Nathan, 18 months

Can you believe it? Can you believe that Little Man Nate is already 18 months?

Nathan's Famous Hot Dog on Halloween.

At 18 months, Nathan is 33.25 inches tall and nearly 29 pounds, but mostly, he is on the go. Nathan is curious about the world around him, spending lots of time opening doors or drawers, saying "uh-oh" when he finds something new. I know for certain I will have to buy a new set of measuring cups when we move again, as Nathan has adopted some into his toy collection, while others are just plain MIA.

He loves pushing his cars, trucks and lawn mower around the house. He is quickly learning to match shapes with puzzles and point to his nose, ears and belly. He uses sign language to say "please" and "more" as well as ask for "help". We have just started practicing the sign for "thank you" and he seems to be grasping that one. Nathan will put his cup in the refrigerator or sink when he is "all done", and understands directions to clean up at the end of the day. In addition, he will break into dance when music is playing. Nathan will laugh at nothing in particular or cry about it as well.

Learning to climb the big kid playground.

He is just as picky when it comes to food as he was six months ago. His favorite foods are fruit, bread and cheese. Nathan is also testing boundaries sometimes, walking away when we ask him to stop or touching when we have said no.

Lately, after diligently training him to hold a hand when walking in a parking lot, he wants to hold both our hands. He gives hugs and kisses more freely, which melts my heart.