Baby Mac - 18 Months

Dear Baby Mac,

I take back every time I've said that it's the best age, because really, RIGHT NOW, 18 months, THIS is the BEST age EVER.  I mean it this time.  I don't know how it's possible, but you just keep getting more and more amazing.  Your dad and I fight over which one of us is your number 1 fan...it's a toss-up.  We are both absolutely crazy about you.  Seriously, it's bad....we need more hobbies or a couple more kids.  Well, at least you'll have something to talk to your therapist about in the future.  

This has been such a fun month for all of us.  We have done so much and you've really turned into a little kid.  You are more and more independent and opinionated by the day.  I think the biggest development is your vocabulary.  You are such a jabberbox.  You never shut up.  I don't have a clue what you're saying about 75% of the time, but that sure doesn't stop you.  You are probably up to about 40-50 words right now, which is just outstanding.  You pick up a new word every day or two.  "Mama" is still my favorite.

You are really into books right now and we read 4-5 books before nap time and bedtime every day.  We just started reading Go Dogs, Go, which you love!  You pump your fist and yell GODOGS! like a champ.  You also still love the Little Blue Truck, Mommy Hugs, Moo Baa La La La and anything with trucks or farm animals.  We also sing together every night.  You now hum along, which is the sweetest sound I've ever heard.  You love singing Row Row Row Your Boat, which just means you repeat Row Row Row Row Row Row over and over.  I love it.   A coworker gave me an old keyboard to put in your playroom and you love playing the piano.  You also still love playing the guitar with your daddy and dancing in his lap.  

Lately you're obsessed with keys.  You've always loved driving, but now you can manipulate a key and get it into the keyhole and turn the key.  It's pretty amazing.  You can take my giant key ring full of keys, pick out the one for the backdoor and get it in the keyhole.  The first time you did it I stood there in absolute shock.  How are you so smart?!  Any time you see a car (real or toy), you ask for the keys.  A lock with a key will entertain you for longer than anything else right now.  It won't be long before you're able to start the car and drive yourself to the grocery store!   

You're also turning into such a great little helper.  You love to help me feed the dogs (which basically means dumping dog food all over the floor), feed the fish (dumping way too much food into the tank), water the plants (drown them and soak the carpet), make breakfast (get pancake batter everywhere), throw away the trash (throw everything that's not trash also in the trash), put away laundry (by dumping the basket of clothes on the floor) and sweep (push dog hair around with a broom).  

Little dude, you're still a great eater, most days.  You are getting better at eating (sitting still) in restaurants, but we've still got a long way to go.  I'm excited for you to have Thanksgiving dinner this year, especially after you loved it so much last year.  Your favorite foods are still pasta, chicken burgers, spinach/kale bites, macaroni & cheese, rotisserie chicken, pretzels, raspberries, bananas, scrambled eggs and anything sweet.  I love giving you breakfast in the morning and watching you devour your food!  We sing the "jelly toast song" and dance around the kitchen.  You can eat more pancakes than I can.

Speaking of mornings, you have been sleeping in until about 7:30 a.m. most mornings, which is AWESOME.  Please keep that up.  You are so happy to see me when I walk into your room and you tell me that you're "ALL DONE" sleeping.  You then insist on brushing your teeth with me in our bathroom with your dad's toothbrush and real toothpaste (only a teeny tiny bit).  We both brush, while you hold puppy and I hold you.  You also like to help me brush my teeth by jamming the toothbrush in my mouth and wiping it across my face.  You think this is hilarious (I can't count the number of times I've gone to work with toothpaste in my hair or on my face).  We both spit and rinse together.  Sometimes puppy gets his teeth brushed too.

We've also been really active this past month.  You and I went to Florida to visit friends, just the two of us and had the most amazing weekend at the beach.  Then we all went to Chicago the following weekend to visit your uncle, aunt and cousin for Uncle Justin's birthday.  You were such a great little travel companion and slept on 3 of the 4 flights.  You adjusted well to the time difference (and the time change) like a pro!  You took great naps and slept through the night, every night except one.  You were also really great at sharing toys and things with your friends.  No major meltdowns over toys either weekend.  I call that major success!

This whole being a parent thing just keeps getting better and better.  Thank you for being such an awesome, fun kid.  You really are the greatest thing I've ever done.
Love,
Your mama

Likes:

• talking
• keys
• slides
• playing the piano
• singing 
• throwing things in the trash
• raking leaving/sweeping the house
• hugs
• laughing
• Puppy and Kitty
• showers
• watering the plants
• feeding the fish and the dogs
• mowing the lawn
• driving trucks/cars
• jelly toast (and the song about jelly toast we sing every time we eat jelly toast)
• spinning around in circles until you're so dizzy you fall over
• brushing your teeth
• Hot Dog song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
• chocolate
• being tickled
• riding daddy like a horse
• riding Sage like a horse
• phones
• markers
• playing in the sand
• jumping in the leaves

Dislikes:

• diaper changes
• getting dressed
• wearing shoes or socks
• being told no
• waiting for anything
• the car seat (STILL)
• being helped

Noteworthy Items:

• first haircut
• trip to Florida with mama
• trip to Chicago to visit your cousin, Alex
• first pee in the potty
• first shower