Emma: 18 Month Well Visit

Emma had her 18 month well visit on Friday, February 3rd.

Here are her stats:

• Weight: 23 lb 12.5 oz (66%)
• Height: 32 inches (56%)
• Head Circumference: 47.6 (83%)

I had a feeling that she had had a pretty big growth spurt because in December her 18 month clothes were still pretty big on her and by mid January her 18 month shirts were tight. Her pants still seem to fit pretty well. 

Some things that I wanted to talk to the doctor about were:

• Potty Training - I want to start this summer after Amber's wedding, so mid June. I am looking for guidance at the best/easiest way to do it.
• The doctor said the best way is to just jump all in. Pick a week we can be home a lot, put her in panties and go for it. However, the week after Amber's wedding Emma will be on her last week of swim lessons, so we will have to wait until those are over. 

• Eye Exams - Bobby wears glasses/contacts so not sure if we need to start eye exams at a certain age, or just wait until she starts complaining about not being able to see clearly. 
• They actually gave her an eye exam and said that will do that yearly so unless there is an issue we should be good. 

• Naps - I hate that her naps are at 11:30. I realize it is a good time for daycare, but at home the time sucks, especially on the weekends because it is right in the middle of lunch time. She isn't sleeping for more than an hour if that at home (at daycare they say she is sleeping 1.5-2 hrs, but I don't believe it). I would really like to get her naps later, at around 1 pm. 
• The doctor said to move it between 1 and 1:30. We did that and it has been so much better, I don't think she gets worn out as fast at home as she does at daycare so 11:30 was just too early. 

• Consequences - we have been dealing with biting and hitting. We have been doing 30 second time outs if she doesn't stop after we tell her no. Some days it seems to work ok and some days it doesn't. 
• The doctor said what we are doing is great. Just be consistent, which is really hard. However it seems to be working. 

Overall she is a healthy little lady. 

Emma: 18 months old

Emma turned 18 months old on January 30th, 2017. This is where she is in her development according to "What to Expect the Toddler Years."

Things a toddler her age should be able to do including:

• She can do

• use 3 words

• point to a desired object

Things an 18 month old will probably be able to do including:

• She can do

• use a spoon/fork but not exclusively

• point to 1 body part when asked

• She can't yet do

• run (she tries, but I don't think it is really running)

Things a toddler her age may possibly be able to do including:

• She can do

• kick a ball forward

• follow a 2-step command without gestures

Things an 18 month old may even be able to do including:

• She can do

• identify 1 picture by naming

• She can't yet do

• use 50+ words (we are probably at more like 20)

January 2017

We started the year with a trip to the Children's Museum  and we had a blast. She is master at getting into stuff that she is not supposed too.

 She is really into looking out our window above our bed.

One weekend we went to see the animals at the pet store. She loved the fish.

She loves being outside. Often times she will go outside and eat her snacks. January weather has been so nice this month that we have been able to to spend a lot of time outside. 

 She was talking to a squirrel in this picture.

I love our lazy Saturday mornings. 

She has gotten so big and independent. She wants to walk everywhere and do it herself. It has become hard to get pictures because she doesn't like to be still. 

With the independence has also come a lot of tantrums. The worst ones are at night when I make her put on her pajamas.

Sleeping on dad's back.

She had a good month at daycare. She is ahead on all her milestones except her speaking, which is still right on track.

We tried to go to the rodeo, and while she loved walking around and looking at the animals, she got over the actual rodeo part within the first 5 minutes and we had to leave. 

Some other random videos from the month.

We had a pretty good start to the new year if I do say so myself!