21 months

He thinks he's hysterical (and he's mostly right)

Only 12 days late with this post...oops!

We can call this month the month of milestones I'd be ok if Calvin took a while longer to meet.  These include:
- unzipping and taking off his coat.  For the most part, this one is ok as it is pretty helpful that he can unzip and take off his jacket when we get inside the house.  Not so nice when he unzips his jacket and tries to take it off the second we get inside anywhere.  I would really prefer him to leave it on while we get groceries.
- opening doors.  He's an expert at ones that are handles instead of knobs.  You know, the ones that are ADA compliant so they are on all family restrooms.  So glad he's learned these!  He's also getting pretty close with door knobs in our house. He's successfully opened his own door a couple of times. The doors to outside will take him quite a while yet.
- taking off his own diaper.  So far he can only get off the cloth ones and can't take his pants off yet, so we're safe for a while!

We still aren't seeing much changes with his speech.  Caleb sure is trying to get him to say all sorts of words, but no such luck.

Calvin had fun at both USD football games we've ventured to this fall.  He really likes the popcorn, band, and apparently the bathrooms.  During both games he made multiple trips to the bathroom and miraculously kept his diaper dry from 11:00 in the morning until bedtime that night.  I'm sure the people sitting next to us weren't near as excited about Calvin's frequent trips to the bathroom!

Oh, and don't even think about telling Calvin he's not as big as his brother.  He thinks he is!  He even attempts to stay at preschool every single time.

Taking off his coat to stay at school with Caleb. 

Painting his pumpkin. 

He has no idea what he's trying to do here, but he saw his brother do it. 

Putting on his own diaper

He tried underwear one afternoon.  He didn't like it. 

Attempting to master the two-wheel scooter. 

Hi Dad!

Just part of the bedtime routine...stalling!

Pumpkin Palooza! With this many kids, this is the best we can get. 

Like I said, don't even try to tell him he's not four. 

Loved touch a truck!

20 months

We're making a bit of progress with Calvin's speech this month.  He's willing to "parrot" quite a few words and sounds and is saying a few more words on his own: Mom, Dad, yeah, no, baby.  There are other words that he's said quite a few times in one day, but then not really ever again: hi, beep, honk, bug, so hopefully he keeps adding to this list.  He's also learned a lot of animal sounds: dog, cat, duck, pig, sheep, kitty.

Calvin's motor skills and coordination continue to impress us. He loves to run, climb, jump (he's even getting his feet off the ground) and his newest trick is a somersault.  He's been practicing for quite a while and can finally do it.

Calvin isn't a fan of his brother going to school.  He cried the first day when he got left at home and cried the next time when I carried him out of school and his brother got to stay.  Fortunately for Calvin, it's during his nap time, so the time without Caleb goes quickly.

We're still working on molars...I'm beginning to feel like this is a never ending process!  Three are completely through, but the fourth just won't pop through.  I think by the time he gets that one through, his incisors will be quick to follow.

Calvin is showing more independence each day as he tries to dress himself, put his own shoes on, and drink out of a big kid cup.  He has had some success getting his own pants on but no luck with his shirt.  He did completely surprise me tonight and pooped on the toilet, so maybe potty training will be in our future.

One of Calvin's favorite things about fall is playing outside with our neighbor and getting to eat an apple off their tree every afternoon.  They're a bit sour yet since it hasn't gotten cold yet, but he doesn't mind at all.  He still eats basically the entire apple...including the core and seeds.

Just waiting for the dr at his check up.

This is what he does when he doesn't get to buckle his own seatbelt. 

Helping clean. 

Just relaxing at soccer practice. 

I told Caleb to go get his swimsuit on for lessons, and this is what I came back to...

He'd really like to ride it.  We have the seat up too high so he can't quite reach the pedals yet. 

Thinks he's a big kid getting ready to learn how to decorate cookies. 

19 months

Calvin is now 19 months old, but thinks he's basically a four year old.  He thinks he's big enough to do anything Caleb can do and will throw a pretty good fit if he's told he can't.  Just a few of the things he thinks he's big enough to do now:
- move chairs all over the kitchen
- put his own shoes on (I wish he could, but he just can't.  He insists on trying for 3-4 minutes before letting me help).
- putting his own toothpaste on his toothbrush
- walk down the stairs instead of going down on his belly...I let him win this one and he does a pretty good job
- not only play on the big kid side at the gym, but also play big kid games.  He tried to play "Simon Says" last week.
- change his own diaper.  He's been screaming when we change him because we won't let him do it himself!
- pick out his own pjs.  Fortunately he hasn't started picking his own clothes yet.  Not ready for that daily battle yet.


Areas he has no desire to grow up in:
- sleep without a pacifier.  We've given in and have just accepted we will have to take away a pacifier from a way too old child some time.
- potty training.  Not that we're there yet, but any mention of the toilet or not wearing diapers, he immediately starts shaking his head and saying no.
- giving up his stroller.  We're not fighting this at all.  It's nice to have a little boy who realizes his legs are tired and gladly climbs in the stroller.

The determined side of Calvin's personality is starting to show more and more.  He fell down the front steps the other day and was crying, but wanted nothing to do with being comforted.  Instead, he wanted me to put him down so he could go up the stairs and do them again without falling.  He's also figured out how to do puzzles this month and if you try to help him, he will take the pieces out and do them on his own.

Doing some tangrams like his brother 

Fun morning at the spray park

All dressed up and ready to party.

Drawing with chalk like the big kids.

Had to have a walking stick just like his brother. 

He climbed there himself in about 8 seconds!

Feta cheese straight from the container. 

Just picking potatoes like a big kid. 

18 months

Oh has this little boy kept us on our toes this month.  He is just so full of energy and love for life.  He's been both a wild man and a lover this month with endless hugs and kisses for all of us and plenty of crashes, falls, trips, and slips.

Favorites:
Food -- still likes to eat a lot and has quite a few favorites including: steak, corn on the cob, and almost any fruit, but especially blueberries.  A pint of blueberries barely lasts a day in this house.  I have to ration them or Calvin would eat them all in one sitting.

Toys -- He's really into trucks/cars right now.  He's also starting to stack blocks and thinks it's absolutely hilarious to knock them down.

Outside things -- riding his scooter, grilling with play good, swimming

Books -- oh does this little man love to read. His favorites right now are "Moo, Baa, La La La," "The Belly Button Book," and  "The Going to Bed Book."  We read these three on repeat most days.

Dancing -- when Caleb turns on his CD player, Calvin starts dancing right away.  It's such a funny little dance with his arms up above his head.

He's still making his mother crazy with his serious of uh-hu instead of talking, but I'm sure he will get there someday!

Swimming

Just reading a few books

Doesn't matter the time of day, if he's swimming, he insists on wearing that hat.

Loves to eat outside. 

Helping fill the pool

We had our own private creature feature at the zoo one morning. 

Brothers enjoying the zoo

First hair cut.  Caleb best the photo credit

VBS fun

Exploring the caves at VBS

And in case you're wondering what Calvin thinks of bouncy houses, just see the videos below:

Seventeen months old

Well...I guess I forgot to add pictures and publish this, so here is 17 months.  18 months and pictures to come tomorrow...


Calvin has been up to a lot of fun this month.  He's finally, completely made the transition to one nap and is taking a nice long early afternoon nap each day.  He's been tortured by his molars and has had quite a few crabby days, but no teeth popping through yet.  He got to go back to the dentist this month for some bruising on his gums which was either caused by another fall, or the new teeth coming through.  That could be contributing to his mouth pain as well.  Fortunately for him (and us), he's sleeping great.  The pain doesn't seem to bother him once he gets to sleep.  We bought an amber teething necklace to see if that would help provide any relief, but no such luck.  He won't wear it at all. We've tried on his neck, wrist, and ankle, and he just pulls on it until we take it off.

He's trying a few more words, but for the most part, communicates using a series of uh-ha's.  He will say: mom, dad, go, all done, night-night, and that's about it.  Hoping a few more words come along soon.

He's a rockstar on his scooter.  He made it to the block behind us before his legs got too tired!

He's undecided about swimming and playing in water.  He likes to play and splash, but doesn't like his clothes to be wet and doesn't like the cold water.  The actual pool he had a lot of fun sitting on the edge, but quickly got out when I put him in.  The pool in the back yard (much warmer), he did get in for a while after Caleb and his friend were out and the splashing was done.  For the most part, he stands on the side and scoops cups of water...and drinks it!

Calvin tasted his first worm this month.  I really wish I was kidding.  He found a worm outside and was carrying it around.  Well Caleb told him to eat the worm, so of course he did! He did spit it out before eating it though.

Books are still a huge interest.  He won't sit that well for Caleb's books, but he will read multiple board books in a row.  Hopefully at some point the two of them will enjoy the same books, but if nothing else they are learning to share and take turns.

Sixteen months old

Racing their cars

Loves to climb

Found a new helmet at the garage sales.

Add caption

They were so excited to be able to hold hands in the car

Calvin's biggest interest this month has been books.  He will walk around the house holding a book until someone sits down and reads it to him on repeat for the next 10-15 minutes.  If you try to get a different book, he will whine and point to the one you've already read five times.  His favorites include: "Brown Bear, Brown Bear," "Moo, Baa, La, La, La," and "8 Silly Monkeys."  He does like others, but these are the favorites.  He does not like it if Caleb takes the book and "reads" it to him instead.

We've finally had to completely ditch the morning nap, which is hard when he will stand by his crib signing please and saying "nigh-night."  The problem is that even if his morning nap is over by 9:30 and was only 40 minutes, he still will not take an afternoon nap and this led to some really crabby afternoons/evenings.  His afternoon nap is a pretty consistent 1.5-2 hours, so he's getting lots of good sleep.  For some reason taking away his morning nap has meant he's up earlier in the morning (6:15-6:30), so hopefully he goes back to his normal 7:00-7:30 wake up time.  We usually let the boys stay up a bit longer in the summer since it's so beautiful out, so I'd like to push bedtime back to 8:00ish again.  It has gotten closer to 7:30 this winter.

Calvin has gotten so good on the scooter that we've had to enforce a helmet wearing policy.  He not only rides the scooter, but he likes to show off and do tricks while riding it.  He was not happy about having to wear a helmet, but after 35 minutes of crying each time I told him no scooter without it, he finally gave in, got the helmet and rode it.  Hopefully he doesn't put up a fight each day over it.

And as a welcome to his 16th month of life, Calvin fell pretty hard today and chipped his tooth pretty good. He's got a bloody/fat lip and part of his tooth missing.  He seems totally fine, but we will have it looked at soon.

You can kind of see his chipped tooth here.