Reading and Animal Sounds

18 Months

 

water, agua, milk, bottle, cup, spoon, banana, cracker, cookie, done, down, up, no, dog, meow, whale, moo, tickle tickle, getcha getcha, Mommy, Daddy, ball, football, touchdown, hawkeyes, Iowa, dog, apple (ba-ple), pillow, Elmo, outside (side), bee, owl, duckie, bathroom, bed, binky, basketball, shoes, peas, cheese, baby, blankie, poopie, peepee, God, flower, pig, Emmett (memmet), moon, sky, circle, yellow, green, blue, Henry, book, ni-night, ear, eyes, uh-oh, hi, bye..
 

These are just the words that we know Emmett can say so far.. and there are probably many we have forgotten. He just woke up from a nap now and he told Daddy he wanted tylenol! Poor baby is getting in his last two cuspid's (or canine's) and I think that is what woke him up.

Emmett is officially free from the binky. Last Friday - November 9th was our first night without it. I wasn't so sure about giving this up. It is so easy to give it to him to make him happy in a moment's notice. But the truth is that he doesn't need it and Rustin was insistent on trying to get rid of it. He was forming a strong attachment to it. He would wake up in the night at times when he couldn't find it and scream. He seems to have some-what replaced the binye with whatever soft blanket he is sleeping with - blankie he calls them. He also has terrible eczema around his mouth which we think was only exacerbated by using the binky. We're hoping to see the doctor about the eczema soon since it is not getting much better since giving up binky. We got a new lotion for him today - Vanicream - I have read that it is really good for eczema, so we'll see if that helps.

Walking is definitely the preferred mode of transportation these days. He is almost up to a run. He can kick a ball and also really wishes he could jump. Emmett practices jumping and says "jump jump jump!" while he does it. Although his feet don't leave the ground. There's another word to add to the list.. jump. He is also singing. When you ask him if he can sing he starts dancing. :) He is often humming the "ABC song" which is the same toon as Twinkle Twinkle. At the end of every song he says - "Yay!!" and claps his hands. Even in church. He also does this when we finish praying before meals. "Yay!" Sometimes he says "Bravo!!!" instead. When he does something that he is impressed with he gives the same reaction. Like when he puts a shape in the shape sorter or helps Mommy close the dishwasher. "Yay!! Bravo!!" (clap clap clap)

Emmett still loves to sit and read books. When things are quiet and I think he might be getting into something I always find him sitting and quietly looking through one of his books. He is really a good boy.

He started a new daycare on September 28th. Strangely our previous daycare provider asked us to leave. It was quite an odd situation. I have come to realize she would prefer not to take on the baby but just couldn't tell us that. Either way, he wasn't happy there. We thought that he was having separation anxiety although it seemed out of character for him. He would cry when we would drop him off there. She was nice but there were a few things that threw me off about the situation. Whatever the reasons were I am glad he is no longer there because he LOVES his new daycare, Dragon Tots, and so do we. He is truly happy there and does not have separation anxiety in any way shape or form.. although he does love Mommy and Daddy of course. He has not cried once at drop off. He is more likely to run off and be too busy to even care to say good-bye to us! It is a binlingual daycare with two main providers and two helpers so they can take up to 16 kids (I think). But they only have 14 and some are part-time. It is like a daycare center but in a home setting with fewer children. He has so much fun going there every day. He runs all over playing with the other kids, is well fed and well rested. They do arts and crafts most days too and go outside when the weather is nice. So far they do not have a confirmed spot for the baby but when one opens up we are hoping to switch her there so she can be with her big brother.

Emmett's favorite toys include his duckie (duck pillow pet), his Doggy (big soft dog stuffed animal from Michaela & Nate), his Melissa & Doug shape sorter from Grandma Pat and Grandpa Frank, and his musical activity table from Grandma & Grandpa Nelson. He is a great eater. We are still working on learning not to throw food when he is done with his meal and to instead say "Done". He is also getting better with silverware. He can get some things with his fork and spoon but not many. I think patience is key with these things. He shows more and more interest in the potty. I don't think we're ready for any potty training yet but he may be getting an exciting present from Santa (a potty seat!). We'll see where he takes it from there. I'm guessing we might start thinking about it once little sister is at least a few months old. We are continuing work on Emmett's "big boy room" and plan to transition him between Thanksgiving and Christmas. He is excited about the move (I think).

18 months is a wonderful age. It seems like he is more and more fun the older he gets. Emmett loves people and is one of the smiliest little boys I have ever seen. I hope I will always remember what a sweet little 18 month old boy we have. :)

29 Weeks

 

Hello third trimester! I cannot believe I am here again. It seems like just yesterday I was 28 weeks along with Emmett. I am starting to feel larger lately and my stomach has begun to itch, so I know it is definitely growing. I haven't been bothered as much by the discomforts being this large brings this time around.. I think it is because I don't have as much time to consider them this time around. I am starting to feel anxious about getting ready for our baby girl's arrival. My parents came down this weekend and helped us install the chair rail for Emmett's new room. We have yet to sand, prime, paint and install a few book shelves as well as sand and paint the dresser for his room. I am putting together a headboard which we got the materials for this weekend. I also need to get some frames to put the art work up on the walls. Ok, now that I have that list maybe we can start to cross a few items off soon! Rustin and I have also been busy trying to study for tests that we are each taking for work. SO once those are done we hope to focus on getting ready. Rustin takes his test on Thursday of this week so it will be nice for him to be done and mine is not until December 14th. Baby sounded good at our 28 week appointment on Friday. My weight gain has been about the same as it was with Emmett so far. I try not to worry about it. We saw Dr Kaufmann and she said that our little girl feels head down although they normally don't worry about that this early. My iron levels are back up to normal but I am continuing with the iron supplement in addition to regular prenatal vitamins. She was sleeping at our appointment with a heartbeat of 138. I thought I would be seeing the doctor every two weeks now but with this being my second pregnancy I actually won't start that for another month. So, we'll be going back at 32 weeks. Then every two weeks from there and every week starting at 36. This pregnancy is going by so fast. I would like it to slow down just a little bit.. surprisingly. I am enjoying being pregnant at this point. I still sleep pretty well and can get around fine. Carrying Emmett gets a little more tiring every week but I will be able to manage throughout the duration of this pregnancy. I do find myself handing him off a little more willingly recently though. I am getting more and more excited about meeting our baby girl. However, I am also trying to relish in the peacefulness and joy of being able to get a good night's sleep, spend time cooking, reading etc. Just about 11 weeks until we meet her!