My wee babe is 18 months old.

SIGH. 

A. YEAR. AND. A. HALF.  

S I G H. 

I literally cannot believe that he is 18 months old already.  The time vacuum strikes again!  I swear I just wrote this post yesterday.  And now here we are, six months beyond that and I still get choked up thinking about Piglet being a year old.  Even though it is bittersweet to see him grow right before my eyes, I am so happy and proud of our little Piglet. He is funny and smart and in general, a wonderful little boy. We are thrilled and honored to be his parents.  

I think that the 18 month marker is a big one, not only because he's halfway to two, but because of the developmental leaps toddlers make at this point.  It is clear to us that Piglet can process and understand A LOT of what we say to him.  It still sort of boggles my mind when he asks for a drink, I tell him to go find his cup and he actually goes and locates it and then brings it back to me.  WHAT.  He has now surpassed the dog!  What did I say?  So proud.  Our child can fetch more efficiently that our hund! Oh the times they are a-changin'.  His vocabulary expands every day both with sign language and spoken words.  We're teaching him to spell his name (Reid) and he'll say "Arrrr!" "Eeeee!" and then point to himself.  LOL.  

Stats for month 18:

Weight: 24.6lbs, 25%

Height: 32 inches, 40-50%

Head circumference: 40-50%

Clothing: pants - 12-18/18-24 (used to be exclusively 18-24 but what with all this walking, his belly is disappearing), tops 18-24/2T, shoes 5-5.5.

A sidenote: Dr. says it's okay that Piglet's growth is tapering off...normal for toddlers to do this.  I sure will miss Piglet's chubby rolls. Tear.  Thank goodness for his ever-chubby cheeks that still give the illusion of fatness!

Piglet LOVES

• Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese.  FOREVER.  
• Fruit leather ropes
• Goldfish crackers
• Sourdough bread
• Kettle and Caramel corn
• Shoes
• getting to choose between two things (books, foods, shoes, etc)
• Kate, Will, Riley, Jacob, Avery
• parachute time
• Any and all Sandra Boynton books
• Dr. Seuss books (the looooong ones)
• bath time
• Thomas. The. Tank. Engine. It started with a little hand-held train that his cousin let him play with and has now grown into a full-blown obsession. Jeepers.
• Cars, trucks, trains, school buses...you get the picture
• Walks in the Kelty
• Playing in the park
• Saying "cheese!!!" for the camera
• Long snuggles on the couch
• Kissing other babies

Piglet is OVER

• Not being able to get to something, pull something open, etc. immediately.  If he has to ask for help, he's cranky about it
• The Dr's office.  He is SO on to us. 
• Closed doors
• Circle time at Gymboree...probably time to move up to the next level
• Being reprimanded.  Dh used a stern, booming voice "at" him and his lower lip trembled, he crumpled into a ball and wailed loudly.  'Twas very sad!
• Sitting still for a picture
• Doing things on command all the time ("mooooom, I'm not a moooonkeeeey!")

Piglet's 17 Month Update

I can't believe I've been doing this for 17 months now, but here we are.  Piglet is just one month shy of being one and a half.  He has officially morphed into a toddler! Sometimes when I look at his sleeping face, I still see the baby I brought home, but when he's awake and toddling around, getting into everything (but miraculously not the wine rack), there is no trace of baby there at all. Tear.  It's okay.  I know it's inevitable and it's good for him.  He's getting more and more independent every day though there are always tears when dh and I leave him with a sitter.  He's starting to remember and anticipate things too. The other night my best friend came over and because we usually go OUT (cue choir of angels), he hasn't seen her in over a month so while she looked familiar, he did the math in his head. 

"Hm.  Female person. Here around my bed time. Mom is wearing makeup.  This cannot end well for me."  

He was wrong, as she was over to chillax with me while his dad put him to bed, but it showed me that he remembered the typical circumstances that mean we are going to leave him.  Poor baby.  Hopefully he remembers the part about us always being here when he wakes up in the morning too!  The other big change we've noticed is that he now uses inflection when he talks. He'll ask questions, call out to us wondering where we are, say things with definitive confidence.  So cute and fun!

 Without further adieu, here are the month 17 Piglet lists!

Piglet LOVES 

• Tillamook medium cheddar cheese.  Yes.  Still. 
• Sour gummy candy.  Yes, I bribe my child already. Not to worry, he has probably had the equivalent of one small gummy worm total. 
• Cars.  Emergency vehicles.  Tractors.  Buses.
• Peek-a-boo.  I swear this game *never* gets old.
• Gymboree class!  The whole thing!  
• Being outside
• His sand/water table
• Long walks in the Kelty with his dad
• Sitting on the poor dog.
• Going through the cupboard full of his cups and utensils
• His little red chair
• Climbing the play structures at the park (even though it's still pretty dangerous)
• Shoes!
• Using any and everything as a step stool
• Cuddling on the couch with his momma :)  

Piglet is OVER

• Sitting in his highchair.  He prefers to graze while toddling around.  Not good.
• Yogurt.  Again.
• Holding anyone's hand while walking around.  I am not a fan of this, especially not when we are walking around a parking lot!
• Asking for something and getting a "no" in response. 
• Scooting backwards down stairs, he still scoots down on his bum, but facing forward

Piglet's 16 Month Update

Piglet had a big month!  He is officially weaned (one full month since he last nursed) and he has started walking.  I say FINALLY to both!  He has always had a great sense of humor, (remember this and this) but it is really coming to surface as he gets older and can communicate more effectively.  I have to say, he cracks me up daily. He's one of the funniest people I know.  Oh and his (hilarious) short little temper is also rearing it's head lately too, which against my better judgement I also find so funny. I will have to film how mad he gets when I refuse to open the pantry door so he can wreak havoc!  Overall, the last month has been great and Piglet, no longer a baby, is growing into a wonderful little boy.  

Stats: Weight 24lbs, height 31.5 inches, clothing sizes 18-24 and some 2T, shoes 4.5-5.0

To mix it up this month, I'd thought I'd share:

TEN LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT PIGLET

1. Many kids have comfort items like a binky, stuffed animal, blankie or other lovey.  Piglet's lovey / comfort item is a Blackberry C.urve. No kidding. He plays with it every night as he is drifting off to sleep and first thing in the morning as he's just waking up. To state the obvious: apple => tree
2. Piglet loves to eat things off the floor.  I could hand him a piece of cheese and he might refuse it, but if he finds that same piece of cheese on the floor of his nursery, he'll let out a delighted shriek and then stuff it in this craw.
3. Piglet loves to be given a choice.  If he's fussy or crabby, I just have to say "which {book do you want to read} {shoes do you want to wear} or {cup do you like better}" and he calms down, focuses and points his chubby finger and which one he wants.  If he's in a good mood and I give him a choice, he laughs after he chooses.  It is utterly adorable. 
4. Piglet would consume all his calories in drinks if I'd let him.  This kid loves him some bevies!
5. I cannot let Piglet anywhere near the Odwalla juice aisle at the grocery store (usually near the produce section).  He LOVES the colorful caps on the bottles and he bellows his signature "DAAAAAAA!!!!!" and points his chubby finger until I give in and grab a C Monster or Mango Smoothie and let him have the cap.  He seriously will not forget or relent even if I take him to the other side of the store. Oh well, at least he's not obsessed with beer caps because I'd sure get a lot of looks drinking an (unpaid for) beer while grocery shopping!  An Odwalla juice is at least less conspicuous. :) 
6. Diaper changes are getting less and less like wrestling matches.  In fact, sometimes you just put the diaper down and he runs over, lays down and puts his legs in the air.  Then I'm the one rolling around the on the floor because I'm laughing so hard! 
7. Piglet loves shoes.  If he sees a pair of shoes on the floor he tries to put them on his feet, even if he's already wearing shoes. Then he'll run and grab another pair of socks, because he knows that socks and shoes go together, but never with sandals.  He is his mother's son.  
8. Piglet recognizes the difference between any old to-go beverage cup and a Jamba Juice cup.  If he sees you with a big orange straw and tall white, purple and green cup, he will become your best friend.  At least until he drains your Strawberries Wild or Aloha Pineapple and then he's outtie.  
9. Piglet is obsessed with bubbles.  So much so that I had to hide the bubble cup and now even I can't find it.  Sorry, kiddo (not that sorry though)!  
10. Piglet has a very keen sense of spatial awareness.  He can be completely engrossed in playing with a toy or a book and I'll think I can sneak upstairs to grab something and before I can move five feet, he's already bellowing to me in a questioning way, wondering where I'm going or where I am.  

I usually answer "I'm right here, baby.  I'm always right here."  

Piglet's 14 Month Update

Can it really be time already to update stats and party tricks?  Has another month passed us by?  This time I can say it really did go by faster than ever because February is the shortest month of the year!  Piglet's been busy this month.  His obsession with the stairs is now full-fledged and he can make his way down a looooong flight of stairs at lightening speed.  I tried to catch it on video, but I'm always too slow and he is at the bottom before I can get the camera on.  I'll have to keep on trying.  He's still not too hot on the walking business.  I just ordered him a walker toy on Amazon, so we'll see what that does for his interest in walking.  Everyone says I should enjoy this phase when he's not so mobile, but jeepers he sure seems pretty mobile to me!  

I am happy to report that he's branching out on his preferred list of menu items, though Tillamook Medium Cheddar is still the main staple of his diet.  That and mom's milk.  The latter is coming to an end and fast if I have anything to say about it!  

New Party Tricks: signs - bath, off, on, I love you and bear, opening cabinet doors and drawers, turning things off and on (like the radio or TV receiver), standing unassisted (see photo), talking on the phone - it's always dada on the phone btw, bellowing at you if you don't respond the first time e.g. "dadaaaaa..."(silence) then "DADAAAAAA!!!!!!!!" 

Piglet LOVES

• bellowing at you
• watching as you fill the tub and throwing toys in the water
• bath time
• books, books, books and MORE BOOKS!
• when you sing to him at bed time
• the song "I don't want to live on the moon."
• his mini basketball hoop
• Thomas the Train toys 
• Knudsen's Peach Nectar juice
• licking the butter off of toast
• rice crackers
• his dog
• his daily vitamins 
• playdates
• Ba (maternal grandmother)
• tickling your toes
• bacon (proving once more that he's my child)

Piglet is OVER

• baby gates
• playing quietly in the family room - he prefers the hazardous living and dining rooms
• mommy being out of his line of sight
• yogurt melts
• applesauce (sooo over this one)
• mommy trying over and over to "introduce" cow's milk
• being sick
• being distracted by simply "looking" outside

Piglet's Lucky 13 Month Update

This is late, but here it is, month #13. :)

The past month, unlike all other months, seemed to travel at a normal speed, not lightning fast like the past twelve.  Maybe it's because Piglet's big milestone birthday already happened or that my surgery is behind us.  Or maybe this is what happens every January after the holidays are over and done with for another year.  I can't explain it any better, but it sure seems like the month of January was a long one.  

In any case, Piglet turned one month older and he is picking things up so fast now.  I never cease to be amazed when I teach him something one day and the next he's doing it like he's been doing it for years.  Or YEAR rather.  He is only one year old afterall.  :)  The other day he asked me to turn on the light on the hood of our range.  I took the opportunity to point to the burners and say "Hot!  No no no, okay?"  The next day my dad was holding Piglet, he again asked to turn on the light in the hood.  After letting out a satisfied squeal of delight, he then looked my dad squarely in the eye, pointed to the burners and wagged his finger the same way I did the day before, saying "no no no."  We all cracked up.  So he's learning AND remembering after only singular experiences.  If he inherited my excellent elephant-like memory (dh says it's like being married to Columbo) then we're all in trouble.  

Stats: All the same except possibly adding about half a pound. 

Piglet LOVES

• Learning new signs
• doing party tricks on demand
• squealing "DaDaaaaaaa!!!!" when dh comes home
• watching us play Rock Band
• cars
• dogs
• Miss Sarah
• TV.  Yes, we are guilty.  
• Tillamook Medium Cheddar 
• Gerber Yogurt Melts, preferably strawberry
• books, books and more books (this proves he is our child)
• making you laugh
• not wearing pants, or a diaper for that matter
• hanging out in the pack n' play for short periods, we call it jail :)
• being carried on your back in the Ergo or backpack
• sitting on your shoulders
• sitting in Piglet-sized chairs
• crusty french bread
• orange juice

Piglet is OVER

• restaurant highchairs
• sleeping in the car (bummer)
• afternoon naps
• too many people in one place
• rear-facing car seats, front facing rocks
• toast
• most of his hand-held baby toys
• sleeping with any lights on 
• having his diaper changed
• being spoon fed

Musings on Piglet turning one year old.

Lately when someone asks me how old Piglet is, I have the urge to say " ____ months."  Instead, now I have to say "one year old" and it sort of takes my breath away every time.  Where did the past year go?  Why didn't I take more video of him when he was tiny and just laid there?  Not that the videos of him squealing with delight and copying his dad aren't fantastic, I'm just feeling very wistful about the past twelve months.  Despite being very conscientious about documenting Piglet's first year of life (this blog is case in point) I still find myself wishing I would've taken more pictures or more video, soaked it in a little more.  Don't even talk to me about his baby book...I need to be locked away in a room somewhere for about three days with only that and an acid-free pen.  

As with every year, the past one has been filled with highs and lows but UNLIKE every year, this year's highs have been extraordinary while the lows have been momentary.  A baby changes everything.  As a person who thought she might not ever experience this ultimate joy, I will say I have truly not taken it for granted.  Piglet was not a product of "let's have a baby" and a month later ta-da!!!! We are pregnant!!!  But more like "How many more shots?  How many more surgeries?  Will this ever work?!" And then, after almost 18 months of that conversation...ta-da!!! We are FINALLY pregnant!  I sometimes still cannot believe that it worked.  I got pregnant.  I got to feel Piglet's first movements as he fluttered around inside me and then later, when he would kick me so hard, it showed through my clothes.  I still can't believe, to this day that I got to carry him around for 40 weeks and then push him out of my body.  And yet it all happened.  After months and months of willing it to happen, it actually did.  It dawns on me now that we tried to have Piglet longer than we've actually had Piglet.  Huh.  Crazy.  So while I know that every child is really and truly a miracle, Piglet got a little extra special sprinkle of miracle and I remind myself of that all the time.  We are hoping to have another sprinkle of miracle sometime in the next year, but that's another post.  

For now, for today, we have our ONE YEAR OLD Piglet and we are content and happy and cannot wipe the smug smile from our faces when we think about how lucky we are.  

Here are Piglet's one year stats...

weight: 22.9 40%, 

height: 30.5 inches 50%

head circumference: 60%

clothing sizes: 12-18, 12-24, 2T, shoe size - 3-4

New Party Tricks: nodding his head "yes," doing push-ups (see "resolution" post), signing: bird, book, please, milk, car, daddy, and dog, but not just at his dog, at all dogs - dogs on packaging, dogs on TV, cartoon dogs, dogs in books, you name it, if it has four legs and tail, it's a dog! 

Endearments: Oinker, Piglet, Shrieker, Terrible Little Child, Special, Monkey, Monk, Pumpkin Pie, Lovebug, Bug, 

Piglet LOVES

• sitting in his $25 Ikea highchair 
• feeding himself with a fork 
• salty foods
• savory foods
• cooked carrots (who knew?)
• cheddar and string cheeses
• sleeping in the car
• his dog
• smearing all his food together on the tray - lovely
• his new personalized stuffed animal "Max"
• having playdates
• pulling himself up from the floor and bouncing around
• climbing on things
• sitting in his stuffed chair and then standing up
• grocery carts (no really!)
• cheesy poofs (don't worry, we buy the organic, baked kind, not Cheetos!)
• balloons
• sleeping in until 8:00 a.m.
• to feed his dog while sitting in the highchair, resulting in the dog being sequestered until the meal is over
• books

Piglet is OVER

• being fed with a spoon or even your hands
• yogurt
• applesauce
• closed doors
• climbing up the stairs - hooray!
• elevators - he has suddenly developed an unreasonable fear of these
• Blue's Clues
• taking afternoon naps
• having things taken away from him
• seeing the instrument box at Music Together and not being able to dig into it right away
• getting dressed, being nudie is so much more fun
• laying down for a diaper change
• having the ped use a stethoscope
• immunizations
• getting croup
• waiting for more teeth to come in so he can eat more solid foods

Piglet is 11 months old!

Piglet is just one short month (we all know how fast December goes) away from his first birthday. I can't stand it. No really.  I can't.  Sigh...at least I get to plan a party for the little Shrieker.  Oh and let's not forget his first Christmas will come between now and then too.  Okay, maybe I CAN stand it.  A little.  But just a little.  

Stats: 

Weight 22.8lbs - his weight gain is tapering off because he's gotten so active with all the crawling and cruising!  I hope my chubby baby sticks around awhile longer though.  Who doesn't love a fat baby?!

Height: 30.5 inches. 

Clothing sizes: 12-18 and 18-24, shoe size 4

Party tricks: blowing kisses - complete with "mwah!" sound effects, responding to the word "surprise!" by putting his hands on either side of his face (this is hiiiiiilaaaaariiiious), the oldies but goodies - lotion, no-no, waving hi and bye, clapping, something newer - throwing his head back and getting his lower lip to tremble when he gets "in trouble" but then recovering in a matter of seconds, saying da-da with perfect clarity, signing dog, fan, all done and more, shuddering when very excited (!), pointing at things and in directions with his pointer finger.

Nicknames: Piglet, Shrieker, Reidy, Reidy Roo, Panda, Special, Terrible Little Child (this is usually used during meal times when he bats the spoon away!), Baba Roo, Munchkin, Monkey, Monks.

Piglet LOVES

• his activity table complete with annoying caterpillar voice
• the humidifier
• taking paintings (but only original art, no kidding!) off the walls
• "blowing" the lights off and on - it's a Music Together thing
• Music Together 
• Gymbo the clown at Gymboree
• the parachute at Gymboree
• playdates at our house
• dancing around the house with mom to Pink Martini, he's also partial to waltzes
• Eva, Kate, Avery and Gracen
• Christmas music
• empty boxes
• Blues Clues (tv! gasp!)
• pounding the ivories
• watching daddy juggle
• biting you or your clothes
• chasing the dog 
• Ritz crackers
• climbing stairs
• pop-up books
• falling asleep in the car
• an audience and applause - the louder the better

Piglet is OVER

• eating anything green
• the jumperoo
• getting his face washed
• laying down for diaper changes
• the Nuby sippy...on to a big boy sippy
• Dr. Seuss - for now
• Gerber wagon wheels
• Baby Einstein 
• car rides after 6:00 p.m.
• sitting quietly at restaurants
• crowded spaces - I think he's a bit claustrophobic
• crawling through tunnels

Happy Eight Month Birthday Piglet!

Dear Piglet,

You are eight months old today.  Your tinkly laugh fills our halls and our hearts and we cannot imagine how we ever lived without you.  Get ready for cake because your first birthday is just around the corner and Mommy is already party planning.

Love,

Your Parents