It's hard to believe that Jack is already 18 months old... more a toddler than a baby, which is evident in his ever-changing actions and personality. The few things that linger from baby-hood are nursing and sleep training. We've yet to fully do either, though we've made a few attempts. Jeff and I need to agree on a timeline and method for both, which we failed to do the first time around. I had been told to let Jack cry without going up to him every few minutes, but Jeff thought that would work better. When we tried that, he cried for three hours. So we've discussed some options, such as putting a mattress on the floor next to the crib, but we still have a few details to finalize. We also need to determine whether we need to wean first or sleep train first. I think weaning is going to be harder for Jack, since he often uses it for comfort or to fall asleep. But once we cross those hurdles, we'll be completely out of the baby phase. Now that I think about it, maybe I'm stalling on purpose. I know that we'll most likely not have another child (by choice), so I'm trying to hold onto my sweet baby boy for a little longer.
I was recently told that the terrible twos in fact start in the second year, not after the child turns two, which I always assumed. To this end, I've noticed some behavior that indicates Jack's interest in testing boundaries and pushing himself.
He doesn't take kindly to the word "no" - in fact, it makes him downright angry and upset to the point where he throws himself on the ground and cries. A valuable piece of advice from Jack's Nana is to distract him when he gets fussy or starts to have a meltdown. I've also had to find a balance between discipline and allowing Jack to explore his environment. The other day he got into the tape dispenser and was pulling out the entire roll. My first instinct was to sharply say "no!", but then I realized that he was just curious. So I said, "This must be fun to play with, but please give that to Mama as it's not for your hands." Once he gave it back, I gave him back the tape he'd already pulled out (since it was going to be thrown out anyway) so he could continue to explore that while I put the dispenser out of his reach. If I can be understanding and calm when he shows defiance (after all, it's just a way to test his growing autonomy), I think we'll both fare much better throughout this tough stage.
Jack is also being a bit stubborn about talking. While he seems to understand everything we say, he does no more than point and say, "eh, eh, eh" over and over. Up to this point, it's gotten him what he wants. As Jack's Granddad has said, "Once he starts talking, it'll most likely be in full sentences." He clearly has a grasp on the English language, but just seems unwilling to put in the work quite yet. I've been told to enjoy this "quiet" time before he can demand things, so I'm not worried about his lack of speech just yet.
Jack's 18 month doctor's appointment went well. He's grown almost an inch and a half in the last three months and is almost 30 lbs. Some of the mothers I know have suggested we turn his car seat around, since it's based on weight. I always thought that they should be rear-facing until 2, so I'll need to do some research before making that decision. We do have a new carseat to install, so we'll need to make it soon.
I'm assuming Jack will change tremendously over the next six months. Hard to believe he's almost 2!
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