18 Months

Wow. One and a half years old!!! Time just keeps flying by and my little baby is really turning into a little boy. I think I've said that before but this time it holds so much more truth.
He has been such a blessing and source of joy in our lives. I think back to those first few months of night feedings, counting diapers, and reflux pain and just can't believe how far we have come.
Cort is such a happy, healthy, full of life little boy. He makes me laugh everyday. And everyday he makes me forget about my long to do list and pulls me into enjoying the moments. How is it that a little person who is barely putting two words together can teach a grown up so much?

I don't really even know where to start with all that he does right now. We'll start with the basics.

I don't even think about how much he eats anymore. That still amazes me. He eats so well
( for a toddler;)) ! Such a blessing and answer to prayer that he reflux is over and that is eating well. His favorite foods right now include grilled chicken and pork tenderloin, turkey wraps, cheese, pretty much all fruit(he's really into blackberries, raspberries, etc.), peas, broccoli, Ritz bitz cheese crackers, and milk. He is doing well with his spoon and fork as well, though he still prefers his fingers and needs little help scooping sometimes.

He is sleeping great right now. We seem to be well on our way to dropping the morning nap. For the past week or so he has been sleeping in in the morning until almost 8:00 or at least 7:30 and taking 2 hour afternoon naps. I almost don't know what to do with myself. I hope he keeps it up.

He continues to talk up a storm. He slowed down a little bit with new words for a while but seems to be picking them up again. I have no idea how many words he says now. He has put two words together on a few occasions but I have not heard him do it often. He has said "car bye, bye" while playing cars with my mom and "stop dog" to my parents dog. He will say right back and bike ride as well. He understands everything we say to him though he would sometimes like to have you believe he does not! ;)

One of my favorite things he responds to now is if I say " are you ready to go read some books?" ( a ritual of ours before nap and bed) he runs to his room and climbs up in his rocking chair chanting book, book, book. He has names for lots of his favorite books and I love that he requests them. I am reading him longer books now. I have a bunch of paperback scholastic books from teaching and loves reading them. His favorites at the moment include Finklehopper Frog, Chimps don't Wear Glasses, Barnyard Hullabaloo, and Is your Mama a Llama?. ( in cort titles - Frog, Car, Doo Doo( for the rooster), and Mama) One of his favorite things to do right now with books is have me name something on the page and then he points to it. He is also likes to "count." He points to objects and says something like..."ooh, eee, aaa, ooh, ee, ahh."

He is very into cars, planes, anything that moves. He often wakes up in the morning asking for cars. We play with them in every way possible. He is also very into trains. ( choo,choo's). He can spot an airplane in the air well before I can and doesn't stop pointing until he plane is very out of sight. He still loves frogs and asks me to draw them on his magnadoodle at least 10 times a day. He loves all his animal books. He enjoys making animal noises and two of my current favorites are "Doo, doo" for a rooster and oinking. He is also still very into his blocks and puzzles. He can do a lot of his big knob puzzles and is really good at this one with chunky cars and trucks. I recently got him this set of two piece puzzles where you match big and little objects and he matches them all really well.

He loves being outside and runs out the door any chance he gets. I love watching him explore the outdoors. He checks out trees, flowers, sticks. My favorite is turning over rocks to look for bugs. One day he pretty much did a sliding dive to try to catch a chipmunk!!! He is enjoying the water much more these days but is still a little unsure of it.

He is trying his best to run but doesn't quite get it yet. He is doing really well stepping up and down on things now. He can climb up on pretty much anything he wants too. He also tries really hard to jump and sometimes gets the tiniest bit of air.

He still love music and dancing. He really likes Happy if you know it and 3 little fishies. He claps every time he hears or sees something he likes.

One of the biggest changes this month? He says Mama!! Finally!! The little stinker held out until I left for Mexico!!

He is super sweet and gives the sweetest kisses and cuddles. His smile and laugh are infectious.
Can you tell how much I love him?