18 Months

It's hard to believe our little baby boy is now a year and a half and at the same time it feels like it's been 18 months! This stage is probably the easiest Grant has been in a while. He's pretty happy most of the time, will play on his own or with his sister, can communicate his needs/wants/dislikes pretty well with words and gestures instead of screaming. He still has a bit of a temper and has to sit in time out, but he understands why he is there and apologizes after. His separation anxiety seems to be getting better and he's a pretty funny kid.  Grant Robert you're spirit, energy, smile, and love light up our lives and we love you so very much!

Grant @ 18 Months:

• Measurements: 33 inches tall 67 percentile, 22 pounds 21 percentile
•  Got 4 shots that he wasn't happy about, but otherwise doing everything he is supposed to
• Has 8 front teeth and finally all four of his molars
• Mostly 18, 18-24, and 24 month clothes (that fall off his waist), size 5 shoes and 4 diaper
• Sleeps 11-12 hours at night he wakes up a lot of nights and cries out, we don't go in very often, but it is sill disruptive for mom and dad so hopefully it's just a stage, his naps aren't really an issue anymore he sleeps anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 hours in the afternoon.
• Tons of new words all the time, he is starting to put two words together. Too many to list, but some of my favorites right now are: hug, ham (Sam, our nanny), Love you, Ryleigh (his name for both dogs, he refuses to say Koda), animal sounds (about 10), oops, huh?
• Still obsessed with his baby cousin and wants to be right next to him (which is usually more like on top of him) or holding him. He kisses him and tickles him constantly and always keeps close tabs on him
• Still a pretty good eater, but starting to be picky about things he has always liked
• Still uses his pacifier in his bed, and sometimes outside of bed, with teething and sickness we regressed a bit. We should probably take it away, but it makes him happy, consoles him, and honestly makes it easier on us so, oh well.
• Loves to sit and read books, would let us read to him for hours if we could
• Payton is still his favorite person and he wants to be where she is doing what she is doing and she handles it pretty well. In the last couple weeks they have been having fun playing upstairs in the playroom and/or their rooms together. They will play for over an hour, which is great for me because I can work or get things done around the house.
• Starting to be more independent, likes to run, climb, throw, and voice his opinion when he isn't happy about something
• Goes to gymnastics and story time at the library while Payton's in school. He hasn't loved her being gone so much and can be a little lost without her
• Loves to watch Dora and will finally sit and enjoy a show
• Still loves dancing to music and seems to have some rhythm 
• He's sweet, loving, stubborn, loud, busy, happy, physical
• Something I want to remember at this stage is how he plays with other kids. He likes to be around them, but usually prefers to watch unless he is familiar with them. He does, however, like to touch other kids (appropriately) and hug them a lot. It's not always well received by the other child or his/her parents, but it's kind of funny. He's always gentle and I think he's being genuinely sweet. He and Payton are very loving with each other and he's that way with us too and I think he doesn't understand yet that it's not the normal interaction between kids. Some parents do need to chill a bit though.