Dylan - 18 Months

We couldn't have asked for a happier little boy! It is a rare moment in our house when Dylan doesn't have a smile on his face or think something is hilarious. Hard to believe it was only a year and a half ago that he was born . . . I can barely remember life without him!

He always seems to have a look that says he's up to something (or seriously considering it!)

John with his grandparents at age 2. Can you believe the resemblance?!? Same mischievous smile!

At 18 months, Dylan:

• Says a number of words, but hasn't really started forming sentences yet. Most words sound like a version of go or car. I hear Mama the most though! His vocabulary of sound words is the largest: crash, boom, bonk, etc.
• Uses a couple signs to communicate: please, more and all done. We see please and more quite a bit. He loves to go "shopping" in our pantry and will bring a bowl and a box of crackers or cereal to you and pat his little tummy for please and make the sign for more. He recently started using more beyond food too. When the bobcat came to our neighborhood to clear the snow, he frantically said more whenever the bobcat would leave our view from the window.
• Loves to climb. If we turn our back for just a second, we often turn back around to see him standing on something.
• Imitates everything we do, especially his sister. Dylan talks on the phone, "goes" potty, mimicks hand gestures, and tries to walk up and down the stairs like we do. The last one has resulted in quite a few falls.
• Is really into books that have activities. I wonder if that is a boy thing, but the books where he interacts with them are much more appealing to him. He likes to lift the flaps, feels the different textures or push the buttons. His favorite is "Squirrel," a book where you slip a cardboard squirrel through small slots in the pages as he looks for his nuts.
• Like many little boys, loves his cars and trains. He spends quite a bit of time zooming them around the room and his favorite train piece is the tunnel.
• And like many little boys, loves anything that has to do with a ball or wheels. He loves his new basketball hoop and many times a day he'll stand by the gate and say "ball" or "bum" which we've learned means "I want to go downstairs" (where his basketball hoop is). We're not sure where "bum" came from!
• He is learning his animal sounds like a champ! We hear a lot of roaring whenever he sees a dinosaur, lion or monster. He also howls (ummm) at the moon, quacks like a duck and moos like a cow.
• Loves to give hugs and kisses, especially to Mama! He is such a snuggly little boy!

And although we still have to deal with his allergies, it has definitely become more of a way of life. I still worry whenever we're out somewhere, but I keep all my supplies (benadryl, epipens, clorox wipes, place mats, hand sanitizer) with me at all times! It is almost a blessing because I guarantee that my kids eat much better now than they probably would have without allergies!

He is just such an easy going kid and such a love! We feel truly blessed to have this little boy smile at us every morning!