Eighteen Months With Grace

Oh eighteen months.  Such a fun age and also such a challenge.  We are in the thick of what I would call a tough life stage.  I remember Palmer was difficult at this time and Grace is also in the middle of a time that is very frustrating for her.  It's that age where a child has opinions, but doesn't have the language to back it up.  It's also that age where independence starts to exert itself and the trials of discipline begin.

Don't get me wrong, we love our little Grace so much.  She is also social, funny, and laid back.

Grace's language is blossoming and she loves to repeat what people say.  Palmer is keen on making fun sounds to Grace and she will mimic it right back.  She is silly and another entertainer in the family.  Grace's teachers told me one day that Grace spent an hour at school making everyone laugh with her funny antics.  I would say it's safe to say we do not have any shy kids in this family.

Grace is also pretty chill (except about important topics like eating and drinking) and usually plays happily by herself with toys or right along Palmer's side.  She enjoys big brother's trains and Legos most days.

Milestone photo with Miss Kitty:

Eighteen-Month Stats:
Height: 30 3/4 inches, 23rd percentile
Weight: 22 lbs, 4 ounces, 19th percentile
Head: 44.5 cm, 12th percentile
Teeth: 7 (Grace is pretty behind in the teeth department)


Likes:

BOOKS: Grace loves to sit and read her books.  Occasionally, I catch her trying to read some of the books out loud like "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" and "Go Dog Go".

CRAFT SUPPLIES: It's funny how Palmer and Grace are both really getting into this at the same time.  Palmer has always had little to do with coloring, paper crafts, etc.  But lately, he has been making things like paper parachutes and thank you notes/drawings for people.  Meanwhile, Grace loves to sit with some paper and scribble or do stickers.  There is a drawer in the breakfast nook where I keep a lot of these items and I often find Grace happy amidst all sorts of paper and stickers spread everywhere.

EATING: Both of my kids like to eat.  Grace's first words: eat, snack, comer ("to eat" in spanish), agua ("water" in spanish), and hungry.  Grace gets pretty angry if you don't figure out which drink and which food she is trying to tell you she wants.  Now.

BABY DOLLS: Grace has a few baby dolls that she plays with from time to time.  It's cute to see her pat a baby to sleep and put a baby in a stroller.  But honestly, she is also just as happy playing trains so I don't think we've experienced the full-on doll mania (yet).  She is still a little young.

MUSIC CLASS: Grace and I go to a music class once a week and it's fun to have some alone time with one child.  She is very outgoing with the other children and quick to stand next to the teacher and demonstrate something.  One little boy follows her around and she prefers her private space by often telling him, "No!" if he gets too close.  (She exhibits the same strong-willed behavior with her brother!)

Gracie girl, we love you so much.  You are curious about the world around you and finding your place in it.  We love seeing you blossom and grow every day.

Happy eighteen months!

-Bethany