18 months

A year and a half....can't imagine where the time has gone.  My boys are big and crazy and the absolute light of my life.  We just got back from their 18 month checkup...it was not a lot of fun.  The moment we walked back to the patient rooms TJ figured out what was going on and threw a fit.  That little boy is very aware!
Anyway, the appointment was typical...I asked about TJ's patch of skin on his left calf - Exzema as I thought.  Asked about Matthew's obsession with, how should I say this, "his favorite toy"?? The doctor laughed and said it was "normal" and that we should try to potty train him soon since he appears to be interested.
After weighing and measuring the boys, (they are the exact same height and weight) this is where we are at:
Height:  33.75 inches  puts them in about the 85%ile
Weight:  28lb 4 oz   puts them in the 85%ile
TJ's head remains larger, which is funny since his face is so tiny, but he has a big head.

What they are doing now:
Matthew:
Obsessed with naked...must be naked at all times.
Obsessed with his penis....goes along with naked
Pees and Poops on the hardwoods on a daily basis...again...naked...Seeing a pattern?
Is able to get his diaper off despite pants and a onsie..not sure how he manages this, but he is quite talented.
Love hot dogs, mac and cheese and meatballs.  Bananas and apples are his favorie fruits.  Loves his bottle before bed.  We are trying to get these boys off of the bottle and on to cups but they are able to pop the tops or unscrew the tops on all sippy cups.
Bubble Guppies..absolute favorite cartoon.  Gets a deep belly laugh every time it comes on the tv. 
Outside....loves to play in the park (Nana takes them every morning) and ride his roller coaster.
Does not feel much pain...falls, slams his head, you name it...rarely gets upset.
Happy....just a happy boy.  He loves to laugh, dance, get tickeled, dance and he even tries to sing.
He loves his cuddles with Mommy but sleeps attached to his Daddy most nights. 
First words....he is not saying much other than Hi, Bye, Mama, Dada, and just this week said "two" "bootball (football)", and up.  So, we are getting there...I just think he does things when he wants to.  He has complete comprehension of what is being said.  He is quite sharp. Hates nap time..thinks he is going to miss something.
He is adorable.  People stop me all the time to say how beautiful he is...his eyes sparkle!  His hair still hasn't grown much, except on top.  It looks like a bad hair piece. 

Matthew - 18 months

TJ:
Funny, handsome, smart, Mama's boy. 
TJ loves to watch Bubble Guppies..obsessed.  He loves to watch sports.  He will sit and watch most of a football or baseball game.  He really pays attention. 
He loves apples "Bapples" and bananas, and watermelon...he could eat just those three things and be happy.  He loves hot dogs and meatballs.  He loves mac and cheese too.  He will eat anything that is on my plate too.  He is smart and sneaky and will hide from you when he has a full diaper.  He does not like to get changed.  Although, he likes naked time too...just not as much as Matt.  He loves taking baths and loves the pool.  He loves to dance and talk.  He says Hi and Bye to everyone. TJ has lots of words...baseball, football, ball, up, milk, Matt, Nana, Pop, Mama, Dada, Buddy, lots of words.  It might only be Daddy, Mommy, Nana, and Pop that understand him, but he is good a communicating.  He loves nap time and will go right to the couch after lunch and pass out for a few hours.  TJ loves to cuddle with Mommy and is a Mama's boy through and through.. He loves to play with my hair to help him fall asleep.

TJ - 18 months

Sleeping......not a good subject these days.  My boys will not sleep through the night and if they wake up, they have to come in my bed.  Two reasons behind this is:
1.  They pitch a fit and will scream forever...we have tried "crying it out" and after 8 minutes (yes, I've timed it) TJ will projectile vomit across his room and Matthew will give you 15 minutes before he does the same.
2.  I get up a 5:30 and don't get home until 6:30pm....I am exhausted and need sleep.  If they come to my bed, they are asleep in moments....it is just easier.
Lately, TJ has decided that he really doesn't need much sleep so he likes to wake up at 3am and party with the Bubble Guppies until about 6am when he falls asleep again on the couch.  Problem is I can't sleep on the couch with him if he is awake and dancing all over the place.  So, I have been very cranky lately.  Matthew typically wakes up when he wets the bed, which is nightly, so he gets up by 1am most nights. 

Play time...great stuff.  These boys love the park and can climb and slide, and jump and run like the 2 and 3 year olds that are there.  They love to be active and it usually wears them out.  Nana takes them to the park almost every morning for a few hours.  She is lucky if she can get TJ lunch before he passes out on his tray.

At this point, they are very typical 18 month olds.  I think they may have slightly more developed gross motor skills than most kids their age, but everything else seems to be right on pace.  Not sure if their physical abilities are advance or if they just feed off of one another and the natural competition makes them want to "one-up" the other.  Either way, they are moving........a lot!



TJ and Matthew 17 months at the beach!