Happy Half-Birthday!
Half-Birthday? Yes, Isla is 18 months so half way to her 2nd birthday. I've heard the 2nd year goes quicker than the 1st year and they are right!
She is still very much a happy social girl however just the last few weeks she has started to grow weary of adults but plays well with other children. Sharing isn't easy either but in her defense she's alone alot and is pretty good the few times she gets to "practice" sharing. At least there are no tantrums!
She loves a good cuddle on her time and is a good smoocher. All we have to say is "mmmmm" and she'll come running to give us a kiss. Colin gets loads of hugs but I really have to work to get one! Nice.
On the speaking front she is a chatter box but 90% of the time, we're not sure what she is saying otherwise she is right up there with her peers. She says all sorts of words like keys (a favourite toy), apple (the new favourite word), ball (which she can throw overhand) and others which Colin and I can't think of so you'll just have to believe us.
She has been eating REALLY well and all the Irish and Dutch folk out there will be happy to hear that potatoes are gobbled down! At one point we were thinking that she was going to be a vegetarian but over the last few days we've managed to get some ground beef in her. Meatloaf will be on the dinner menu alot in the coming months I'm sure. So yeah, she LOVES fruit and vegetables and with alot of summer fruit coming into season that's great for the grocery bill. Between the three of us we can easily eat a cantaloupe every 1.5 days not to mention she can eat a peach by herself within minutes!
With all that food in her, now her 18 month stats:
Weight: 22.8 lbs - 25th percentile
Height: 31.5 inches - 40th percentile
Still our little munchkin and she continues to follow her own growth curve so I'm not worried. I was hoping she would top the scales at 23 lbs. but maybe we'll hit that milestone next month.
Most toddlers should be able to . . .
Draw a scribble well - done
Run well - done
Become picky about certain foods - not too bad
Say at least 15 or 20 words - done
Feed self with spoon - not really but she tries
Some toddlers will probably be able to . . .
Some toddlers could possibly be able to . . .
Take apart toys and sometimes puts them back together - I don't let her take toys apart!
Show signs of potty training - nope, not yet
Climb out of crib and high chair - done
Take off clothes - some
Draw circles -nope
Understand two part directions - very well
As you can see she's coming along as expected for her age and we are very pleased with her progress each month. She loves to play and is getting really good at climbing (too well for my comfort) and is now going up and down stairs by herself. We often go the park in the morning and she just loves to run around in the grass and explore around rocks and bushes. I think to myself that it must be amzing to see something new for the first time in your life, everyday! There are two rocking horses and she can sit on them by herself and wiggle away although I stand pretty close by in case she gets a bit too excited and falls off. She's becoming more and more independent everyday and needs her mommy a bit less all the time :-(
Some of her favourite things:
1. Elmo
2. Peaches
3. Juice or water in her cup
4. Waving
5. Books
6. Teddy and Eddy
7. Tubby-tub
8. Singing
9. Bananas
10. Ice cream
11. Wagon rides