Carter: 20 Months

Carter Man,

You are TWENTY MONTHS old today! Wow! Now it really seems like you are getting close to being TWO YEARS old, which just blows my mind.  To me, when I see other families with kids that are two that seems like an "older" age to me.  But when I think of you turning two, well it just seems like you are still my little baby.  I know I say this every month, but I just cannot believe how fast the time goes.

So much has changed since last month, yet so much remains the same.  You are busy, busy, busy and love to be outside.  When you are awake I don't think your little legs stop moving all day long.  You go from toy to toy, just tossing them aside when you are finished and move onto the next item.  You have actually started just running laps around the house.  You make it a game that we have to play with you where you start at the front door (with one hand on the door, no less) and we say "GO!" and you just take off towards the living room, making a round-about in the kitchen, and ending back at the front door.  You are always so proud of yourself when you are finished! 

You are still a pretty picky eater, always opting to eat something with your hands than with your utensils.  You still try to fill yourself up on bread, crackers, dry cereal and yogurt.  We are struggling to get you to eat any type of fruit or veggie that is not in a smoothie or pureed.  And you still hate all types of meat except chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A.  But you love your milk! And if you ever accidentally find a dessert you go bonkers and will try to EAT IT ALL!! 

Naps have always been one of your hit-or-miss categories and I think we are finally turning a corner! After doing some research we have started applying lavender essential oil to the bottoms of your feet before nap, along with running a few drops in a diffuser in your room during nap, and it has really paid off! You went from napping for about an hour to consistently taking 2-hour+ naps.  Great job, buddy! And you still sleep great at night from about 7:30pm - 7:30am.  In the morning when you wake up you are happy to roll around in your bed talking to yourself and playing with your paci until we come into your room to get you around 8:00am. 

You are still going to preschool two days per week and seem to really enjoy yourself.  You still cry at drop off, but I'm not sure if they will ever change.  You just don't want to see your mama leave! But your teachers tell me you are happy within a few minutes of me leaving and busy yourself playing with all the centers until it's time to go play outside.  You always have a good report at the end of the day.  And you are ALWAYS the only one awake when I go get you in the afternoons.  Guess that lavender magic doesn't stretch all the way to school! 

We have talked about how sometimes you are quick to anger, especially if we take a toy away, or seem to throw a temper tantrum rather easily.  Mama K says you get that from your Daddy J.  We are working on techniques to help you calm down and listen to us, rather than throw yourself on the floor while banging your head on the ground.  We hate to see you so upset so often, but we also know it is our job to teach you how to appropriately handle your emotions.  This will also be addressed when we start working with your ECI therapists next month.  

You still don't say many words, although you talk all day long.  You have your own language, my dear! It's complete gibberish and reminds us of the talking minions on the Despicable Me movie you love to watch.  I'm trying to be patient as you learn to piece all of your sounds together into words, but I have to be honest and tell you I'm frustrated with your lack of speech.  You will repeat words to us all the time, but you never use them unprompted.  You know all of your animals and animal sounds, and one of my favorite things to hear is you making all of those sounds. 

Our little boy, this could be the last month we have you all to ourselves before your sisters, Madeline and Molly, come into our lives.  Please know that we LOVE you with all of our hearts and that will never change.  You have blessed us with your presence over the past 20 months and we know that you will make the best big brother.  We love you to the moon and back.   

20-Month Stats:

Weight: 25ish pounds

Length: 32ish inches

Eating: sippys of milk, combo of baby and table food, and one snack

Bedtime: around 7:30pm

Awake: around 7:30am

Nap: around 12:30 

Diapers: size 5 Huggies

Clothes: 18-months

Shoes: 5 wide

Favorites: playing outside, anything with wheels, your paci, books, videos on our phones, Cooper
Dislikes: seeing one of us hold another baby

Development: running, climbing, communicating, jumping

Words: mama, dada, nana, dog, uh oh, night night, what is that, outside, bye bye, hi, hey, hello, deer, duck, who is that, Nemo, cup, up