Matthew is 18 months!
Matthew is now 18 months old! I still have a hard time conceptualizing the fact that when Luke was his age I had a two week old and when Olivia was his age he was being born. I can’t imagine having a newborn now or being pregnant with 3 kids!
Matthew is truly special. He has such an amazing personality already. He’s got a pretty laid-back temperament however has no problem expressing when he is upset or angry. Speaking of, he has already taken to throwing mini tantrum’s. It usually looks like throwing a toy when he can’t have something he wants and folding his arms and making a pouty face. I know this behavior will get more difficult to deal with as he gets older but I have to admit I think it’s kind of cute right now. It is clear that he has picked up on some of his older siblings” behavior.
He is pretty obsessed with cars and could read the same book about buses, tractors, or taxis for the better part of the day. One of the things that I love most about reading with him is that he insists on sitting in my lap. I know this won’t last forever and I’m trying to soak it up while he still requests being held while reading. He also loves animals and whenever he sees a dog does his own little version of a “woof, woof” which is really just blowing air through his mouth. He’s getting pretty good at making animal noises and my favorite might be his horses’ “neeigggh.”
He is proving to be pretty verbal and hit his 18 month word explosion early. But even since he had his check up I can see his language skills are increasing. He says stop when he doesn’t want to do something and all done when he’s finished eating. He’s even started to sing twinkle twinkle little star.and Puff the Magic Dragon.
He loves being around his older brother and sister and really just wants to be included in all of their play. At the same time he doesn’t understand why they get so upset when he knocks down their magna tile building or chews on their stuffed animals. I feel a bit sad about how narrowed his world has become due to the pandemic but I’m thankful he has the two of them to interact with. I am looking forward to the day he can be around children his own age again.
He is starting to show some of the early signs of being ready to potty train that Luke showed around the same age. If he has a poopydiaper he will often grab his diaper and grimace. He even Peed outside when Luke did the other day. At night or when the big kids go to the bathroom he will say pee, pee and wants to sit on the potty. If the signs continue and increase I will plan to potty train him sometime in the fall.
He is still using a paci at nap and night time. This is totally new territory for me as Luke and Olivia never really took the pacifier. I think in the next six months we will try to wean him from it. But he is pretty attached to it. I’m hoping to use the “big brother and sister don’t have a paci” strategy but it may or may not go the way we need it to.
He is our biggest baby weighing in at 29 pounds (94% for weight and 99% for height) at his 18 month appointment. He is a great eater but becoming more picky. When our pediatrician asked Luke at Matthews 18 month appointment what matthews’s favorite food was Luke said “everything.“ which is kind of true. He doesn’t necessarily favor any food over the other and really the only thing he won’t eat is eggs.
Matthew is truly a rambunctious and active child. He has no problem trying to climb up something or hurl himself off of something. I have to be extremely careful with him and his surroundings as I am terrified he’s always going to try to do something he is way too small to do. He’s constantly bumping into things or falling but handles it like a champ usually laughing and saying “whoa!” Definitely a brut.
It saddens me to watch Matthew grow but also so very heartwarming. He is a doll and I am grateful for my time with him.







