18 Months

Where has the time gone? My little baby is now old enough to enter nursery!  I can't begin to describe how much better church will be for Kaden and I both. We are hoping William will enjoy nursery as much as we think he will.

Just to tell you a little bit about William at 18 months...

William is very energetic. Often he'll run back and forth across our living room to the kitchen so many times that we'll lose count. He also thinks he is the strongest little man in the world and likes to lift his bike, dump truck, chair, etc. around the room until he finds just the right place to play. Climbing is also another favorite past time of William's. He loves climbing into his dump truck and slowly maintains his balance while attempting to stand up without the back dumping him out. I know there are warnings on the dump truck about letting kids get inside the back but oh well, boys will be boys. William is also going to be the next Evel Knievel with his daring stunts on his bike. He attempts sitting on the handle bars, standing on the seat, and putting his legs on the handle bars while leaning backward. I wish I had some pictures, perhaps once he becomes a master he'll allow me the satisfaction of a photography session.

William is obsessed with being outside. He loves it so much he will even eat dirt. Yes, that's right, my boy likes dirt. He must get it from Kaden's side of the family ;) William walks around the jungle gym like he owns the place. I rarely have to help him these days and just yesterday he was able to climb up to the highest slide that has a bar as a step instead of stairs. I was a proud mama.

William also thinks he is part of the canine family. He gets very concerned when he sees Summer's dog bowls empty, but don't let that concern fool you into thinking he cares about Summer being fed and watered. It is purely a selfish desire. I can't seem to keep the dog food out of his mouth. If I even turn my head for a second he is already in the dog bowl with 10 pebbles in his mouth. It is most definitely his favorite food. The same goes for the water bowl. Fill that thing up and he is right there holding each side of the bowl while he licks the water. I've seen him sharing with Summer as well (Gross!). When we let Summer outside William becomes hysterical because he wasn't let outside with her. He does very much adore his Summer doggy and often snuggles with her or hugs her or kisses her. At the end of the day seeing them two together makes all the other doggy behavior bearable.

William vrooms with his cars and he roars for every animal sound except elephants. He knows where his/your belly button, nose, mouth, and eyes are. He knows all the hand motions to Pat a Cake. He puts his pointer fingers together for Itsy  Bitsy Spider. He also does the ball, hammer, trumpet, and umbrella for Here's a Ball for Baby. He conducts the music during Sacrament meeting (from the church pew of course). He dances like a maniac and will even slow dance with us (he'll grab your legs, put his head against your knees and then move in circles).

William is learning more and more words everyday. The following is the dictionary of William:

• Hot (pronounced hottie) - used to describe any hot food, oven, blow dryer, and the fireplace
• Doggy (pronounced doggy or doddy) - used for dogs and all animals except birds or cats
• Kitty (pronounced titty) - used for all cats
• Duck (pronounced duddy, ducky, or duck) - used for ducks and birds
• Papa - used for Grandpas, Grandmas, and all old people.
• Mama - used for me and sometimes milk
• Daddy (sometimes pronounced papa) - used for Kaden
• Water (pronounced wa wa) - used to describe all liquid and for the bathtub
• Apple (pronounce a-pull) - Used for apple and other things that may be shaped like an apple.
• Trash - Used when taking things to the garbage
• Shoe (pronounced zoos) - Used for shoes or sometimes when he wants to go outside
• Hammer (pronounced ham-more)
• Cow (pronounced moo)
• Up
• Jesus (pronounced Gezus)
• Ball (pronounced ba ba or ba boo) - Used for balls or anything round
• Poop (pronounced poo poo) - Used for when he has pooped
• Cheese
• Hi
• Eye
• Stinky (pronounced sinky) - No meaning yet
• Blue (pronounced boo) - No meaning yet
• White (pronounced ite) - No meaning yet
• Purple (pronounced pur-pull) - No meaning yet
• A - No meaning yet

I could go on and on with all the cute things William does like how he will hold a baby doll and pat her, or how he kisses with his mouth open, or how he looks at you with a great big smile right before he does something naughty, or that he'll clean up his toys fairly well, or he loves cleaning with the vacuum, mop, broom, or towel, or that he'll sit next to me while I am eating and patiently waits for a bite, or that he brushes his hair with my brushes, or he'll put on my jewelry, or finds shoes (generally that match) from my closet and puts them on, or that he blows kisses and quickly closes his eyes super tight when Kaden puts him in his bed at night, or that he waves bye bye when he wants us to leave him alone or when he wants to leave to go back home, etc.

I love this little man more and more each day!