19 Months

Apparently I found the threshold at which I can no longer remember to celebrate Little Evan’s every monthday, and that threshold was 19 months. So…Happy Monthday Baby! Good thing you can’t read a calendar yet so you have no idea Mama is three days late! Let’s blame it on the hell known as Daylight Savings Time aka the longest day of the toddler year. SO SO LONG.

But lateness is no excuse to skip my milestone update entirely, so let’s do this thing!

Except when I went to look at the chart it turns out we’ve officially moved to the 19-24 month level, which is WAY TOO MANY MONTHS. Why are there so many months?! (Please say that last part in the “Why are there so many ostriches?” Don Knotts on Family Guy voice, because that’s totally how I hear it in my head)(Apologies to those who have no idea what I’m talking about.)

Sob sob sob Mah bebeh is so biiiiig! Sob sob sob

OK, I’m done now.

19 Month Milestones (from Baby Center, as usual)

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
• Uses a spoon and fork – I wouldn’t say he’s ready for dinner with the Queen, but he does OK
• Runs – Fast
Throws a ball underhand – Overhand, with enough aim to hit almost anyone in the face
• Enjoys helping around the house – Define “helping”. I would say “is as interested in helping around the house as any 19 month old, especially when it involves cleaning up messes he would rather continue to make.”

Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
• Understands as many as 200 words – Am I supposed to be counting? He definitely understands at least 90% of the stuff I say TO him, and probably 50% of the stuff I say in general. I can say something like “Why don’t you go get your milk – it’s over there by the dishwasher – and then sit in your chair and watch the football game?” And he will do all those things, while also saying “milk” “football” and “touchdown!!!”
• Recognizes when something is wrong (e.g., calling a dog a cat) – I…don’t know? Is that a game we should be playing? It seems sort of mean.

Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
Washes and dries own hands with help – He LOVES to wash his hands, but it’s not really a help-free activity
• Points to picture or object when you call it by name – Very good at animals, trucks/cars, babies. Not so good at everything else.
• May know when she needs to pee – No, but we usually get a poop warning. Although honestly, teaching him the sign for “potty” has been one of the best things I’ve done, simply because I can explain to him “mama’s going to the potty so she’ll be right back.” And now I get to pee (or hide out and take a few deep breaths) in peace.

In other toddler news, we’re having some trouble with both “no” and “stop” especially in regards to “hitting mommy” and “jumping on mommy’s belly”. I’m planning to set up a time-out zone (aka the Pack-n-Play in the boring living room) and start enforcing time-outs in a calm, non-shouty manner when calm, non-shouty instructions are not followed, but I have very little faith it will result in anything more than 2 minutes of hysterical screaming and crying.

Our super easy bedtimes have regressed a little to mostly easy naps but bedtime crying when he realizes he might be missing out on something fun. Rocking & book reading doesn’t really help – he just needs a few minutes to be sad before he goes to sleep, most of the time for 11-12 hours straight. I’m starting to worry a little about sleep-regression issues after the new baby comes, but figure it’s best not to dwell on it and just take an extra nap whenever I can.

But in general, this is SUCH a fun age. He’s fun to hang out with and capable of entertaining himself long enough that I can still get things done (for example, as I write this, he has dragged his blankie over himself & the dog and is curled up drinking his milk, totally content to be hanging with his BFF). He can make most of his wants/needs known clearly so there aren’t many frustrated crying fits. We still haven’t seen much stranger anxiety – just a little shyness that I swear he fakes just because it makes ladies at the grocery store say “awwwwwww”. And there is no way to explain to a non-parent just how exciting it is when your kid learns a new word/sign/skill. You can practically SEE his brain growing and it makes my heart feel all bursty every single time.

My goal for month 19 is to trick force bribe encourage Little Evan to eat more vegetables, even if it means I have to soak them in ranch dressing. If you see me tweeting about dinner ideas, please remind me that meat with a side of pasta and cheese is NOT a balanced meal and green things won’t kill us. Hopefully my 20 month update will include an extensive list of new healthy foods Little Evan now loves.

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I have TWO more winners to announce this morning!

The winner of the adorable green polka-dot Gussy pouch I am crying a little bit over parting with is…

#12 Merin!! Since this giveaway is coming from me personally, I’ll be sure to get you your pouch ASAP. Although it might involve making you drive to my house to get it.

And the winner of the Phoebe Mouse & the book is…

#18 Robyn! Conrgats mama, I KNOW you’re little girl will love Phoebe! I will email you to get your address and send her out some time this week.

Thanks to everyone who entered – I was blown away by how many people entered the Phoebe giveaway, considering it wasn’t made by a fancy handmade seller but just by me. Or, more likely, everyone just wanted the adorable book and planned to throw Phoebe in the trash as soon as they got her.

The LAST open giveaway is from Becca at Hugs & Kisses Designs. Get in your entries now – it’s got less than 50 as of this morning, so you’ve got a pretty good chance to in yourself something REALLY pretty.

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12 Responses to “19 Months”

  1. Meg says:

    For the “recognizes things are wrong” bit–when I taught Kindergarten music, I would deliberately ask leading questions, like, “So what color are ducks? Are they green?” and let the kindergartners correct me. That way, it’s like a game, and you can determine if he knows you’re right or wrong. But yes, insisting that a dog is a cat while he stands there, confused that Mommy is lying to him, would be mean. LOL

  2. Carrie says:

    I’m glad I’m not the only one who practically bursts with excitement when my child does something or says something new. My co-workers, family and friends are a little tired of my, “OMG YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT SHE DID LAST NIGHT!!!!” But it is amazing watching the wheels turn in their head!

  3. I had good luck with frozen mixed vegetables, with the diced carrots and peas and stuff. Not the newfangled fancy ones. You can just thaw them and throw them on the plate and Spencer will eat what he feels like from the mix. It is very little effort and cheap enough that I don’t care how much ends up on the floor.

    Also, my sister was an elementary school teacher and she does what Meg describes with Spencer all the time. I never really thought about it. Is that a bird? No, that’s a cat. And such.

  4. merin says:

    Me!! I won!! Thank you so much Suzanne! Please please PLEASE come over for lunch! I will serve the babies kale and frozen green beans :) We are traveling this week but will be back next Monday-let me know what days are better than others. It will be a good incentive to take the vacuum to the second floor.

  5. Merin says:

    Next time I’ll read more thoroughly! I am more than happy come pick up the pouch-can I get a peak at the renovations? It looks fantastic. I don’t know how you do it all with a toddler.

    PS I would still love to have you over for lunch!

  6. Amy says:

    NOOOOO!!!!! I am so sad I didn’t win Phoebe!!!! Was she difficult to make? Perhaps with my limited knitting skills I could make her in time for Christmas? Is there a crochet version? I could definitely swing that…

  7. Alena says:

    The only veggie we have any sort of luck with is steamed broccoli with lemon pepper.

  8. Ashley R says:

    I love you reactions to the “things a 19 month old should be doing”. When I took Elsie to her 2 yr check-up our pediatrician asked if she followed commands. I was like “well when she is in the mood…” He rephrased it to understand commands but not necessarily followed.

  9. Cole says:

    I love seeing Evan’s milestones because I’m right behind him – I get to see what’s ahead. Also, now Mommy knows she should be throwing out the wrong word out once in a while to see if it trips me up. That just seems weird.

  10. TMae says:

    Recognizes when something is wrong (e.g., calling a dog a cat) – I…don’t know? Is that a game we should be playing? It seems sort of mean. made me spit coffee on my keyboard.

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