18 Months

My little buddy is 18 months old. Wow time is just flying! I haven’t been one to do regular monthly posts on my son. But I thought 18 months was a good time for an update. Just for fun, see his First Birthday Post.

The Stats:

34 inches tall (between 90-95 percentile)
26 pounds, 8oz (80th percentile)
19.5 inch head circumference
Size 4 diapers
Clothing size 24 months/2T
Words: Mama, Dada, light, more, bye-bye
Sign language: Milk, all done, more, bird, eat
Favorite activities: Anything outside! Smelling flowers, pointing at birds, going for a walk with Mama. Also hiding under a blanket, helping me cook dinner, smelling herbs and spices, hugs and snuggles, splashing in the bath, reading books, dancing to music, sitting at the piano
Favorite food: watermelon, macaroni and cheese
Favorite beverage: Whole milk! We have a hard time getting him to take much else.
Sleep: 11 hours at night, with a 2 hour (usually) nap during the day

Reflecting on 18 Months of Motherhood

Oh how my heart melts for this boy! He is so full of love and life and curiosity. He has brought a whole new meaning and purpose to my life. Being a mom is the best and hardest thing I have ever done.

I don’t ever want you guys to think things are always rosy and/or perfect. Or that I have it all together. I don’t! My house looks like a bomb went off most of the time, even though I fight it. I struggle with being pulled in multiple directions and the many hats I wear: wife, employee, mom, friend, daughter, sister, blogger. I am always afraid I am not doing good enough at all of those things at any given time. It ebbs and flows though. I may feel like I am rocking the mom hat one week, but the other hats suffer…and so forth. You all can probably relate.

One thing I am learning that seems fairly obvious: I can’t be All Things all of the time! Needs and priorities constantly shift, and I just do my best to adapt. Probably the biggest thing that has suffered lately are my friendships. And that makes me sad. I really wish I made more time to spend with friends!

Motherhood has challenged me beyond what I thought I could bear. On the positive side I am much stronger than I ever thought I could be. I have lots of new reasons to be proud of myself. And some days it seems easy. But some days it is friggin’ hard!

I have written about my struggle to return to work after baby, and I have also shared how I have found peace in my role as a working mom. I am happy to report that peace is still felt at the moment!

I still sometimes wonder if I am doing the best for my son. But I have chosen to focus on the positive. I have an amazing job, and I hope I can hold on to it despite lots of uncertainty and downsizing going on. So far so good!

Little buddy LOVES school. Most mornings he doesn’t even look back when I drop him off. He is into playing with his friends or learning new things. He goes to an amazing school, and he loves his teachers.

Life is not perfect, but it is pretty darn good. I love this stage. Eighteen months is a fun age for sure! And I am one lucky/thankful mama to have such a healthy, sweet, precious, curious and energetic son.

I love you to the moon and back, buddy!