Monte Turns 18 Months

Things to remember about this stage:

Monte loves to tease. He finds a way to make us laugh, then repeats that behavior over and over.  Like holding out a piece of sandwich like he wants to share with me.  And just as I try to nibble off a corner, he  snatched it away and giggles.  Or running away when I'm trying to dress him, or going limp when we're trying to pull his pants up, giggling all the while.  Have you ever tried to put pants on a toddler when they're too silly to stand up straight?!

Something else to remember is his enthusiasm for potty training.  I've always had anxiety around starting this process, but Monte makes it fun and entertaining.  What a thrill to see him learn to communicate his needs and take on the challenge of staying clean and dry.

He's become very passionate about his tricycle lately.  He has learned how to mount and dismount, stand up and push it forward or backward, and make motor noises while turning the handlebars.  He's still a half inch short though - not able to make the full pedal rotation.  So, Keith figured out how to hook the ski harness onto the handles and pull him down the street.  This way he feels like one of the big boys and they can all ride together.

And lastly, his talking.  He is learning a new word every other day or so.  He has been using baby signs for words like "more" and "hat."  However, now he's saying the word while making the sign.  Whenever he really, REALLY wants our attention, he looks up at us and says, "Mom, MOM, MMMOOOMMM!"  No matter who it is.  If he gets what he's asking for, it's, "Tants, Mom."  (Thanks, Mom) Very quiet and polite.  And again, no matter who he's speaking to.  I love it.  It's like payback time for me, because his first word, of course, was "Daddy!"