18 Months

A is quite entertaining these days. He loves to put on a show for family members over Skype, get our attention with various noises, and perform on cue when he sees something has amused us.





He's also starting to earn his keep by helping unload the dishwasher, putting away his toys, and throwing things away for us. I love his desire to help and really want to encourage it. And it's nice not to have to bend over to unload the bottom rack of the dishwasher.

He has quite an agenda. I don't know the details of that agenda, but it involves rearranging any furniture that he is able to move. And also any crates, boxes, etc. that we encounter while out and about. If it's not bolted down, it must be moved.

Walking around with this bag on his head amuses him to no end.

He surprises us all the time now with what he can climb up on and what he's able to reach. Now that he's figured out he can climb up on benches we can't walk by one without him hoisting himself up and turning around into a seated position while smiling proudly.



"No" is a new word this month (surprising it took this long!). I read that around 18 months kids start asserting their independence more, and I'm definitely seeing that. I often ask him if I can give him a kiss, and he always obliges by offering up a cheek. Today I asked him and he started to tilt his head, then he smirked and SAID NO. Obviously I kiss attacked him for that one.


Other new words include: baboon, moon, cheek, light, leash, duck, please (pease!), truck, cow... I'm losing track. His pediatrician was quite impressed.

He also babbles at us very earnestly with real words interspersed. We can't wait to understand more of what he's thinking. Occasionally he does put together a string of recognizable words--he walked over to the front door one evening and said "My daddy be back." He also sings a lot--sometimes he's clearly composing his own lyrics ("mama, mama, mamaaaa, daddy! daddy bye! daddy daddy, dog, duck, kak [quack]") and sometimes it's hard to tell if maybe he's singing songs we just don't recognize. I keep trying to video him, but he clams up as soon as he sees the camera...


He's at such a fun age: He loves exploring his world and everything is so fascinating to him. And you can just see his brain making connections sometimes. We are so blessed.