18 months and ready for the world!!!

Again, Mommy's been a bit slack lately, so I'm taking things into my own wee hands to let you all know about all the wild and wondrous things I've been up to.

As you probably know Friday was my 18 month birthday. Mommy told me that now I've been out in the world twice as long as I was cooking in her tummy. She seemed to get a bit choked up about that, but I don't really remember much at all about that tummy business.

I do know that I've been learning some really amazing things. I probably know like a hundred words or more by now. Mommy says it's thanks to daycare, but she and Daddy have something to do with it too y'know. I can say 'car' and 'plane' and 'train' and 'blocks' and 'box' (but these sorta sound alike). I can say 'up' and 'down' and 'more' and 'outside' and 'juice' and 'banana' and 'bye' and 'hey'. I also say some random things like 'bag' and 'bed' and 'shoes' and 'boots' and 'book' and 'bird' and 'kiss'. And I know all sorts of animals only I call them by their sound instead of their name. I'm kind of cool like that. One of my favourite things to do these days is to look at picture books with Mommy and Daddy and point to the words that they say. Every now and then I surprise them with one that they don't think I know and they get so excited. I like that. But Mommy and Daddy's favourite words that I have learned to say are 'please' and 'thanks'. I'm pretty good with 'please', but save 'thanks' for special moments. I've got to keep them on their toes y'know.

Another one of my favourite things to do is to play outside in our backyard. There's a big sand pit now and I throw the sand and slide down the sides into the pit and smoosh it between my fingers and pretty much wallow in it like a little piggy. Sometimes I get so dirty that Mommy and Daddy won't let me in the house until they've stripped off my clothes and hose me down which I really don't mind at all. I also like to push my wheelbarrow around and pick peppers and limes from the garden and feed them to Nacho.

I also really love to go and play with the neighbours. I sit in Tiana's lap, and I play footie with Blake, but my favourite is jumping on the trampoline and wrestling with Reuben. He's so nice to me and always shares his toys and is really gentle with me even though he's so much older. Mommy and Daddy think I'm lucky to have him for a friend. Sometimes all of us get to ride our bikes in the street. Alright, I don't get to be in the street with the big kids. I have to stay on the sidewalk, which I don't really like, but it's loads of fun anyway.

When I have to be inside I still love reading books and playing with my Little People (especially the baby, I love putting her into her crib and pushing the mattress so it sings lullabies). But my new obsession is playing with blocks. Mommy thinks it's a miracle because I can sit and play by myself with my blocks now for twenty minutes or so. I'm pretty particular though. So if you come and visit, please know that I don't like you to put blocks on my creations. If you're anything like Mommy and Daddy, you probably don't know anything about how blocks should be put together.

Mommy has also started letting me watch a bit of TV in the mornings. I really like Sesame Street and the Wot Wots but most of it still doesn't catch my attention. Once in a while for a treat (coincidentally, it always seems to be at the same time as Mommy wants to cut my nails, hmmm) I get to watch some of a video. I really really like 'Up' because of all the doggies.

But to be honest, I don't have a lot of time for TV watching. I'm too busy running around and chasing Nacho or Mommy and Daddy. It's a big job keeping them entertained the way I do. Sometimes I wonder how they could ever want to leave me, but I don't mind too much when they do because that means I get to play with my friend Jack at daycare or with Nana and Grandad when they come to watch me. I really like that.

Let's see what else? I'm a pretty good sleeper and go to sleep within ten or so minutes when I feel like it. I sometimes wake up in the night because I miss Mommy and Daddy, but most the time I go back to sleep once I hear their voices. I have to confess though, I don't really like sleeping in most mornings. Once I hear those birds chirping at quarter to six, I'm ready to play. It's funny, Mommy and Daddy don't seem very happy to be up and playing.

If you were to ask Mommy and Daddy, they'd probably say that I'm not such a great eater anymore. But I still eat well, only when it's what I want to eat and I feel like eating it. I love meat and rice and pasta and avocado and hummus and fruit and broccoli and sweet things. Anything else I'm pretty much not interested unless of course Mommy and Daddy aren't around and then I'll eat anything. I'm funny that way. 

Mommy and Daddy would also say that I'm pretty strong willed sometimes, but you try being little and have every one tell you what to do all the time! So sometimes I throw my food or refuse to hold Mommy or Daddy's hand in a parking lot, or pitch a proper fit when they try to force me to do something that I absolutely do not want to do. Wouldn't you?

P.S. Mommy thought that I should add that I'm learning to count. If you say 'one', I'll say 'two'. And if you say 'three', I'll say 'two' again! ~ Elliot