The Settlemeyers: 18 Months

Connor had his 18 month check up last week and was given a clean bill of health. While in the waiting room he was playing with all the toys, having a great time. Then once they called us back he started fussing. We went into the first room to get weighed and measured and he wasn't having it. I had to peel his clothes off and he was screaming his head off. Once that was over with, he sat in my lap for a bit but began to play once more and was okay. When the doctor came in, I guess he got scared because he crawled up in my lap and never mumbled a word. He would not crack a smile and just stared at the doctor. She was able to check everything and he cooperated, but he wasn't about to let her know that he enjoyed being there. You'll see below we still have a long and lean little boy. The nurse said he looked like a 2 1/2 year old.

Weight: 27.10 (75% ile)
Height: 34.5 (96% ile)
Head: 48.75 (76%ile)

This stage has to be the best! I LOVE it!! He talks and talks and has such a wide vocabulary. He repeats EVERYTHING he sees or hears, and I do mean everything! Thankfully most of it is pretty funny. He remains very rambunctious at home, but I think he really mellows out when left at the church nursery or mother's day out. All the nursery workers and teachers always tell me he's so sweet. Even though he can be a wild man, I do have to agree about the sweetness. No matter where he is or what he's doing at the moment, he stops periodically, runs over and says, "hug! keees!" Then follows up with "La Lo," which means love you. It's the best! Something else I find sweet is that he says a prayer before each meal. He will sometimes remind Josh and me and say "PAY" and clasps his hands together, mumbles some stuff then shouts "AMEN." It's so cute! He's also great at sharing and plays well with others. Hope that trend continues!!

In between all of this cuteness and sweetness, however, we are definitely starting to see signs of a toddler! He has a new fussy/scream that he does and when we tell him NO his first reaction is to throw whatever is in his hand or to hit whatever is in his way. Oh the terrible twos are going to be fun!

Sleep has become somewhat of an issue again. We dropped his morning nap a couple of months ago b/c I knew at school they did not take naps. Well, Connor still really likes that a.m. snooze time and keeps falling asleep during school! Even the director talked to me about it last week b/c there are no mats or places for him to lie down and the teacher has to end up carrying him around. And if he does fall asleep, even for 10 minutes, he won't nap the rest of the day. Then the past few days, he has been waking up fussing around 6-6:30. Maybe God is just getting me ready for life with a toddler and newborn!!

Here are some pictures taken of Connor this past weekend. We went to Livingston where they had a downtown festival and parade. He enjoyed the petting zoo (even when 5 goats were jumping on him at once) and really had a good time riding the horses. He did not want to leave.