Hitched on Health: Caleb's 18.5 month update

Age: 18.5 months
Weight: 32lbs
Size clothes: 3T

Interests: Caleb loves things that have a task or goal associated with it. Putting balls through holes, fine motor activities, placing lids on containers, shooting a basketball through a hoop, or stacking blocks or rings are among his favorites. He will also "make up" games to play with himself. He will see a high object and try to aim his ball over it. Our tower fan and his stroller are favorite height-based goals he has to throw his ball over. He is so funny! Caleb loves his new Songbirds music class we have been attending for the past 3 weeks. We have quite the music-obsessed child who now will request "bum bum bum" when he wants the his CD from Songbirds. His favorite part of music class is when the drum sticks come out.

Challenges: Caleb is exerting his free will and will clearly show displeasure when he doesn't get his way. It has been challenging letting him experience normal emotions such disappointment, frustration, and anger. Caleb loves his food, but he will throw his food when he is in a "throwing" mood. Thankfully he will tell me when he is all done eating by saying "Ahh Duh" and signing all done, so I know for sure when he is finishes eating. Another challenge has been hats. We are introducing two different types of hats for him when we are outside, and it is not going well. He has light blue eyes and we would love it if he wore hats without protest. He would only let us put one hat on him when he was a baby, and once he outgrew it we haven't been able to find one that he will tolerate. Sign.

Milestones: Caleb started running everywhere! His receptive language (comprehension) is incredible and I am super shocked to see him respond to something someone has said. At the park today someone said the word "jump" in a conversation and Caleb started trying to jump. His sleep has been amazing recently. He started sleeping 8-10 hour around 17 months, then got sick and was up a few times again, and now is back to sleeping around 9 hours straight until 5 or 6 am when he wants his mama milk. Sometimes he will go back to sleep and other times he will cuddle for a bit then decide its time to welcome the day. Caleb's language has started to really pick up and he has so many words that he can synthesize or repeat. These include:

Ball
The Ball (Da ball! Da ball! is his favorite phrase right now)
Wow
Bubbles
Oh no
Uh oh
Yes
No
No more
All done
Eat (Eat Eat!)
Eggs
Nuts
Boo!
Mommy
Daddy
Hi
Up (Up Up Up when he wants us to pick him up)
Help
Ducks
Book
Bum Bum Bum (requesting music)
Read
Shoes
Animal noises like "Rahhh" for a lion and "Sssss" for a snake

Funny Memory: Caleb has really wanted to try to jump recently. Watching him try to lift off his feet without moving vertically is hilarious! He is putting forth such great effort and I know that it will pay off, but in the meantime it is so cute to watch him continue to attempt something he has not yet mastered. An adorable memory of the month has been watching his bond and relationship with John develop so much more deeply. Caleb and John have "Daddy reading time" a few times a week in the morning. Caleb will bring a book over to John and lunge onto his lap Saying "Book!". Recently he has started to ask for "Daddy" when we are in the car or later in the afternoon when John will be coming home soon. It is the most precious thing!