I can't believe it's time to write James' 21 month update, but he was 21 months old last week and I am already recognizing that his second birthday will be here before we know it. He is pretty much all toddler boy these days which is sad (that the baby is gone) but all wonderful too. Here are just a few of the things that he is doing at 21 months old:
Growth: I think he weighs around 27 pounds now (rough estimate on our scale), and I have no idea exactly how tall he is. I guess I'll have to wait until his 2 year appointment to know for sure, because he never stays still long enough for us to find out. He still fits best in 18 month and now some 24 month pants, 24 month shirts, and 2T one-piece outfits. He still wears a size 4 diaper and I think his shoe size is 6.5 or 7.
Eating: James is definitely making gradual strides as far as what he'll eat/how much he'll eat. He has added a few new things to his list of foods the last few months, but unfortunately meat is still not one of them and he is eating very few vegetables now as well. Some days are so wonderful with his eating that I could just sing and those days are usually followed by a long stretch of days that he will barely eat anything (and the worry sets in). (I know that part of this is just about being a toddler.) But I am trying to focus on the positive, the progress, and the fact that he is still growing and healthy. We have a new pediatrician that also suggested the possibility of feeding therapy (like our last one) if he doesn't continue to make progress, but for now he is making strides in the right direction. We were also able to wean him off of his reflux medicine after being on it for 18 months, and he seems to be doing okay without it for right now! I am so relieved and thankful!
Sleeping: He is still taking one nap a day for an hour to an hour and a half (longer if I can hold him/get him back to sleep) around 12:00 or 12:30 (before the dreaded DST) and sleeping about 11 hours at night. He is starting to fall asleep easier as well (I just rubbed his back for a few minutes until he fell asleep the other night for the first time) and sometimes tells us "night night" when he's tired and ready to go to sleep.
Vocabulary/Communication: He has really had a word explosion the last few months. He has a ton of words now and is putting some two word sentences together as well. He is really able to communicate with us better than ever before - he clearly says "no" (mostly to food he doesn't want or when Mama puts a block in the "wrong" place on the tower - ha!),"yeah" when we ask him questions, "more", and "again". He has started to tell us on occasion when he wants to eat or when he's going potty in his diaper which I know is a good sign. He really tries to do a lot of the signs on his Baby Einstein videos now which for me is mostly just cute to watch (I didn't do great at all with teaching signs to him) but I know it still helps in communicating his wants/needs. He is repeating everything (I have learned from his repeating that I apparently say "ooookay" a lot!), but also just initiating talking (unprompted) on his own more than ever before. The other night he went around the dinner table pointing to everyone and saying their names, including his own. He loves to point to pictures of himself in the house and say "Jaaaammes." He has a very healthy self esteem! ha! He also love to fill in the blank with his name when I say, "Mama loves ____" or "Daddy loves _______" or "Jesus loves ______." He is also enjoying reading more than ever and sometimes sits and pretends to read by himself now.
Teething: He has 12 teeth including all four molars and is working on cutting the 4 cuspid teeth now (it looks like this will be the first time he'll get multiple teeth at the same time). Teething has always been a struggle for him, but these current 4 teeth have been especially hard on him. He is drooling a lot, not eating or sleeping well, and has just generally more irritable. We are keeping our fingers crossed they will come in soon and that he'll get a little break before the 2 year molars appear.
Interests: His interests still include: all kinds of transportation (playing with it, watching it on TV, reading about it, pointing it out when we are outside, etc.), balls, blocks, animals, and dinosaurs. His favorite shows are Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, his Baby Einstein DVDs (especially the one with the bee - he asks for the bee all day long!), and any show about trains. He has also really started to show an interest in identifying shapes (which mean he knows "cross" and it's a good opportunity to talk about Jesus), colors, and counting.
He still enjoys being outside and looking for airplanes, dogs, flowers, rocks to throw, bugs, bees, butterflies, etc. A few weeks ago we were looking out the window together and spotted a butterfly. It flew away and he looked at me and said and signed "more." I asked, "More butterflies?" And he said, "yeah" (which he had never said before at the time) so matter-of-factly that I just burst out laughing. And so we just stayed at the window a long time looking for butterflies and repeating that same conversation over and over and he laughed so hard every time that he answered "yeah" because he knew that he has really done something to make me laugh and was so proud of himself.
He also still enjoys coloring and really enjoys stickers. He also really likes "games" (regular and computer games) which is so cute to hear him say. The fascination with games began when we attended several Fall Festivals where he had the change to play games. The other day we played some computer games at the Apple Store and he cried the whole way home in the car repeating "games" over and over again. He has also started to show an interest in the potty although I still want to wait a little longer before we take on the endeavor of potting training. We have had several interesting bathroom incidents lately with him imitating how to use toilet paper and also climbing into the toilet (clothes and all) one day saying "potty" over and over when I had left the room for just a second. He keeps me on my toes and keeps me laughing.
Personality: He is a typical, active boy but continues to be a little shy and reserved in new situations although he will warm up and be friendly. I think he does eventually need a little down time after being in very active settings with lots of people and gets a little overstimulated, and it's good for him to have some alone time to recharge (we probably have a bit of an introvert on her hands which I totally can relate to). He has started to notice when people are crying or sad and will say "He's sad..." and will sometimes cry and make a sad face too which is very sweet. He still continues to be very persistent and does not give up on anything that he wants easily. He also is not easily distracted or diverted from what he wants, and he does not forget even if you are able to successfully divert his attention or try and get him to wait on something. He is definitely in the tantrum phase which has been really hard on me but I am trying to provide firm, loving, and consistent discipline when necessary. He is really wanting to know what the boundaries are, but it is so not fun when he deliberately chooses to disobey. He has also just regressed some with some behaviors like throwing food at meals and throwing/swinging at you when he is frustrated but we are working on it day by day. The tantrums and acting out really make me feel like the worst parent sometimes, but I just have to remind myself that it's just a normal phase that all parents walk through. And usually after a rough day of tantrums he will have a day that he surprises me with lots of unprompted "please", "thank you," and "welcome" (your welcome) and those moments become even sweeter because of the tough and trying days.
I read such an encouraging post at feminagirls.com the other day when I was doubting so many things, and sorting out so many opinions, and was just really having a day that I needed to be reminded that what I am doing each day really does matter. This one one of my favorite lines and I think it sums up this post well: "
God does everything the opposite way of what we think. At the end of the day, it’s not prestige and a paycheck that rise up to call you blessed. Those things burn up. The things that last, the eternal things, have fat faces and messy hands." I just pray the Lord will help me to delight in those messy hands and the messes that they create every day! What a privilege to get to raise this little life!
James, we have praised God for your life since the very moment we first knew of you and we have loved every day with you these last 21 months. You are a bright spot on the darkest day. I love our days together (even the tantrum-filled days that I know I will one day miss and long for again) because you are my sweet boy and you are so special and wonderful to me. You are truly my heart. Mama and Daddy love you, and Jesus loves you. Love, Mama
