18 month Bug

a.k.a. A year and a half.

There is no such thing as sitting still with this kid.

Here are some pics that Daddy took this morning with his phone an emailed to me.

Yup.  We're brushing our teeth multiple times a day! :)

Yesterday Bug had her 18 month check-up.

Before the appointment she was so chipper.

height: 31.5 inches (approx./maybe 50th percentile and I think they were being generous) 

weight: 22 lbs., 6 oz. (25th percentile- seriously)

head: 40-something centimeters (75th percentile) 

There are no after photos for a reason.

Do any of these percentages make sense together?  Since her 15 month appointment, she has grown 1/4 of an inch and gained almost 1 lb.  Wow.  Does that even constitute as growing?  Regardless of percentages, percentiles, inches, centimeters, and pounds, she is gorgeous and smart!  Is it a coincidence that her largest percentile is her head?  There's a lot going on in there.  Oh, and I'm not just saying all of this.  It's the truth.  :)

Our doctor never asks "Does she do this or that, or this or that?"  Instead, he makes conversation about what Bug's been doing.  I think it's because he knows all children are different and can do specific things at different times.  At yesterday's appointment, Daddy and I mentioned the following things:

1-Bug is very interested in trying to figure out how her toys work, rather than actually playing with them.
Doctor's response:  This is a trait that is usually associated with little boys of Bug's age.  He finds it interesting that she has a wide vocabulary (like most little girls) and she likes to see how toys work. Perhaps this girly is going to follow in her dad's footsteps and become and engineer.  (Pray for Mommy.) 

2-She loves to talk that we can't even count the amount of words she knows and that she is now telling us what she wants, using two-word sentences, and counting from 1 to 10.  She also recalls the names of things without us reminding her or prompting her, especially all the kids and teachers at school!  She's also very good at lecturing.  Very good. 
Doctor's response (after the laughter):  It's common for girls to develop speech faster than boys, but that he was quite impressed that she can "count" from 1 to 10.  The ironic part is that aside from screams and cries, Dr. Nish has never actually "heard" Bug speak.  She barely looks at him, let alone speak to him.  For example, she was fine in the waiting room, playing, talking, and laughing.  Then they called her to come to the exam room and she instantly started crying...all the way to the room.  Then Dr. Nish came in and...SILENCE.  Then tears. 

3-Bug is very big on doing things herself.  She would rather attempt to do something on her own and wait until she's desperate to ask us to show her how to do it. She's not an instruction manual kind of gal.  I admit that she may have inherited that gene from me.  ::Cringe::  For example, she is now a pro at putting on her shoes and securing the velcro.  We tried to teach her.  Tried.  She stopped us before we could really do it.  Instead, she wanted to do it alone.  Every time she walked past her shoes, she'd get distracted by them and start practicing.  That sometimes took up to 20 minutes.  What 18 month old do you know can sit still for 20 minutes straight?  Mine.  And only when she's practicing putting on her shoes.  That awesome distraction gene is NOT from me.  Ironically, neither is the one where she's focused on one task until she gets it.  Yeah, that's not from me either. 
Doctor's response:  Dr. Nish is impressed that she an actually put on her shoes and that she has enough focus to do it.

4-We also discussed things like jealousy (of Mommy and Daddy, of teachers and other kids at school, and of course, sharing her Mama, Papa, Ninang, and Ninong with Lo).  

Doctor's response:  Life lesson.  Mommy agrees.  This led to a conversation about baby #2 (don't get your hopes up) and age gaps.  Conclusion:  We're waiting.

Dr. Nish says that Bug is growing a lot developmentally and is probably ahead of the curve in the speech department.  (Are you shocked?)

Other developments:

• Bug is favoring Daddy a ton these days and pushing Mommy away when they hug or kiss.  We've officially incorporated the "No biting/hitting/kicking/pushing" book into our bedtime stories.  It's a hit or miss.
• Tinkerbell (a.k.a. "Bee-Bell") has escalated to movie star status in our house, even though sometimes it causes Bug anxiety to see her take flight or "fi" (fly).  Other words associated with "Bee-Bell":  'frairy" (fairy).
• Practice makes perfect:  Bug is practicing her words all the time.  New words are usually practiced in the crib when she wakes up in the morning.  The other morning I heard her on the monitor and the first thing she said was, "frairy". 
• She still loves Barney- probably because he sings all the same songs they sing at school.  She loves the "Dino!"
• Bug is still pretty dramatic.  I beginning to think this is not a phase.  When Barney, "Bee-Bell", Duck, and "Meeeeckeeee" all disappear, this kid goes into hysteria mode.  Seriously.  

This girl is our everything and I cannot believe how quickly these 18 months have flown by.  Again, I'm trying to take it all in and remember it all, but with each passing day I feel like she is learning so much more that I can't even begin to remember the previous day.

Dear Buggy,

18 months has come so quickly and will probably turn into 2 years in no time.  (Wah!)  Your personality is stronger than ever before.  You make it known when you need a hug and a kiss, but you also make it known when you need your space.  (I wish you'd make it known if you need help!)  It kills us, but we know someday, we will be thankful that you can communicate your wants and needs so clearly and so openly.  As your parents, there are so many things we hope for, but most importantly we're hoping that that openness will always be at the center of our relationship with you.  We want you to know you can come to us with anything (big or small) and feel free to express your feelings.  (Although, we don't think you'll have any problems expressing how you feel.)

You are turning into such a loving friend to your schoolmates, always asking them to play and dance with you while holding their hands, and kissing them goodbye at the end of the day.  Mommy loves that when we get home, you talk to her about your friends as though you were 14 years old!  You're pretty popular with your schoolmates' parents as well.  You know everyone's mommy and daddy and always greet them with smiles and chatter when they come to pick up your buddies.  Your teachers LOVE you as much as we do.  We see how much of a positive impact they've made on you and how much you love them, anxiously waiting for the door to open at school in the morning to see which teacher will be there to greet you, and unwilling to let go of them to leave when the school day is done.  You are an amazing little person.  So tiny, but so much love to give and so much personality!  18 months down and you're already this cool?  We cannot wait to watch you grow!

Love,

Daddy and Mommy

p.s.
Your legs are really slimming down and it's just another indication that you are growing up so quickly and that this toddler phase will end just as quickly as the baby phase did.  Your will to grow up faster than your body is growing is tough on us.  As excited as we are to see what kind of adult you will turn out to be, we also want you to "just be a kid".  Don't grow up too quickly, Buggy.  

PICTURE TIME

Wanting to put on her shades BY HERSELF.

Super Bowl Sunday.  You'd think this girl was betting on the game.  Look how focused she is!  So focused she may have dropped some goldfish snacks.

Learning how to cook from the master chef.

 
Please don't even think about it.

Okay.  Think about it.

Last night Bug asked to play dress up.  In a dress.  I took this once in a lifetime opportunity to snap some shots of her in a real dress.  :)

 

God Bless,

Kat