Jude: 18 months

Jude is 18 months.  I'll let that sink in with you for a little.

Everytime I do an update post like this, trying to recall all his tricks, and how far he's come since the last post, I can't help but feel this slight pull on my heart.  My baby is growing up!  And what a gift that is in itself.  Truly.  He's learning, and playing, and interacting...showing us more and more of his personality.  But, it just goes by so quick.  These magic years--the ones I wish I could keep in a jar, and open up later.  I've already forgotten so much.  I look at his newborn photo on the wall and just stare:  is this Jude running butt naked around my house really the same baby who fell asleep on my chest?  And then I think, yes.  Those cheeks.  They are the same.  

Anyway, @18 months:

Jude is a little bit of a maniac right now.  He's constant.  He toddles around the house getting into anything that catches his eye, and then ditches it quick for the next best thing.  

Jude is learning how to climb.  He can now pull himself up onto the couch, but he gets pretty frustrated.  He says, "help, hellllp!" (as a demand, not a cry) and I usually let him struggle it out and when he makes it up, I say, "YOU DID IT!!" and he grins from ear to ear and then gets shy.  

Jude is obsessed with the Christmas tree.  It is pitty.  Pitty.  PITTY! pitty.  If he is crying in the car, I tell him we are going to see the Christmas tree, or point out some Christmas lights, and we are good to go.  

That being said, if Jude doesn't like something, he'll let you know it.  Nnnnnnoooooo!  Dooonnnttt.  He makes sure to enunciate each sound.  Yesterday he wanted to be shirtless.  And today he was not happy about going to Costco.  Where he once thought it was funny for Juno to chase him around if he had a cracker, now he thinks this is super annoying.  

Jude still hates getting his diaper changed, but he should love it because it's usually his chance to run around nakey for a bit.  

Jude loves being nakey.

Anywhere I go, Jude is usually quick by my side.  He likes to play where  I am.  He lovvvvves sitting next to me on the couch and he loves looking at books.

Just today, Jude has started to point things out to me and say what it is until I acknowledge that word.  Cow, cow, cow, cow....yes, Jude.  That's a CAR. :)

Jude is a marching machine.  Gigi taught him this game and when he sees her, it's the first thing he wants to do.  March, march, march, march, marching around pu-pum, pu-pum.  March, march, march, march, singing a song pu-pum, pu-pum.  He just says, "mouch, mouch, mouch." and holds one leg stiff as he walks about the house.

Jude loves his Bompa.  He gets all giggly and showey-offy when he sees him.  It's been so fun (and LUCKY) that my dad has watched him one day a week for the past 6 months or so.  They are two peas in a pod.  

OK, and I can't leave out:  Jude loves his cousins.  He FREAKS out when we pull up to their house.  He can say all their names, "Avi/Ava, Coos, Ade"--or something like that.  And I think he knows Rachel is Rachel, but I think he might think her name is Mom.  Jude calls me Mommies, so there is a distinction there! ;)

Fave foods:  grapes, oranges, smoothies, yogurt, LaraBars, Mac n Cheese, quinoa/rice/beans, cheese, broccoli, green beans, chocolate.  He's not one for trying new foods, but slowly I think he's coming around.  If he picks it up and puts it to his mouth, I consider this a great triumph. 

@ 18 months

35 inches (like 97th percentile)

28.4 lbs (80th percentile)

Weight:Length = 50th percentile

Head: 18.6 inches (25th percentile)