The Golden Age: 18 Months





There are lots of things I have forgotten between Elsie and Kit. I really can barely compare them and only remember the most random of milestones. I think that is a good thing: I don't find myself saying one was quicker or slower or smarter and definitely enjoy things as they come with Kit! I haven't considered any of the parenting advice with her on where your child "should" be and that is a nice thing! One thing I do remember is that 18 months was/is supposed to be the "golden age." Kit turns 18 months today--a year and a half old! A few things about our big girl (with the assistance of her dad):

talking-we're assuming that when Kit is raises her hands and makes a washing motion and says "ahnion" that she is declaring herself to be "all done" and not requesting an onion. although with her appetite and willingness to try anything there is a very good chance she exits her high chair disappointed not to be given a taste of a locally grown vidalia onion on a daily basis.
swimming-she's like a fish or a mermaid with chubby rolls.... place her in the tub and she turn on her belly to swim.... put her down near the ocean and she walks straight in daring the waves to knock her down.
eating-she prefers water to milk--and cups to sippy cups...she loves to drink (should we be worried?) she is much more of a carnivore than Elsie or her mommy and really would eat whatever we put in front of her. Eggs are a definite favorite!
dancing-talk about dropping it like its hot, Kit responds immediately to the slightest hint of a rhythm or whisper of a beat with a full on squat and bob....
sleeping-since the beginning, she has been good at it and that has kept up (thankfully). She goes down like a dream. Most days we can drop her morning nap--some days, she requests one asking for pabby/fritters and pointing in that direction. She naps from 1:30 to 3:30 and then sleeps from 7 to 7. Many times, she sleeps later and often doesn't call for us. It is tricky--sometimes we only know she is up when she starts playing the aquarium her Grandpa David gave her.
climbing-this girl is a climber--she loves to climb chairs, sofas, beds, walls, legs....and she is good at it. She's covered with bruises from various misadventures climbing--a tough girl though.
pabby/bobby fritters-By far, her favorite word is pabby and she has a pabby/bobby combo word that signifies her pacifier and her lovey Captain Fritters, the monkey. She calls for them sometimes as if they will come when she beckons. And I guess they do, because she is feisty and we do fetch them when she demands it.
talking-Kit lets her sister do a lot of talking for her. She has a fairly monosyllabic vocab right now: eat eat, waa waa (water), baa baa (sippy cup sounds like bottle), juice (which she loves but doesn't get often but requests a lot), shoes (sounds like juice), book, sissy (Elsie), O car (Oscar--still her fav), Naa naa (Nonie), Poppa, Mimi (Grammy), and of course, daa daa and maa maa. She also knows all of her animal sounds and many song gestures (Wheels, Patty Cake, etc.). She loves peek-a-boo and is great at blowing kisses!
temperament-This kid's personality is something else. They describe french bulldogs as "little clowns" and with Kit, I think we may have a french bulldog on our hands. She loves to laugh and knows when she is funny. She tickles to get a laugh or dances or burps or runs to laughs or hides... She plays on her own and loves to put things inside of other things--like the bubble wand or bags or buckets. But when she wants something, she will stomp and yell til she gets it--do not hold out on this tyrant! She loves people--is friendly and inquisitive. We have had friends hold Kit--literally--and declare her the reason to have kids or have another. She is just that delicious--our little girl, getting so big!