Dear Callan: 18 months (i.e. 1.5 years)

Dear Callan-

Guess what time it is? It's your month-birthday! We're only a few days late this time, but it's here! You are One and a HALF! That's crazy... and since I'm a few days late, that actually means that you're closer to T-W-O then you are to one... Argh! How is that possible?

Showing off your muscles at the playground -you love to do what the big kids do!

You've had such an amazing month (like always). Every day I'm amazed at this little person you're becoming. You're starting to talk more and it's so fun -although it's not always easy to tell what you're trying to tell us, so you still resort a lot to pointing, grunting (hmms) and my personal favorite, leading us by the hand to whatever you want. Your words are starting to pile up and it's so fun to hear you identify new things, but we should work on your pronunciation because you say some words like you have a Boston accent, like bear is be-ya and some words sound the same -somehow this, sit, teeth, keys and cheese all sound the same. You L-O-V-E pointing out boats, trains, buses and trucks and it melts my heart every time when I come into the living room and you and dada are sitting in the chair looking for boats, trains and trucks out the window.

On the lookout for boats

Speaking of your dada, you guys are having so much fun together on Mondays. You get to go on special field trips and hang out together. I'm not sure who enjoys it more, you or your dada. He also gets to go in to get you up in the mornings and it's very cute to watch you interact.

In addition to your expanding vocabulary, you've got an expanding array of facial expressions. You've got your scrunchy cheese face:


Your silly cheese face:

Your kissy face:

And your surprised/roar face:

You're also so affectionate. You love to give out hugs:


And kisses:

And will hold hands:


It melts my heart to see you like this. I hope you're always like this (at least to me), but I know that these days are probably numbered. You already like to assert your independence and will tell you no when you don't want to do something (like giving mama kisses when she leaves for work). We try to give you lots of freedom and choices while setting boundaries for you, but you do have a stubborn streak and often times if the boundaries interfere with what you want to do, then it usually results in tears and a mini tantrum. I guess it's hard being 18 months old!

Callan bubs, you're such an amazing little person. There are lots of changes coming your way, but we are going to have lots of exciting and fun time ahead.

Love,

Mama

Now please excuse me, I've got an important phone call to make: