Jude :: 18 months old

It sure is crazy to be an 18-month-old!!

Jude is just as wild as ever.  Pretty much, if he is awake he just doesn't stop.  He doesn't walk, he runs.  He not only climbs onto chairs, but also kitchen tables.  Our baby-proofing systems just keep getting taller and taller.  We recently had to change a few doorknobs that were dummies so that he couldn't just pull the door open (of course once he figures out how to turn the knob, our efforts will be worthless).  I am definitely saying, "no", more than ever.  Oh, the joys!  One day I am sure I will miss it. ;-)

Jude was 28lbs 4oz and 34 inches tall at his last check-up.  That's right around the 90th percentile for both height and weight!  He continues to gain weight, which, at this age, doesn't always happen!  We've zoomed past 24 month clothes into 2T.  And sometimes those seem small!  He can be a picky eater (especially at dinner), but apparently he is still eating enough.  I continue to make him smoothies most days to get his nutrition in.  I load them up with kale, spinach, and peas, along with fruit and greek yogurt and he gobbles them right up!

He is also talking more and more.  Or rather, what he says is starting to make more sense. :-)  Jude has always been a babbler, and a lot of what he says is still Chinese to me, but he's definitely growing his vocabulary a great deal and is starting to put two or more words together.  He'll say "be back" or "dada bye bye" or "all done"... and many more.  He is also very much a boy with all the sound effects he makes while playing with his cars and trains.

He is still taking one nap a day, usually around 1pm.  But, I have stretched him as long as 2:30pm and he has still napped great!

He is still great with his little brother.  There have only been a handful of times he has smacked him or something - but it seemed to be more out of curiosity than to be hurtful.  He regularly likes to make sure Isaac has his paci or will find a burp cloth and have to wipe Isaac's mouth.  He's starting to like to stand next to Isaac wherever he is sitting and will just look at him and babble at him.  It's so fun, especially since Jude is just the most interesting thing to Isaac right now.

Jude is finally doing significantly better in church nursery or just being apart from us in general.  He was always the kid screaming bloody murder in nursery.  It even seemed to be worse if we were still in the house.  But in the past month or two, he seems to have finally grown out of it.  Sometimes he gets a little whiney, but we know he will stay and play.  This. is. huge. for me and my ability to do things like bible study on Monday's or participate in house church.

We love you, Jude Michael!  It's the biggest honor in the world to be able to watch you grow and learn about the environment around you.