Eighteen Months and Still Growing

Cameroni,
When did you become this busy, independent, very strong-willed toddler? As your eighteen month birthday passed, I couldn't believe how much you are beginning to look and act like a little girl rather than a baby. You are so determined to do things by yourself. Other than holding my hand when you go down stairs, you get pretty frustrated when I try to do too much for you. You want to eat by yourself, put on your own shoes (which never goes well), take off your dirty diapers, and "read" books to yourself. You are starting to be more creative when it comes to playing on your own, and you are pretty into your bristle blocks and Elmo.

You still get so many compliments when we are out in public. People always smile at you and say what pretty hair you have. You are starting to be more friendly toward acquaintances, but you often just need a few minutes to warm up before you will give high fives and "knuckles." But you usually say bye when I remind you, and you are getting better at "thank you."

You say so many words now! We are practicing on shapes and colors and it is so funny to hear your guesses. The color you say most often is black, even though we never ask for that one. And then when we tell you the answer and ask another one, you say the one we just told you. It's funny to watch you get excited when you pronounce them correctly and we clap for you. You also get tons of praise when you use your fork or spoon, since you tend to eat everything with your hands. If we could just get you to stop smushing things all over your tray or throwing them on the floor when you are finished, you might get to eat in public more often!

We have your doctor's checkup scheduled for next week since we missed the first appointment. They make you automatically reschedule if you are more than 15 minutes late, and let's just say that 3:00 in the afternoon is a ridiculous time to try and pick you up from daycare and make it through Stone Oak traffic. We made our next appointment for 8:15 when I know we can get there before things get all off schedule for the day.

I just know that the doctor is going to say that you are growing perfectly, are very smart, and should be nominated for the Nobel Prize of Adorableness. Don't mind chipping in a $35 copay to hear that! Updates on your 18 month stats to come!