You are changing every day.

This is a really fun age. Every day is a new day of learning and growing and figuring things out.

I have really enjoyed just hanging out with you for the past several days, exploring your new communication skills, and enjoying the back yard and the sunshine.

If i smell something bad, i ask you if you need a new diaper. you nod your little head and walk to the door, then you look back at me. i follow you into your room, and usually you pull about 20 wipes out of the bag before you lay down and let me change you. it's interesting how much more willing you are to do things that you otherwise don't really like to do, when they're your idea.

If you throw a toy or food on the ground in real or pretend anger, i ask you to pick it up and put it back where it goes. you're so interested in understanding and doing tasks, you don't dwell on the fit you were just about to throw, and your mood changes.

It's so great to be able to really talk to each other! i know it is a relief to me, and i'm sure it is one for you. it seems like you have really crossed a barrier in the last couple weeks, and i am so proud of you!

we went to see the doctor yesterday, for your 18 month checkup.

you are 22lbs., 7oz., and 32 inches tall. you are right about in the very middle for all of your growth, which is where you've been since you were a couple months old. it is a little bit of a different experience, having a medium sized toddler, having watched your brother grow up being a head taller than all the other kids his age, but it is great that you can wear clothes for a lot longer than he did, before you grow out of them!

your doctor said that you are doing really well verbally. he was impressed that you know a lot of words, and you said a lot of them for him. you can say ball, shoes, eyes, no, yes, daddy, mommy, sam, hi, bye, night night, baby, uh-oh, apples, dog (though now when we ask, you always say "woof woof!" instead of dog), meow, book, wow, sit, nice, gentle, and some others i've forgotten. you said "thank you" a few times tonight. he was right in saying that from here on out, it will be about a word every day or so, and then a whole bunch all at once. it's pretty exciting!

you're getting your canine teeth right now, and those have been giving you some trouble. you've actually been drooling and biting your fingers a little bit, which is something that you haven't done with any of your teething since you were really little. once they are in, though, i think you'll be done for a while.

here are some pictures of you the past few days. the pictures of you in the high chair are to show what happens when you aren't buckled in tight. your grandma and papa came to visit, and here you are riding on the little see-saw thing they brought for sam and for you. that is your papa behind you. your grandma and papa love you like crazy! and the picture of you being sad is from sam's graduation. for some reason, it was at 2 o'clock, which is pretty near both of your nap times, and probably the nap times of every other kid there who still naps.

i love you happy or sad.
love, mom