18 Months Old

Joshua,

You are 18 months old now. You seem so grown up to your daddy and me. Everyday you impress us with something new you've learned. One of our favorite things you do is chant our names. We also love it when you yell out "BBBBBUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSS" every day in the car when you see a bus! We love your zeal for life! You are so pure and innocent about the things of this world. You share your emotions with us about exactly how you're feeling about something. Sometimes that's not so fun for us. You have definitely started throwing temper tantrums. You fling yourself onto the ground and roll around all the while screaming at the top of your lungs. Many times these tantrums are for no reason in particular....at least that we can figure out. I'm learning to just laugh about them and learning to enjoy this stage that you're in. It's normal behavior for a toddler your age, and we are so very thankful you are developing how you should be and are healthy. Joshua, you are still the joy of our lives! You put a spring in our step every single day. I wake up every morning thanking God for another day to be your mommy. I love you baby boy!

We went to see your doctor the other day for your 18 month check up. She said that you look great! Here are your stats at 18 months old:

Weight: 25 lbs 7 oz (45th percentile)

Height: 33.5 in (80th percentile)

Head Circumference: 19 in (60th percentile)

Here are a few things you've been up to lately:

-still a great eater....you eat just about everything we give you....bananas are still your favorite!

-still love balls....you can throw a ball really far (been doing this for quite a while), you can kick a ball, you can shoot baskets in your new basketball goal

-talking like crazy....every day we discover a new word you know.....you are starting to put words together (for example....bye bye mommy, night night daddy)

-LOVE busses and trucks.....and you have a ton of these around our house to play with......one of your favorite trucks is a monster truck Ashley gave you for Christmas that zooms across the floor with cool sound effects and beeps when it backs up....you have started saying beep beep when you drive any of your trucks backwards now

-love George......he is your Curious George stuffed animal that Ashley (apparently she gives good gifts) gave you when you were just a little baby last year.....he sleeps with you every night and goes many places with us.....you can call him by name which is super cute!

-love sitting at your little table we gave you for Christmas....there is usually a stuffed friend sitting in your other chair (George or Bailey bear), and you can very often be found sharing a snack with that friend

-Dancing!!......you LOVE LOVE LOVE to dance!!

-can jump off the ground.....you have been trying to jump for a long time but have just in the last few weeks started getting off the ground when you jump....I love your determination!

-are a good listener.....you have your moments, but for the most part you listen to us and others very well

-give bear hugs!!!.....these are some of mine and daddy's favorite things EVER!!......you wrap your little arms around us and squeeze us tight and give us a little pat on the back......oh my how I want to bottle that up and keep it forever!

-can recognize many people by their picture.......YaYa, Grandma, GaGa, Mommy, Daddy, Grace and Ayden are some of the most frequent ones

-can say quite a few animal sounds.....a few animals include dog (ruff ruff), duck (tuack tuack), cat (yow), cow (moo or boo)

-love to read books and have them read to you......you usually must turn the page when mommy is reading you a story

-this age is so much fun....we are absolutely loving everything we get to do with you right now!!!

(Like always, I'll probably have to update this list b/c there are always things I think of later.)

Joshua, we just want you to know how much we love you and are so very thankful for each day that we have you! We praise the Lord for picking us to be your mommy and daddy. I don't know what we did to deserve such a sweet little boy!