Your 18-month checkup

My sweet little Echo,

You are 18 months old!

The bad:
You are still sleeping in the same bed with papa and me. you don't nurse in the middle of the night anymore, but you do wake up regularly, and if I'm not there, you cry. For now, it's more "convenient" to keep you in the bed, than to go up and down the stairs all night long, and wait by your side until you fall asleep.

You are still not done nursing. I continue to explain that you are a big girl with strong, sharp teeth, and that you don't need the boob anymore. A while back, we managed to bring it down to two nursing sessions a day, but we are still stuck there. We are thinking about me leaving in the evenings with Zoe, while papa puts you to bed. Zoe would probably enjoy the extra mama time, and the adventure of being outside, while everyone is settling to their bedtime routines. But I know you'll be looking for me and feeling sad and confused that I'm not there. So I'm not sure I'll be able to leave. I'll give it some more time.

The good:
You are awesome and make us very happy, still. When you are finally asleep, papa and I sit on the couch and talk about the things you do and say in longing, as if we haven't seen you for a long time.

Your growth is fantastic, in fact almost identical to Zoe. We had your 18 month checkup this week.

Here are your new specs:
Height: 33.5" / 85.1cm (95th percentile)
Weight: 22.4lb / 10.16kg (50th percentile for your age, 25th percentile for your height)
Head circumference: 17.75" / 45.2cm (25th percentile)

You started showing strong sense of ownership. When Zoe takes something of yours that you have been playing with, "mine, mine" you say, holding it tight. You fish your belongings from the laundry basket "mine, mine" you say, holding it tight. Papa and Zoe got a s pink bike seat for Christmas, so I can carry you around on my bike. You know it's for you. "Mine, mine," you say, and try to climb on.

I love you!
Mommy

When Jacob cried

Dear baby Echo,

You never knew your hand-me-down doll Jacob could cry. When Zoe heard him cry, she got very disturbed, and didn't want to play with him again. We removed the batteries, but to no avail. "I don't like Jacob. We should give him away." She was about a year older than you. Here is Zoe's blog entry, describing her experience.

You knew Jacob since you were born, and played with him on occasion. Expecting a traumatic reaction similar to Zoe's, papa and I didn't put batteries in him. But you were always playful with dolls, holding them, feeding them, putting them to sleep. We decide to give it a try, and Jacob started crying.

A curious look took over your face. You took Jacob in your arms, sat down, and started rocking him for comfort. We showed you how to stop him cry. You understood the batteries' role, the pacifier's role, but you wanted to play along. When I put the pacifier back in, you pulled it out, rocked him some more in your arms, and then lay him in Zoe's bed to sleep. We discovered that his thumb, and the milk bottle can be pushed in his mouth to make him stop crying, similar to the pacifier. You were entertained by the thumb sucking - and excited about the milk bottle, as now you could add variation to your play. A few days ago I heard him cry, then you appeared, holding Jacob in your arms, and one of your diapers in your hand. "Poop, poop" you said, pointing at his butt. That's why he was crying. We smelled his butt. You sniffed, waved your hand as to say "stinky." We pretend cleaned his butt, and put the diapers on. You were happy.

I love you!

Mommy.