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. :)
