21 Months Old

Well, I just realized that I completely forgot to write up Andrew's twenty month report. Although I am sure I'll look back at these and appreciate that I included the little details and things that happen, I'm ready to stop writing them up monthly.

New Developmental Milestones this Month: Here are the new developmental things that he started doing this month:

• Physical: Andrew can climb anything to get what he wants and is pretty stable doing it.  He's learning to throw balls and is pretty good at it.  He colors with crayons and pen/pencil with the tip of the utensil (he loves his magnadoodle for this reason).  Much to our amazement, he's figured out how to open the doors in the house (egg shape handles).
• Teeth: All four of his canines are out and pointy
• Bottom Left: December 13
• Bottom Right: December 14
• Top Left: December 21
• Top Right: December 24
• Cognitive/Language: mastered stacking (he can get 8-9 blocks taller than himself), master copier of mommy and daddy, he's finally started babbling conversations, points to twenty body parts on command, enjoys reading stories and intently pays attention to the pictures, announces everyone's farts as "poo poo"




Andrew got his hair cut on New Years Eve and his hair dresser gave him a green Mohawk!

• Vocabulary/Words: We've had a language explosion in the past month.  Over Christmas break, his vocabulary doubled and we have lots and lots of words (even though NO and MINE are still used more than all the others combined).  We're still signing away, but he's replaced some of the signs for the verbal word now (mainly milk, eat, and more).  We have more and more two word sentences.  I love how he says 'thank you' (tank too) with his baby voice.  He also has great inflection with some words--"yeah" has like ten different pronunciations.
• Potty training: He still goes pee and poo on the toilet at school, but he seems to be more interested in the toilet paper and flushing the toilet at home. 
• Psychosocial: totally seeing his stubbornness at this point.  Last night he didn't want to go to bed, so he repeatedly yelled, "no yet mama, no yet!" as I got him ready for bed.  Add in the lip noodle effect and it can take quiet awhile to go potty, change a diaper, brush his teeth, and add PJs.  He's showing aggression with hitting and pushing people away, but is also very loving.  He gives the best hugs to everyone (including Reese) and shares kisses.  Every day when he leaves daycare he runs to each of his teachers and gives them a hug.

Physical Growth this Month/Doctors:  not a since appointment in two whole months! 

Sleeping: (same as 18 months) We're a loving sleeping family! Bedtime is around 7:30 and he's sleeping until we wake him up for school at 7:00 am.

Eating: Currently his favorites are fruit (still), raisins, ground turkey meatballs, and pizza.  He's been protesting veggies and on-and-off eating less than normal.

Diapers: Still in size 4s and I've lost count!  Probably close to 1400 size 4s used.  He's wearing the Huggies Slip On Diapers at school because they wanted him to be in pull-ups to make potty training easier.

Clothing: Still a size 6W shoe, but we purchased 6.6Ws at the Stride Rite outlet for Christmas.  We are in 12-18 months clothes for shirts and pants.  Our new wardrobe is basically Osh Gosh jeans (adjustable waist) and long sleeve shirts.
Favorite Toys: His Christmas toys have added a lot of joy!  When playing independently, he alternates between his Mac truck (from Grandma Linda), his legos (from Aunt Pauline), and his books.  When we play together, he's been loving his kitchen and shopping cart (from Grandma and Grandpa Bennett).  His Cozy Truck (from Aunt Melissa) is constantly asked for, but it is an outside toy for Daddy to push him around in. The horse (from Grandma Pfeffer) is one of his favorite seats in the entire house.

Christmas Recap 7: Uncle Jesse and Aunt Nicole

 Aunt Nicole and Uncle Jesse were in Lakeside on the 29th too!  For our last Christmas of the year, we stopped by Grandma Linda's house and saw some of our favorite people.

 Grandma Linda bought Andrew a very cool Mac truck (from Cars) that loads and launches race cars.

 Uncle Jesse showed him how it worked twice and Andrew had it mastered. 

He launched trucks over and over again!

 Linda took us out to Mexican for dinner-yummy!

 Andrew behaved nicely, loved the music, and add a lot of beans, rice, guac! 

Aunt Nicole taught Andrew how to sword fight first with forks, then with straws (not nearly as fun), and last with knives (totally Aunt Nicole's idea).

After dinner and goodbyes, we headed back to Riverside. 

This time, Andrew slept almost the entire drive home!

Christmas Recap 6: Pfeffer Christmas

 December 29

We drove down to Lakeside for the day to visit Grandma and Grandpa Pfeffer.  Even though we left at 10 and Andrrew should have probably just fell asleep, he stayed away for the entire drive down and talked/played with mommy in the back seat.  The magna doodle provided a solid hour of enjoyment again (thanks Phyllis!).

 Andrew had to wait outside for his special present until Daddy got the camera ready to go...

 A HORSE!! 

A REAL ROCKING HORSE!!

He got on right away and figured out how to push the ears to make the head move and "neighs." 

 Grandma showed him how to do it!

 We shared a ham dinner with all the fixings and Andrew finally took his nap for the day. 

While Andrew napped, we opened presents for each other.

 

John got a big and heavy box (some drain thing).

 Dave opened his finish nailers from mom and our beautiful basket from Pauline.

 Andrew woke up in a horrible mood, super clingy and cranky (really, really hoping we're not getting sick) and wanted to having nothing to do with opening presents.  We opened them for him--a fluffy jacket, wheelie cars and a puzzle from Grandma and Grandpa, a doggie ornament from Alicia, and legos from Aunt Pauline.

 After some apple sauce and juice, Andrew was feeling a bit better and smiled with Grandma and Grandpa as he said 'Merry Christmas!'