19 Months ~Amelia~

Does it really have to be winter already?  I know the calendar doesn’t say so but my thermometer surely does.  With the cooler temps, comes the extra work of bundling up but also the fun activities such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and snowmen.  So far Amelia seems to really enjoy the idea of snow and looking at it but she hasn’t had the opportunity to play in it yet.  We are so very excited about all the upcoming festivities and family time and can’t see what the season brings.   

Growth:

Weight:  24 lbs
Height:  33"

Nearly all of Amelia’s 18 month clothes have been taken out of rotation.  She is in 24 month and 2T items.  Diapers are still a size 4 and shoes a size 5. 

Mobility/Coordination:  I say it every month but Amelia is such a busy body.  She’s so silly and likes walking sideways or backwards and turning in circles until she falls down from dizziness.  She likes trying to jump (her feet don’t leave the floor yet) and gets ways up on her tip toes.  She also likes walking in her tip toes quite a bit lately.

She has discovered she is tall enough to open the pantry cabinets and loves clearing the pantry out.  She also knows if she jiggles the child proof locks on our cabinets just right she can get the lock off.  Apparently she has figured this trip out at daycare as well.  She likes trying to get her coat on which usually ends up upside down.  Although, there are occasions when she gets it on correctly. 
   




















Amelia’s fine motor is still about the same but it has been all about fine tuning her skills:  feeding herself, dressing herself (or trying to), puzzles, stacking.

Language/Communication:  Speech has really taken off this month.  She is trying so hard at times and more successfully getting words out.  She now says Jesus, bug, more cheese, Monty, night night and bye bye.  Some of her translated words include: mommy = mom-my, uh oh = ah ho, diaper = by-ber, blanket = bah boo, and help = elp (which she asks for frequently and will grab your hand and lead you to what she needs help with). 

Personality/Amelia-isms:  This was the first month that Amelia exhibited any signs of stranger danger.  At her 18 month checkup, she was freaked out by the nurse and then the doctor.  She shrieked very loud and cried when they tried getting near her (and she doesn’t even get shots).  Since that day, there haven’t really been any other people or situations that she has reacted in that way though.  

Amelia is so fun and silly.  She loves showing you what she wants, giving high-fives and knuckles and then blowing them up. 

Sleep:  Amelia has dropped her morning nap almost completely other than occasions when she takes a very short cat nap in the car if running errands (or occasionally at daycare).  Otherwise, it’s just one 2-4 hour afternoon nap and bed at 6:30-7 and sleeping through the night no problem still.      

Eating:  Amelia still pecks at her food and generally doesn’t eat much.  You’d think she’d wither away but she definitely has not. 

Teeth:  Amelia popped her lower right incisor this month.   

Illnesses/Owies:  No real illnesses to speak of this month but about a week ago Amelia developed a rash on her torso.  The next morning the rash was gone and reappeared a day later only to disappear again.  We’re not really sure what to attribute it to and couldn’t pin point any likely food or environmental factors. 

Brother/Sister Moment(s):  Grant usually plays nicely with Amelia and Amelia of course loves being his shadow.  Lately we notice that anything that Amelia plays with Grant immediately wants and will snatch it out of her hands.  Of course Amelia then gets very upset and the crying ensues because Amelia got a toy taken away and then Grant is made to give the toy back to Amelia.  Talk about a vicious circle!

My boss gave the kids an antique school desk which they both absolutely love sitting at and playing with.  They have actually done pretty well sharing the desk space and will sit there together and “play school” according to Grant. 

Firsts/Adventures:  Nothing exceptionally fun or out of the ordinary this month. 

Likes:  wearing shoes and trying them on ~ reading (she will actually sit still for an entire book now!) ~ helping unload the dishwasher ~ singing and being sung to ~ blanket or “bah-boo”

Dislikes:  her earrings (she pulls them out and she doesn’t care how hard she has to pull to do so)  ~  wearing a hat and mittens ~ the vacuum cleaner (she clings to you and cries) ~ loud noises ~ being left out of the fun

Toddler Moment(s):  We have still been periodically using timeouts with occasional minimal success.  She’s never too happy about the idea.  Amelia’s #1 timeout reason… playing in the dog food and water bowls.    

Potty Training:  We are still trying to get Amelia to sit on the potty for what would be an adequate amount of time.  I thought maybe if I put her on the big toilet with the trainer toilet seat it would help because then she would be trapped and not be able to run away.  Wrong.  She. Freaked. Out.  I immediately took her off because I definitely don’t want her to be scared of the big toilet.