Well, really Roman was 18 months old yesterday, but I wanted to wait to make a post until today because he had his 18 month appointment this morning. Dr. Coullahan (Rome's new doctor since Dr. Martinez switched medical groups) says that he is doing great. She is happy with his growth and developmental milestones, and she is always impressed by the variety of foods that he will eat. I really hope that Liv is as good an eater as Rome is, because the boy will try anything. A friend of ours was super impressed when I had a new food for Roman (I think it was a raisin) and I said, "Here, Romey. Try this." And he just took it out of my hand and ate it. She said, "Um. That's amazing. Most toddlers won't just do that." But he does, and it makes my life so much easier. He weighed in at a whopping 27 lbs 9 oz. today, but he hasn't gotten any taller since our last appointment. I am guessing that a major growth spurt is right around the corner based on his growth chart trends. And since he is saying about 7 words consistently, Dr. Coullahan says that he is right on track with his communication skills. My new favorite: "Oh no!" which sounds like "mo no" when Roman says it, and it is hilarious. "Oh no" has somewhat replaced "uh-oh", but he'll say both now. And with his new Monster Friends posters on his wall he is quickly learning how to say, "Yeti," but it sounds more like "Bedi." Oh, that's right, he has moved into his big boy room. It's not complete yet because I still need to find a changing-pad cover, curtains, and a rug that I like that has roads on it (a tall order let me tell you), and we need to paint the chalkboard wall, but we have moved him into his new room, and his new posters are a big hit. Here's what they look like:
When I was up in Seattle a couple weekends ago (which was AMAZING by the way), I found Rome a super cool nightlight that is a globe but with constellations on it. I love it, and it is the perfect nightlight. He has been sleeping in his new room since Friday, and we haven't had any problems. I wanted to make sure that Rome got used to his new space before Livia arrives, and he seems to really like it in there. We have been really good about explaining that this new room is Roman's room, and the nursery is now Baby Livia's room, and I think he at least understands that his new room is where his stuff is and where we go to find shoes or go to bed, etc. Erica gave us this little Roman-sized rocking chair when I was up visiting her last time, and Roman really, really likes it. He'll just go into his room and sit in it and rock for a bit. I am slowly starting to put toys in there, but I am waiting until we get a toy box/shelf before I try to put too much in there. But I think once it's all put together he'll have a room that he'll like to play in.
Our 18 month old Roman: loves blueberries and mangoes (I am fairly certain these are his favorite foods, and he will yell when he sees them) and can say "mango"; can sign "more" and "all done"; has become really attached to his reindeer, Mr. Owl, and the lion Ken and Lexy got him; is absolutely, completely, all about cars; loves to push his tricycle around; has great fun playing with the dogs; wants to cuddle when he wakes up in the morning and after his nap; loves wearing his towels like a big cape; loves being a nakey-boy after his bath; can't wait for his Ovaltine and a show (mostly Thomas and Friends, but sometimes Super Why) first thing in the morning; can climb up into the kitchen chairs, the couches, the big rocking chair, and his thinking chair all by himself; wants to play out back all day long; has become bit of a mama's-boy... I wonder if he is figuring out that Liv is on the way; is trying to say more words, even if they're not quite right or he can only do it once (for example the other day he copied me saying "goggles" by saying "oggles"); is not going to give up his pacifiers without a fight.
Marc and I are trying to only give him a pacifier when it's time to sleep, but now that we're limiting the time he gets with them, it's like they are the greatest things ever in the history of everything and is clinging to them for dear life. We know that at some point we are going to have to go cold turkey and take them away completely, but I am going to wait until after I have time to get control of the two kids at once thing. And I know that this last picture is super blurry, but I think it shows pretty accurately how thoroughly he destroys this living-room on a daily basis, and also how he wants to roam the house in nothing but a towel and a diaper (well, he would prefer no diaper, but I always prefer that he wears a diaper). Also, I cannot believe that we have been so busy that these are all of my recent pictures of Roman. I will have to remedy this immediately.
Love, love, love you, handsome pants! How is it possible that you're already a year-and-a-half old? Crazy.