18 months

Yesterday was Reese's 18th-month birthday. We began our morning with a trip to the pediatrician. The doctor joked and celebrated with me since Reese has experienced a "growth spurt" in the last six months---well, a Reese-sized growth spurt, anyway. We are no longer hovering in the 3rd-5th percentile on her weight. We've graduated to the 15th percentile!! Woo-hooo! (I tried to tell Kevin that I REALLY do feed her during the day.) Reese officially weighed 20lbs 14oz and was 31 1/4" tall (35% in height). Her head circumference remains her largest measurement--we'd like to think it's just lots of extra brain power inside.

At the appointment the doctor remarked again that she is one of his best behaved patients. While she's fidgety with the nurses, she always sits perfectly still for her exams with him. She even showed him where her heart was so he could listen. Luckily, we got out of the appointment with only one vaccine, which means we won't have any to do at her 2 year old appointment. Something tells me there's no way we'll go an entire six months without a return visit for something, but there's always hope.

Reese is really growing up--since her recovery from her stomach bug, and after instituting a time-out system (a long and arduous story of misbehavior and whining I may post another day), she's become even more independent. Just yesterday she played with her baby dolls for almost an hour by herself. I kept asking if she wanted my help with the babies (changing, feeding etc), but every time I asked she told me no, that she wanted to do it herself. I watched as she read to them (several books), put them to bed, cuddled them, and fed them from her kitchen.

At our appointment, our doctor asked us if she has at least 5-10 words. At this point, it would be a struggle to count how many words she has. Between 50-100? 100+? She only uses two word phrases occasionally, but I'm beginning to understand virtually everything she says. After a visit from Aunt Kim, I realize that I'm unique in that respect, and to some people certain words are still incomprehensible. She has learned that "please" is the magic word, and we're working on "thank you." The other day, out of the blue, she told me "your welcome" after I told her thank you...it's just amazing the things she picks up by herself. She has started referring to herself by name, and will point to herself and say "Reese." Lately, she will repeat words until you acknowledge that you heard and understand her. It can be helpful when you don't catch her meaning the first time around, but generally, it's a little annoying to feel like a parrot all day.

She now requests to wear pig tails almost everyday. She calls them (and the rubber bands) "piggies." I still haven't cut her hair, and it continues to drive me crazy, but I know if we cut it, I won't be able to pull it back off of her face as easily. It's a wait and see situation.

Reese is working a little on her colors and can readily identify and name the color blue. If you ask her to hand you the (insert color here) block, she usually picks the correct one, but if you were to ask her what color a random block is, she gets a little mixed up--blue is always a safe default.

Reese also loves counting. She refuses to use the number one, and starts all counting with "two." While she doesn't count accurately, she recognizes pairs and will coming running up to me and daddy with something in each hand and announce, "two!"

Potty training is day to day, and with a trip to Iowa planned in March, I've just gone with whatever Reese wants to do. Sometimes she'll announce she has to go and will pee pee in the potty immediately, other times, I think she's too wrapped up in her activities to care.

Reese is using a fork and spoon pretty well now, and prefers to drink from "big girl" cups. (Ones without spouted lids.) We had been using Tupperware cups with spouted lids (slightly different than sippy cups), but now she wants the lids removed. She does surprisingly well and will drink slowly so she doesn't spill the liquid on her clothes. When she does drink to fast or have a spill, she tells us she's "messy" and wants her messy clothes "off."

I began looking into a pre-school program for her in the fall--just something two mornings a week to get her used to other kids and "school," but it seems I've missed some of the registration deadlines. Who knew the third week of February was too late for September start dates? Oh well, we're on two wait lists and we'll see what happens.