At 18 months old...

You are ONE AND A HALF!!  

WOW!

You are VERY active, 

and mommy is finally learning that you need some good outdoor playtime each day.  

Either that, or we are going to have to build an indoor playground!  

If we have to build an indoor playground, then we are going to need a bigger house.  

If we have to buy a bigger house, then we are not going to be able to afford an indoor playground.  

If we can't afford an indoor playground, then we're going to have to go to the park!!

You LOVE slides.

This is a fun merry-go-round thingy with a cone-shaped rope ladder.  It is one of your favorite things at the playground.  However, it is one of mommy's least favorites because you lick the platform as you climb your way on to it.  Yum.

Hangin' with some besties.

You are a charmer.

You are a germ carrier with a constant runny noise and you introduced our family to croup this month.  Luckily, we caught it early and the steroid shot took care of it.  I think we'll all be okay if we don't have to deal with that again.

You would prefer to take one nap each day, 

but mommy is trying REALLY hard to keep the two nap thing going until summer.

Unlike most "good" moms who wouldn't dream of plopping their 1-1/2 year old in front of the brain draining thing that is the electronic babysitter, I am trying desperately to find a show that you will sit and watch for 15-20 minutes 

(especially for getting your hair did).  

Don't fret, "good" moms, he's not the least bit interested.  

I will won't go down without a fight.

Don't judge.

You have decided that the dog, Jake, is now a stool.

You also love to grab his lips with both hands and get right in his face.

Good thing we have a big, fierce pit bull.  

I'd be scared to see how a sweet, little chihuahua would handle this.

You are into EVERYTHING...including the TOILET!!!

Have I mentioned before that there's not enough baby proofing stuff in the world for you?

Climbing into the dryer.

You have figured out how to remove the lint trap from the dryer.  

So.  Helpful.

Your vocabulary grows every day, one word at a time.

Our favorites right now are lemon, g-g-g-g-g-g-g-down, yight (light), and Jakey.

You point out all the doors and "yights" wherever you are.  

If you don't think we got it the first time, you're happy to tell us again.

You can say Kenna!

You continue to have abnormal hearing tests, but we know that you hear just fine.  

It's listening that tends to be an issue.

You seem to think the 5 o'clock hour is the best time to wake for the day.

Daddy and I disagree.

We have created a small play area for you and you will actually sit there and play with your toys for a few minutes.  

By a few minutes, I mean THREE minutes.

You love playing on mommy & daddy's bed.  

Rolling, laughing, flopping, and usually all without falling off.

You are positively, absolutely, without-a-doubt sure that the carbon monoxide detector needs to be removed from the wall multiple times each day.

By multiple times, I mean MORE THAN three times.

You love using a fork and will usually eat things that you wouldn't normally eat just because you're using a fork.  Mommy win!

Mommy learned that she can get a shower in most days if she takes you in with her.  This is a great time.  I love how you cling to me under the water and how you gently rub your soft, small, wet hand on my cheek as you flinch at the spray.

 

Your hair is getting longer and more difficult to deal with.  

We really love the look of, and easy daily maintenance of, finger coils, 

but they are so difficult to put in and even more difficult to take out. 

Not sure what a summer of swimming will hold for your lovely locks.

(A black woman at the elementary school actually complimented me on your coils!! Proudest moment EVER!)

"Free" hair on a good day.

Freshly tightened coils.  Yes, I used Lucky Charms to bribe him.  No, it didn't work.

 You enjoyed exploring a Coast Guard plane, a helicopter, and a cargo transport plane at the Aerospace Museum (thanks to Grammy & Papa).  You also enjoyed running up and down the upstairs hallway of the museum.  Hopefully G&P will share some pictures with us, as I forgot the camera!  Mommy fail.

 You have now been with us for 10 months.  I can't believe how quickly it has gone by.  

There is no doubting the fact that you are our son.

A friend recently interviewed us for something she is writing about love, and it reminded me how easy it is for us to choose to love you every moment of every day.  

While you do not share our DNA, you are our son, without a doubt.

And now, welcome to the fun that is our Ty!

Apparently Ms. A's legs are something to climb through as well!

 

First St. Patty's Day!

 

Wearing daddy's shoes.

Such a big boy.  Usually he's sitting on the table.  Ergh.