Harry,

This feels like a big milestone. One and a HALF? We’re halfway through your first second year? Insanity.

But the proof is right in front of me. You are a toddler boy. Even when I try to cradle you in my arms, you’re all long limbs and pointy elbows.

Taking pictures of you these days is tough! You’re too quick for my real camera, which is too old and slow for your speed, and as soon as I pull out my phone you are trying to get your smudgy little fingers on it.

But I still try! And luckily I managed to capture a few that show you at 18 months. Goofy grin, awesome hair, mouth full of teeth toddler you.

I say this every month, and probably will always say it, but you’re so fun right now. You learn a new word every day (I’ve lost count of how many you know), and you pick up new skills daily as well.

You’re in a bit of a daddy phase. It’s your favorite word, and your favorite sign, and if he’s around, I’m chopped liver. I’m trying to not take it personally, and it really does warm my heart to see you two together, but sometimes it does hurt my feelings. I think it’s because daddy never uses the bulb aspirator on your, nor does he ever wipe your face.

You love cars—toy and real. Yesterday we spent the morning at the park, and you would point at every car and truck that went by. “Car! Truck!” Fridays are garbage days, which meant there a few garbage trucks to point at too. “Whoa!” you’d say.

You still love to eat, but you’re becoming more discerning. Certain foods you used to love, you now shy away from. (Like sweet potatoes and avocado.) You can also now ask for certain items, and if we don’t guess correctly, it’s no bueno.

Aside from your bout with Hand, Mouth & Foot virus a few weeks ago, you’ve been well recently. No ear infections, and finally thankfully praise God, your diaper rash is gone. We are not 100 percent back into cloth diapers, but at least 80 percent of the time, you’re in cloth. Yes!

You’re our sweet buddy, and we love you so much. You are the best.

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

• Will “read” board books on his own — Oh yes. You love to look at books. The other day we were FaceTiming with Sarah and the girls and Molly showed us one of her books. You disappeared into your room and came out carrying a book! You walked over to me and sat down and started reading it. It was so cute.
• Scribbles well — Yes. You love to color, and you love when you get your hands

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

• Strings two words together in phrases — Yes. You love to say “go car go!”
• Brushes teeth with help — Not really. You just chew on it.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)

• Throws a ball overhand — Yes. You’ve been throwing a ball for months.
• Takes toys apart and puts them back together — Sort of? You like to dump all the animals out of the LP Noah’s Ark and then put them back in.
• Shows signs of toilet training readiness — Some. You love to say and sign potty, and you’ll sit on it, but no potty action.

Always,
Mama

Harry dear, 17 months is here.

I say this every month, but every month it’s true: you’re so much fun!

You just love life. You are joyous. I’m grateful every day (every.day) that the three of us belong to each other.

So many new things this month; here are just a few.

You love to point out babies. If you see a baby on packaging or on a card or something, you point and say “Baby!” You also love to look at pictures of yourself and say “baby.” It is too much.

You’ve transitioned to the toddler room at daycare, and we also made a change in your weekly schedule. You now go to school three days a week (instead of four), and your grandma watches you here at home that fourth day.

The toddler room was a big change, but you’ve handled it beautifully. For one thing, they sleep on cots (cots!) and you took to it without much fuss. It’s also a more structured day with lessons and activities. But the best part is, you get to go outside every day (weather permitting) and play on the playground. Oh, how you love to be outside!

You and I take a walk to the mailbox every day when we get home, and if I try to make you go inside before you are ready, you let me know. Your daddy and I have taken to treating you like we treat Scout with having to spell the words o-u-t-s-i-d-e and w-a-l-k if either of you are around.

New words in your vocabulary:
shoe
hello (o?)
nose
thank you (dee do)

You don’t have too many new ones, but you’re using the ones you do know with increased frequency. And words that used to be partial (“mo”) are now said clearly and in full (“more”).

You’re also mimicking a lot; just last night you repeated me when I said “pretty,” as you were inspecting my necklace. You also love to copy my movements and facial expressions. You can do all the motions to “Wheels on the Bus,” even! (Our go-to song when you’re crabby or need distracting. Your daddy and I have even made up lyrics like … “the CB on the bus goes breaker 1-9, breaker 1-9, breaker 1-9.”)

New signs:
bath
Daddy
phone
bird

I am so glad that we decided to sign with you. It’s immensely helpful with communicating, and you’re to the point now where you are combining words and signs. Like you’ll say “more” and sign “please,” when you are requesting “more please.” I haven’t read any studies or followed any research about it, but I know it is helping you with language development. It has to be!

It’s hard to tell looking at these pictures, but you’re in a bit of a shy phase. Well, I’m assuming it’s a phase. It could just be that you’re shy! You don’t mind crowds (you love to run around the church lobby), as long as no one is honing in on you. As soon as someone you’re unfamiliar with pays attention to you or tries to talk to you, you either bury your face in my neck, or you drop to the ground and “hide.” Your daddy calls it your “fainting goat” move.

You still love music; we listen to it all the time, and I think I caught you singing the other day. We were in the car, and I was signing along to a worship song, and I noticed that you were piping up from the back trying to match me. You know me, I cried. I hope you are always quick to offer up songs of praise!

When we say your prayers at night, I of course still pray on your behalf. I don’t know what I’m doing most of the time, Harry. That’s just the truth. I bumble along, and I trip over my words, but oh I hope God gives me the right words to pray for you and with you every day. And I pray that it will be as normal and natural to you as smiling; that talking to God will come as easily to you as laughter.

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

• Uses six words regularly — Yes. Many more than six.
• Enjoys pretend games — Does “I’m gonna get you” count? Then yes.
• Likes riding toys — Yes. You love the Y-Bike and this little train that your grandparents have.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

• Feeds doll — You love your little doll, but you’ve never tried to feed him.
• Speaks more clearly — Yes. Your words get clearer every day.
• Throws a ball underhand — No, but you have a wicked overhand throw.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)

• Dances to music — Yes. You love to sway and bounce.
• Sorts toys by color, shape, or size — I haven’t seen you do a lot of sorting, but you know, for example, that your blocks go in a certain basket or that the Noah’s Ark Little People animals all belong together.
• Kicks ball forward — Yes. You also think it’s high comedy when the grown ups in your life kick a ball.

Can it ever be said enough? We love you. We. Love. You. I pray that no matter what life brings your way; no matter what pain, trouble, or trial, that you will always rest in that. First that God loves you; to hell and back, the Creator of the universe loves you and pursues you. And then that are two people in the world (and really, so many more) who love you full up all the way to your toes.

Here’s to month 18 my darling boy,

mama

Harry, you are definitely a toddler now. There is very little babyness left in you. I miss the baby you, but I’m so enamoured with the toddler you that it makes it easier to say goodbye to the infant days.

Watching/hearing you learn language is such a wonder. It’s like when the chimpanzee Cesar learned to speak in Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The other night I was trimming your nails, focusing on your tiny fingers, trying to not repeat the time I made you bleed (twice!) when I clipped your skin, and your little voice piped up, “Hi.” It startled me because, well, it’s startling!

Right now you love to say Eller. Over and over all day it’s “Eller.” You point to any dog and call him “Eller.” It is such a sweet sound.

New words:
all done
Eller (of course now you think all dogs are named Eller)
Night night
Go 

New signs you know:
potty
please
thank you 

You’re also learning your animal noises. So far you know “baaa” (sheep), “woof” (dog), and “roar” (lion). It’s so cute! (But of course I haven’t been able to get it on video yet.)

Another new development is that you give kisses! It is the best. We had breakfast at your grandma and grandpa’s on Sunday and you gave all of us a kiss. Even your 20-year-old uncle, who pretended not to find it cute, but I know he did.

It’s been an unseasonably warm winter, and as we head into an early spring, it makes me so excited for the months to come. I’m looking forward to all the bike rides and swimming and walks we will take. You’ve already shown that you’re a kiddo who likes to be outdoors. You walk up to the back door and reach up and try to turn the knob. (Good reminder to your daddy and I that we always need to keep the doors locked!) And when it’s time to turn back after getting the mail, you’ve been known to have a little tantrum or two.

You weigh about 25 lbs, and are wearing 18-24 month sizes.

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

• Turns the pages of a book — Yes. You love to sit and look at books and turn the pages when we read to you.
• Has temper tantrums when frustrated — Uh, yeah.
• Becomes attached to a soft toy or object — The only thing you seem to be really attached to is your pacifier. You have a little gorilla in your crib, but you don’t seem attached to him at all.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

• Discovers the joy of climbing — Oh yes. You like to climb the steps, and you wish you could climb the TV stand.
• Stacks three blocks — Not that I’ve ever seen.
• Uses spoon or fork — Yes.
• Learns the correct way to use common objects (e.g., the telephone) — Yes. If I hand you a comb or brush, you try to comb your hair. You hold your toy phone up to your ear, and you definitely know what the remote does. (And you even know which one is the real remote, and which one is the old battery-free one we gave you to try to fool you.)

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)

• Takes off one piece of clothing by himself — No, but you help us get you dressed/undressed.
• Gets finicky about food — Not yet, thankfully.
• Switches from two naps to one — Yes. You’ve been down to one nap consistently for a few weeks.

We love you sweet thing. You are the joy of our life!

Mama

Oh Harry, you are are learning and discovering new things every single day. It is truly amazing to get to watch you grow and learn. You are something special.

The biggest development is that you are walking!

You took your first unassisted steps on Feb. 2. I was picking you up at daycare, and you took a few steps toward me. Your teachers and I all screamed so loudly that you froze and fell down.

Since then it’s only been a few steps here and there, but in the last few days you’ve started walking for real. It’s incredible. It’s just like one day you realized, “Hey, I can do this.”

Your daddy and I are prepared for a whole new world of keeping up with you!

Another new development is your shyness. It’s pretty cute. Whenever you meet someone new, or see someone you’re unfamiliar with, you bury your face in my neck. Or, now that you’re walking/standing, you simply drop to the floor and lay face down. Your daddy says you’re like one of those fainting goats.

The downside of this is that you now cry when we leave you (at daycare or at the nursery at church). I know it’s developmentally appropriate and that within a few minutes you’re fine and playing, but it’s hard just the same.

You’re also now into hugging. For some reason I’ve taken to calling them “hugsies,” and if I say “Hugsies!” you’ll grab your stuffed animal and hold it up to your cheek and tilt your head. It’s new levels of cute.

You’ve also taken a new shine to Eller, and you love to give him hugsies. I mean, come on.

You love books, and you love to pull them out of your book bin or off the shelf and look through them.

Some current favorites: Yummy Yucky, Roadwork, Brown Bear, and Goodnight Gorilla.

It seems like you say a new word every day, and you are quite the chatter box. Most of what you say is still babble, but you have a definite vocabulary.

Your current list of words. New ones in italics:
mama
dada/daddy
hi
dog (duh)
baby
book (buh)
ball (bah)
no no
uh oh
more (mo)
bye bye
water (wa wa)
up

The only new signs you have are “up” (arms straight up), and “dog,” which is so adorable. You of course can’t snap, but you try, and it’s darling.

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

•  Play with ball — Yes!
•  Uses three words regularly — Yes, more than three.
•  Walks backwards — Only when you have your push toy. Not independently.

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)

•  Scribbles with a crayon — Technically, yes, but you try to eat the crayon so quickly that this isn’t a very regular occurrence
•  Runs — No.
•  Adopts “no” as his new favorite word — Thankfully not yet.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)

•  ”Helps” around the house — You will hand me things if I ask for them, and you like to put things away/take things out, but I wouldn’t say you’re helping or even “helping,” no.
•  Puts his fingers to his mouth and says “shhh” — You’ll do this when we read Goodnight Gorilla and the gorilla is sneaking back to the house.