17 months old!

Asher, you are 17 months old, TODAY!  You get cuter, sweeter, and smarter by the moment.

 

And speaking of moments, this moment feels like it was forever ago.  Haven’t you just always been with us, Asher?! 

(October 11, 2009 – 5 mos. old)

Sizes:
clothes – 18-24 month
shoes – 5.5
diapers – 4 (size 5 overnights)

Food:

My sweet agreeable eater has turned into Mr. Picky!  Things you’ve always liked all of a sudden make you gag and cry (dramatic, perhaps?)

You went on a short vegetable strike this past month where we couldn’t get ANYTHING green inside of you for a few days.  Just when I was really starting to panic… you started to eat your veggies again.  Phew! 

We are working to strike a balance between not catering to your picky habits, and also getting enough food inside of your tummy!  Daddy and I were both at our wit’s end so we ordered Toddler 411 and were both relieved at how normal picky eating in toddlers is according to the authors.  I’m sure that with EVERY stage that has already come and gone, this too shall pass.  :)  In the meantime you are surviving on mostly cheese quesadillas, chicken nuggets, peas, grapes, and milk.

Personality:

Asher, there truly are NO WORDS for how sweet you are.  You like to give hugs and kisses but have learned how to add in the appropriate, “ahhhhh” or “mhwah.”  You laugh when we laugh – even if it has nothing to do with what you are doing – you just don’t want to be left out!  You still dance like crazy, and now sometimes you sing while you dance.  The other day you started to dance to the sound of the printer.  Don’t worry, I quickly turned on some music for you to really dance to! 

You are a little sponge and all the things you are learning makes me BURST with thankfulness and pride.  Does every mother think her child is THIS smart?!  Not only do you point out lots of body parts you are starting to say them as you point to them!  So far we’ve got eyes and nose down pat.  You also know where your fingers and hands are.  You love to wiggle your fingers when I ask you to point them out.  You know the difference between your hair and your head, which I think is amazing! ;)

You talk and talk and talk all day long.  One of your favorite phrases to say is, “Go Go Go!”  when we are leaving the house (thank you, Cat in the Hat.)  Even Target runs have turned into our own little adventures.  In addition to talking, you are finally getting the hang of signing to us.  To be honest, I haven’t been too consistent in teaching you – so I’m impressed you are picking it up from my half-hearted attempts!  :)  Right now you sign for “More” and “Please” – but you still need to be prompted to do so. 

You are so good at entertaining yourself (most of the time).  I often catch you throughout the day sitting at your bookshelf ‘reading’ your books. 

You have also started to give us tantrums that I didn’t even think you were CAPABLE of!  Flailing arms, arching back, screaming cries… what must the neighbors think, dear child?!  You don’t always seem upset when you’ve been disciplined, but I do think you understand because we are slowly seeing you obey in certain areas (ie: throwing sippy cup, playing in Daisy’s water etc.) 

… moments later…

Tantrums or kisses, crying, or singing we couldn’t be happier that you are a HEALTHY, normal boy and we thank the Lord for that!

 Favorite Things:

*DOGS!!!!!!!!!!  (That could be the whole list, because these days not much else matters.)

*Barney and Elmo (Cartoons in general)

*Books!!  Especially, “Go Dog Go!”

*Baths!  You now love to sit under the water spout when water is pouring in.  It’s like your own little waterfall.  (Don’t worry, I keep my hand there too so I know if it’s too hot or too cold.)

Sleep:

You continue to be a sleeping rock star.  You had a rough night at Grandpa and Grandma Atkinson’s a few weeks ago where you hardly slept a wink (and neither did anyone else).  But you usually sleep from 6:30 or 7 pm to 7:30 or 8:00 am.  I prayed throughout my pregnancy that you would be a good sleeper… Thank you, Lord for answering that selfish prayer!!

Asher, I have ALWAYS loved being at home with you each day, but there is something about this new stage we are at that makes me love it in a whole new way!  When you do something new it makes me so happy I could just cry!  I remember opening gifts at your baby showers and thinking you would NEVER fit into the “big” 18 month clothes.  They seemed so huge and I couldn’t fathom my baby every being that big.  Well, here we are one month away from 18 months and you are definitely filling out those clothes.  Some days I still can’t believe you’re so old and I have moments where I miss that sweet little baby, but I am so very crazy about my big boy and wouldn’t trade YOU for anything.  Asher, we love you much more than we can ever say!  Happy 17 months old, sweet boy!

xo xo Mommy and Daddy