18 months

My sweet Ethan is 18 month old and I feel like change is happening so fast.  Each day, Ethan looks more like a boy and less like my little baby.  And today we are closer to 2 than we are to 1.

He really is so amazing.  He is learning so fast and says so many new words each day that I can't keep up.  Last time I counted his list, he was up to around 50 words.  He is now starting to recognize his letters.  He definitely knows E, M, and C (he finds them in his blocks and bath letters) since they are his initials and he randomly gets I, A, O, and B.  Sometimes I think he is just a lucky guesser but he is really starting to learn them.

We just started with animal noises (I know, I am behind) but he can consistently do cat, dog, monkey, sheep, and cow.  It is hilarious listening to him try to do an elephant.

He LOVES music.  Singing and dancing are two are his favorite things.  Anytime he hears music, he will stop in his tracks and started to dance.  His moves just crack us up.  His go-to dance move looks like he has water in his ear.  He squats down low and bounces his head from side to side.  He sings the "la la la" part of the Elmo song.

Speaking of Elmo...the kid is obsessed (and obsessed doesn't even quite describe it).  He doesn't watch television but we started to watch short songs and clips of Elmo on YouTube on our phones or iPad.  Now, we can't take out our phones without him screaming for "ELMO" and crying if he doesn't get to watch.  We have created a monster.

He has great fine motor skills.  It is very easy for Ethan to take marker caps off and carefully put them back on.  He stacks blocks pretty high and understands the concept of balance when they start to sway back and forth.  While I see his love for music developing (which is my area of strength), I am also seeing his innate art skills emerge.  He holds a pencil/marker/pen perfectly (better than me) and I hope he gets some artistic talent and creativity from his daddy.

Sometimes, I feel like Ethan can be a bit of a bully. He loves being around other people the kids and is always smiling and waving.  Sharing is a hard concept for him to grasp (which is completely developmentally appropriate right now) but it is a bit embarrassing when he walks up to a kid and pushes and takes away his/her toy.  He goes through phases with this behavior and we are always reminding him to be nice and gentle.

He loves his doggy.  Sometimes in the car, he will randomly yell out "MIA".  He always greets her in the morning and he gives her sweet hugs.  She is quiet fond of her brother, too.  She follows him around and is very protective of him.  For a big and hyper dog, he is careful around him and rarely knocks him over.  Ethan has recently started telling Mia to "sit", "stay" and get "down" and it is so cute!

Overall, I can't feel more thankful for such a healthy and happy boy.  He really is such a good boy that loves to be around people, smile, and socialize.  He is developing a sense of humor and enjoys making other people laugh (he definitely gets this from his funny daddy). 

My heart is so full and I am so lucky to be his mother.  Ethan truly is the love of our lives and is a perfect child for us (even during his Elmo tantrums, his hitting spurts, and his random middle of the night screamfests).  We love you more than you know, little man.  Thank you for being you.