Beatrix's 18 Month Photos

My baby is 18 months old!  I don't think I even realized how big she was until just the other day when I was sitting on the computer editing the photos.  She looks like such a toddler and not like a baby anymore.  It is crazy to me.  We went to the doctor and she was up to the 40th percentile for weight, which is a huge jump for her.  It was a relief because she barely eats and I was worried about it.  She hates the doctor by the way.  She screams bloody murder at the sight of any medial professional getting close to her.  It doesn't matter if they just want to look at her and they don't even touch her she will scream and try to claw at me for me to take her away from them.

Beatrix loves to suck on the two middle fingers of her left hand.  She also doesn't talk very much.  I'm not really concerned.  I don't think she has any more words then she did when she was one years old.  She says mama pretty well.  But I did hear her saying that when calling to the kids and other people besides me.  She also says thank you and uh oh.  That's pretty much it.  She will copy us a little bit though.   I bet sometime she will learn a whole ton of words and just start saying them, but for now she is pretty quiet.

Just seeing her blonde hair in these photos is tripping me up.  It is so much longer and thicker than I realized...and so blonde.  I'm used to editing photos of children with red hair. 

Beatrix is blowing you kisses and waving good bye.  We like to go on walks at night and she loves to wave at people and especially dogs.  I don't think there is a dog we pass that she doesn't stare and wave at as long as they are in her view.

Leon's 18 Month Photography

Leon has been growing so fast and we always talk about how he is such a little man.  He is always acting like he is much older than he really is.  Balls and cars are his favorite things right now.  It seems like he is always walking around ready to throw something while his face, hands, and feet are covered in dirt.  Not to mention how beefy his hands and feet are.  He has been growing out of shoes like crazy these past months.  And he is already in a 6, which seems huge because Scarlett is in an 8.

We went out to a local park for this photo shoot and he did a really good job.  I think I've almost done too many pictures with all the kids (is it possible?) because he would follow the girls wherever they went and line up next to them then turn and smile at me.  It was cute but kind of a pain because I wanted him alone for the pictures.  So I set up the chair and sat him on it, then I instructed the girls to go away so they weren't in the shot and he would instantly get up and follow them.  Then I sent them to the chair and that sort of worked because he would follow them back.  I just had to be fast.  I was hoping that he would be stuck on the chair but that didn't work at all.  He had no problem getting on and off.

Leon is still the happiest little guy!  Sometimes we will be riding in the car and he will just start laughing for no apparent reason.  Seriously, he is rear facing and can't even see anyone.  So I will be like, "Leeeoooon, what are you laughing about?" And he will just crack up even more.

Leon is very independent.  Not in a way where he doesn't want me to help with with anything.  But in the way where he just plays by himself all day long.  He does really like to climb all over me anytime I am sitting or laying down.  But he is also very good at entertaining himself without me.  He plays just fine in the backyard with the older kids and he never comes crying to me for help like the girls often do.  If he can't do something (like the slide or swing) he just moves on like it doesn't even matter.

Leon doesn't have very many words.  In fact I think he has the same ones from when he turned one.  He says mom very clearly.  Sometimes almost too clearly.  He will pat me saying mom mom mom mom mom over and over again until I look.  He also says dad, cucker (Tucker), uh oh, and bye. And for the first time yesterday he said popo and patted his bum.  He was right because he was poopy.  I think he might be a bit behind but I'm not worried about it yet.  We will see what the doctor says.

I love this picture because he is getting ready to throw the leaves and it seems like he is always getting ready to throw something at home.  Usually a ball or a rock if we are outside.  And sometimes he does a much bigger wind up that takes a long time, sometimes makes him fall down, and is hilarious to watch.

It is crazy to me that he has blond hair.  It started out black or very dark brown and I was secretly hoping it would turn blond because that is what mine did.  I guess if he was our first born we would think it is totally normal but after three redheads he sometimes looks out of place.  I'm not sure if he will like that when he is older or not.  Time will tell.

I also love his bright blue eyes that do match the other kids.  And as my mom just pointed out to me they are much bluer than mine.

I saved my favorite picture for last.  It is such a real authentic smile.  You can even see the small dimple he has next to his right eye.  It is more obvious in person but he is the only one in our family who has it and I think it is adorable.

Leon fits in so well with our family!  I am so glad I get to be his mom!

Scarlett 18 month Pictures

Scarlett is one busy 18 month old!  She is into everything.  About a month ago she started climbing on our bar stool hight kitchen chairs.  So she not only gets every cup or plate we ever leave on the table, she pushes the chair over to the counter to get everything on there.  The only way to get anything done  is to take everything off the table and then leave her on the chair for a little bit.  She can't get down. hehe.

Scarlett also loves her blanket and she will even sometimes want to cuddle with me.  She will climb up on the couch and cozy up right next to me.  Or even sit herself right onto my lap while I am doing any sort of sitting down exercise (makes it a little difficult).  

One thing I love about Scarlett is that she hasn't been having any stranger anxiety issues!  She even went to nursery by herself for the first time and stayed the whole time and didn't cry about it once.

Scarlett was not really happy about this photo session.  I am not sure why, but it was next to impossible for me to get her to smile.  I think she wasn't happy when she realized that we were at the park to take pictures and not to play.  So every time she looked at me she would cry or put on a really grumpy face.  After about 15 minutes she straight up ignored me and refused to look in my direction.  Candy didn't even help.  It is funny how moody an 18 month old can be.  Most of the pictures turned out like the next one.

Another thing about Scarlett is that she loves loves loves food!  She wants to eat all the time.  I know this is normal for a lot of kids but she is the first of ours to like eating so much.  Any time Bob or I go into the kitchen she giddily runs in after us hoping we are getting her food.  It is pretty cute!  I think her and Penelope might be in the same size clothes before too long (keep in mind Penelope is on the small side).

And I love her curly hair!  Penelope has a slight curl, mostly at the ends, but Scarlett's hair would definitely be classified as curly!  I hope it stays that way.

This puddle did manage to get a few smiles out of her.  Of course she tried to avoid looking at me, and if she did the smile promptly went away.

Scarlett fits in so well with our family I can't wait to see what she thinks of the new baby.