Our Journey, His Work: *18 months*

Month 15 through month 18 flew by! Imagine that? Regardless of time flying, we thoroughly enjoy the moments with Jayden and are thankful every day for the way he is growing and learning. What's new?!?!

(Keep in mind I wrote this a month ago for the most part so it is timely).

Jayden has a very large vocabulary! At this point, there is not much he can't say. A couple of months ago he began saying things like "I spilt it" or "I broke it" or "I fall down". However, a month or so ago, Jayden began talking in FULL sentences. "Mommy come sit down on the couch" or "Help, I need a knife please" or "1, 2, 3, can I get a pen (while measuring something with his tape measure)". I would love to list out all the hilarious things he says but it's like these words and sentences come out of nowhere (wait, actually he is just repeating what he hears a lot of the time)!
Jayden has been high energy from day ONE! He loves to go, go, go and when he crashes, he crashes HARD!
He sleeps from 8:15 or 8:30 until ~~don't pass out~~ 5:15 or 5:30 in the morning. I am not sure what happened but he would generally sleep until 6:00 at least. A couple of months ago we phased out the morning nap and at that time he did begin sleeping later but the last couple of weeks we are back to the 5's! What is funny is that Rance and I are totally morning people so that is really not that early to us. I wake up at 4:30 most mornings; however, I would love Jayden to sleep until 6:00 so I could have that time with the Lord without him always next to me :) Hey, I am NOT complaining and I am genuinely thankful he sleeps SO well. He always sleeps at least 2 hours in the afternoon as well! As I am back to writing this post, he has slept until 6 or after the last 3 mornings HALLELUJAH!
I just recently wrote a blog on Jayden's favorite things here but to add to that list - Jayden is REALLY into tools big time from drills, to hammering nails, to using his hand saw! He loves to use a tape measure and measure things and a pencil to write down his measurements.
I am so grateful I have had other mom's affirm the eating cycle that kids go through that is normal. We go weeks with Jayden eating anything I put in front of him to weeks where he acts like he doesn't like or want any of it. Thankfully, I still throw in a fruit/veggie squeeze on those days where his food choice is not happening. For the most part, he eats well and eats A LOT. Hello, have you seen his cheeks? They have not shrunk.
He is wearing 2T clothes; although some 18 month pants if they are not too tight on his THICK thighs.
He loves to copy Rance and rub my back.
We have went through cycles of Jayden listening well to not listening at all. It's interesting how during those times that he does not listen at all and tests every single boundary (knowing he is doing so) that you wonder if any training you have ever done is working?!?! What I know to be true is - keep at it and keep being consistent!
Jayden is extremely compassionate. He may be tough and crazy and an adventurer but when he thinks someone is hurt (especially mommy) or upset or crying - it tears him up! He will come and hug you with the saddest face. If he sees 2 dogs fighting he will go to crying!
These last few months - his memory over names has been fascinating. In fact, I think he remembers names way better than I do. He can see someone one time and he will remember their name the next time he sees them. He loves to say "Bye bye ____" to everyone, calling each person by name.
If Jayden spills anything, he will immediately run and grab a rag or towel and clean it up!
We have had extra time in Nahunta with Christmas and Thanksgiving and Jayden thoroughly enjoyed all the tractor rides, feeding hunting dogs, feeding cows, and on and on.
He is very much into books now - I am thrilled about that because we can actually sit still for 5 minutes! He loves to turn the pages and point out everything he sees. He'll get to the end and say 'all done mommy, let's read it again."
Jayden has already started asking LOTS of questions. One of his biggest is 'where did daddy go?' or whoever he was with or has been with - he always wants to know where they went.
Every night before bed, we go outside to say night night to the moon and the stars. He began telling EVERYTHING night night eventually where he names everything he sees and tells them night night. At the end he says "night night God!"
Jayden loves babies! He loves to bend down (like he is some big boy) and get right in the baby's face to tell them hey.
He loves to wrestle and sometimes that can be difficult when he applies the same force and punch to his mama that he does to his daddy. We are constantly reminding him that you have to be gentle with mommy or girls!
I love that we can talk to him like any other person and he understands what we are saying!
He loves to look through our shutterfly picture books and point out everyone and shout out their name, especially PA!
He loves to hold a bible (copying Rance and I) in the mornings and just pretend to read it out loud saying over and over 'Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, bible, Jesus'.

There are so many things to share, but maybe I should wrap it up huh?!?

At Jayden's 18 month checkup, he weighed 29 lb 5.14 oz (94th percentile) and measured 32.48 inches in height (40th percentile). Everything checked out wonderfully and he talked the doctor's ears off. Speaking of ears, Dr. Toledo was trying to look at Jayden's ears and Jayden strongly dislikes feeling pinned down or prodded on so he was pushing back when Dr. Toledo said "Jayden, I need to check your ears for bunny rabbits." Jayden got just as still and when the doctor went to check his other ear, Jayden said, "check for bunny rabbits!" Ever since, Jayden pulls at his ears and talks about those bunny rabbits in his ears. I haven't stopped laughing yet!

He loves to sit here!