patty, some raspberries, and an adult-sized Greek yogurt!), a good lunch, snacks, and then dinner is usually pretty good but if there are going to be food vetoes, that’s when we get them.  He takes after his mama in the carb department – never met one he didn’t like!

It seems like Connor is learning a word a day.  Even if he isn’t saying them – or his version of them – it’s amazing how much he understands.  When we first moved, I couldn’t find the bath pitchers we use for rinsing the shampoo out of his hair.  So I leaned him back under the faucet and rinsed his hair that way.  He didn’t fight me but he didn’t relax into the position either.  I sat him up and said, “Want to do it again?”  He shook his head.

 

Connor’s spoken vocabulary includes: dum-dum (yes, usually said together and meaning jump-jump), ball, bubba (bubble), mama, dada, tee (which could be Monte or Tori/kitty), bye, hi, pee (for a certain body part), woof, and duck (stuck).  There may be a couple more that I'm not recalling or recognizing; it's hard to be a toddler translater.

 

He hasn’t gained much sign language, but that’s mostly because we’re working on his talking.  But at school they continue to learn new signs and the most recent one is thank you.  I haven’t seen him use that one yet.  We still use more, eat, drink, all done, and please on a regular basis.  He’s learning to calm down if he’s upset and use please to ask for something.  It’s heartbreaking, however, when he does that for something he was never going to get anyway (like a popsicle after breakfast) and he doesn’t understand yet that it’s not the right time but if he eats a good dinner, he can probably have one later.  He doesn’t understand all that, but it doesn’t stop me from explaining it.

Connor is more into reading books himself these days, which is nice to see.  He’ll get a book and walk over to the chair in his room, ask for help getting in it, and then “read” his book.  Works out well for me when I’m putting his clothes away or doing some laundry (in our new house, the laundry room is upstairs close to his room).  He’s starting to be interested in those first puzzles and he still loves balls.  Bri gave us Lyla and Maxie’s old water table and he could play at that thing for hours, I think.  

  

 

Our sun porch is the best playpen ever.  Connor can go in and out (sun porch and house, not sun porch and outside) and be totally supervised without us being on top of him.  It’s great that he gets some independent play time – and I get some independent get-stuff-done (like sweeping, emptying the dishwasher or cooking dinner) time.

 The McMom gave us this little wooden walking toy (a dinosaur at the end of a stick with a ball on the end) that Connor loves to walk around with.  It’s one of those things he’ll take out on the sun porch and if we then go outside, it goes with him and he pushes it all over the place.  He also still loves to use the little walker because he can run with it and, well, what McBaby doesn’t want to go fast!

Connor has all but given up his morning nap unless we’re in the car and then he will likely take a snooze.  Now he just takes a post-lunch nap that lasts between 2 and 3 hours.  He’s been sleeping great at daycare since day one.  I have a feeling all that learning and structure is exhausting!

Our toddler isn’t really showing any signs of being ready for potty-training.  He will point at or grab his wet diaper, but he isn’t particularly bothered by it.  What does bother him though?  Getting his diaper changed.  He fights it every.single.time lately.

Oh!  Connor gives kisses (on the lips, of course, cuz that’s where kisses go), says bye unprompted and at the appropriate time, and blows kisses complete with the “mwah!” sound.  He loves to sit on the McHusband’s tractor both when it’s just sitting and when the McHusband is mowing and they ride together.  Lucky for Monte, Connor also enjoys long walks and is content to ride in his stroller while we explore the new-to-us area around our new house. 

Connor knows several body parts: nose, eyes, ear, mouth, tongue, foot/feet/toes.  He understands commands like “Get in your chair” or “Throw it away.”  He also understands that a phone is for talking and loves to “use” a cell phone, cordless phone, or play phone to chat it up with his friends.  And he likes for things to be the way they are supposed to be: doors/cabinets need closed, his bib need to be on, both feet need socks, etc.  Wonder where he gets that from…?

I’m sure I’ve left out some of his advances and I know I have glossed over some of the not-so-fun parts of having a toddler who is coming into his own, but I’m thinking this post has to end sometime.  The most important thing I can say is that we are bursting with love for our not-so-little guy and we look forward to spending quality time with him, whether that’s an hour after work during the week or all day on the weekends.  Although I’m not gonna lie, I do also start to look forward to his bedtime on Sunday… #keepinitreal