18 month letter to Camden

Camden,

Here is a glimpse of who you are at 18 months old:

Weight:
A whopping 22 lbs! Which means (drumroll, please) you've moved up to the 6th percentile. You've very reliably followed your own growth curve since you were 9 months old. I credit the tiny percentile boost to an eating rampage you went on a few days ago, when you ate anything & everything in sight during your waking hours (even combining pudding with green beans at one point!).

Height:
33 inches. Predictably, you're in the 70th percentile for height. Dr. Wonderful says the same thing at every appointment (he needs some new material): "You're going to be built just like your Daddy. You won't be one of those round kids!"

(For the record, your head circumference is 48.5 inches. This means nothing to me, except that your head is very likely large. Dr. Wonderful didn't tell me this, but you come from a family of Big Heads so it's to be expected. Don't you worry, though. It's for that big brain of yours. That's what they used to tell me, anyway.)

Speech:
Currently, you say: mama, dada, bye bye, bubble, yeah, ball, and you sign "more". Dr. Wonderful's take on your language development? That since you point, sign, & try very hard to communicate, you're on the verge of a language breakthrough. He predicts you'll be talking up a storm by the time you're two.

Your current faves:

• Shaking your head "no" when we ask you a question. It's your response of choice.
• Mickey Mouse.
• Playing outside. You'd stay outdoors all day if I'd let you.
• The neighborhood pool.
• Running at full speed everywhere.
• Cars, trucks, planes & trains.
• Music, dancing, & clapping.
• Being chased by Daddy.
• Pizza, avocado, pancakes, & yogurt. Not at the same time. Thankfully.
• Signing to communicate. You've started signing "more" by slamming your fist into your outstretched palm, which looks like both a request and a threat.

Your current dislikes:

• Bedtime. Well, you love your bedtime routine, but the actual going to sleep part? Not your favorite.
• Being restrained. This includes being strapped in your booster seat to eat, riding in the car, having your diaper changed, and being held. You are independent and active and prefer to be running around 100% of the time.
• Strangers.
• The doctor's office.
• Trying new foods. You've very hesitant with new tastes & textures at first and will clamp your lips shut while shaking your head as hard as you can if I dare try to get you to taste something new.

You've been a part of our lives for a year and a half now. In a way, it's hard to believe it's been that long because I still so clearly remember cradling your tiny body for the first time on November 21, 2009 at 2:29pm. In many ways, though, it's hard to believe it's only been 18 months because I feel like I've known you my whole life.

Back when I was feeling you turn flips in my growing belly, I used to dream about the kind of child you would be. You are, without a doubt, everything I hoped for back then-- and so much more. I love watching you change and grow and learn every single day. You're such a gift to your Daddy and me, and I hope you'll always know how much you're loved.

Love,
Mommy