Sophie at 18 Months

Sophie is really 18 months! Well, she was like two weeks ago so I'm a little late (but she's been sick and then I was out of town so that's my excuse). I know I've said this before and I'm sure I will again, but Sohie is such an easy baby! She is so easy going and laid back and a ton of fun! She is really calm and unflappable. When other kids take her toy or bump into her, she doesn't melt down she just goes on to the next thing. She shares toys and treats and binkies with other kids. She's not really spontaneous or outgoing, just observant. When we go to the playground or zoo or something, she hangs out next to me, holding my hand, for the first half hour or longer, just checking out her surroundings. But once she has seen what she needs to, she'll take off and play without me hovering. She takes a little while to warm up to other people too, but she always does. I really don't think it's shyness - she doesn't seem uncomfortable, in fact she loves being out and about, I think she just really likes to watch. This all makes her such an easy child to raise. We have loved every second with her and feel like all the sacrifices are worth it for the look on her face when you walk in the room. Here are some things about Sophie at 18mos:

1. You are very verbal. You easily have more than 100 words in your vocabulary. You use two word sentences now (often it's "more binkie" because you need 2 or 3 at a time). You can request, by name, what you want (show, cereal, cookie, binkie, story, etc.) and you are very good at saying please (not so much thank you) and asking for help instead of freaking out. You still use your signs, but you usually say the word as you are signing it. You know a ton of animal sounds and actions and probably two dozen body parts (head?). You are even starting to count. You can't really do it by yourself but you know that "too" comes after "one" and "free" comes after "two", up to five. It's amazing.

2. You love necklaces. LOVE them! You have lots of cheap beads and you almost always have one around your neck.

3. You really don't like stuff on your feet. Socks and shoes are fine, but if you step on some crumbs or get a sticker on your sole you freeze in your tracks. You fuss and say "uh-oh" and sign "help".

4. You love your shows. It's a constant battle because you would watch tv all day if we would let you. You hold up one little finger to the side of your nose and say "one show?" You love Sesame Street and Little Bear but you go absolutely nuts for Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go. You actually request Dora and Diego by name and will pick which one you want.

5. You are pretty good at going up and down stairs, but you refuse to do it. You want to be carried. We have to resort to bribes and a lot of coaxing to get you to do this on your own. The exception is if you want a show and we say no - then you have no problem getting downstairs all by yourself.

6. We have tried very hard to toughen you up. Unless you are very hurt, we just say "uh-oh, did you bonk?" and then go on with what we were doing. When you were first learning to walk and were falling down a lot, you would be really upset every time you bonked. Now, if you fall down you simply say "bonk" and get back up. It's great! And you've taken it a step further: when you get really frustrated you hit yourself on the head and then say "uh-oh bonk" and walk over for some comfort. It cracks me up every time.

7. You do not like kisses. If we try to kiss you, you scrunch up your face and say "nononono". And you have only given me one kiss in your entire life. However, you will give your toys and dolls kisses - smack your face against them and say "mwah!"

8. You love to brush your teeth. It's a good thing as you have your 8 front teeth and your first 4 molars. You walk into the bathroom and say "wash teeth". You even demand toothpaste. You prefer mom and dad's electric toothbrushes over yours but you do not like it when we turn them on.

9. You are still a fantastic sleeper. Unless you are sick or something, you go down for naps and bedtime without a peep - stories, 3+ binkies, Elmo and a rat and you are happy to roll over and go right to sleep. You sleep from 8:00pm to about 7:30am and take a 2-3 hour nap every day (I think you have missed 2 naps in your entire life). Sometimes, when you are really tired you'll give us the sign for sleep so that we know to skip stories or that you want an early nap. You know when others are sleeping too - you give us the sign for sleep if you see a character in a book or someone on tv sleeping. You also give us the sign for sleep when you are playing with the light switches and you turn the light off.

10. Some of your other favorites: You love being tickled and tickle us back. You love to play in water - the sink, the tub, at swimming lessons. You love books. You are starting to get really into coloring and you love stickers. You love music - you love to dance and you love when mom sings to you (who knows why?!?). You love bubbles, but NOT in the bath. You love to play with dishcloths - you wipe your own face and play peekaboo with us.