Isabel is 18 Months

Isabel turned 18 months. She has grown quite a personality. She is independent, feisty, dramatic and sweet.

Isabel has started her terrible twos. She gets into everything and ignores any guidance or discipline. She has gotten into trouble several times for taking off outlet covers, trying to tear down the baby gate and standing up in her high chair. There may not be a way to baby proof the house with her determination. Though, I have found that if I do want her to stop I can simply say “chocolate?” and she will stop what she is doing and come running for a treat.

Isabel is picking more and more on her brother. She has been caught pushing and hitting Mason to get his attention. Most times Mason ignores her but there are instances where he retaliates. Aside from being pests to one another there are many instances where they make each other laugh by just the sound of the other laughing. Those are my favorite moments.

Isabel still does not talk in sentences or words, but she is saying something. At least she thinks she is saying something. She has inflection and expressions that go along with her babbling speech. She does try to count and she does say “doggie”, “colors”, “more”, “Mama”, “Dad”, “butterfly”, “bird”. Her sleeping is also getting better. She is, for the most part, sleeping through the night. There are a few instances during the week that she does require your presence, especially when she is going down for the night. She does not like to be alone when she goes to bed. Her naps, on the other hand, are a piece of cake. She will walk right up to her bed and go down. We will continue to work on the nighttime routine.

Isabel loves to dance and eat. Her dances are always fun to watch because she ends each dance by raising her arms. She also continues to eat anything in sight and we have yet to find a food that she will not eat.

Finally, Isabel can be so sweet. When I pick her up out of bed, she always gives me a hug and sometimes she will even pat my back. She is not a huge cuddler, like her brother, but she will cuddle when she is tired or not feeling well. So I do take advantage of her sweet side in the early mornings and late evenings.