Eighteen Months!

Ah, a year and a half! Cale has been walking for three months now. I actually can't remember when Cale couldn't walk now. He's so confident, he loves to walk and run. When he's tired, he still falls down for no reason, and he cries because his pride is hurt. What I like about the walking milestone is that a child's features really begin to develop. Instead of the pudgy baby face (which is adorable, don't get me wrong), you can catch glimpses of what's to come. I'm sure it's because all that exercise causes new toddlers to lose weight and to put on muscle. (A testament to walking?) In fact, Cale even regressed in diaper sizes. We moved up to size 5 diapers just as Karston potty trained (so they were in the same size diapers for an instant!) so the diapers could fit comfortably around Cale's big belly and chubby baby thighs. He's still got quite the belly, but he has slimmed down overall, so we've gone back to size 4. At first I was worried that he would quickly return to needing size 5, but it hasn't happened since he started walking. Good exercise! (Actually, it's exercise because Cale runs when possible, and he throws everything into it.) Anyway, the walking has caused Cale to look like a sweet little person, not like a sweet baby anymore. What I remember with Karston is that he seemed very much like little person (also sweet) by the time he was 2. Part of it is the facial features coming clearer as the baby fat recedes, and part of it is having an opinion at your kneecaps everywhere you go. Cale wants to wear his Spongebob Crocs all the time now, and he likes to try on all the other shoes too. He likes Karston's sneakers with the velcro fasteners because he can get them on all by himself, and he manages to shuffle around in my slippers too.

Cale hasn't added too many words. He says Here go as he hands you something. He's hilarious when he says Hmm in a thoughtful pondering tone he must've picked up from adults, while wandering around looking for trouble. He tries to say cracker but it comes out more like tah-toww. Like most children his age, he definitely knows the word NO, and he likes to practice it over and over again, not always with intent. More when he's practicing than when he means it, it comes out as a meow sound. What's funny is Karston following him saying Yes right back to him. Cale loves cats! He loves our Linus, Mimi's Plain, and Opa's Kitten. In turn, these cats are more patient with him than I would ever expect. He can scoop them up any old way, carry them, and chase them while screeching with joy. He also practices saying his own name, very Southern drawl style, Kay-ooh-ayy-ell.

Cale's pattern recognition is expanding. He used to know we were starting the bedtime cycle when Daddy put on Boppy and started reading books. Now when Cale's tired, he goes to Daddy's closet and selects a sleep shirt for him to put on first. (Unfortunately sleep tee-shirts aren't on hangers, and Cale is disappointed when Daddy doesn't put on the nice Hawaiian shirt he picked out.) He's always so happy when he can tell a routine has started.

He's gotten a lot better at feeding himself. In fact, since Cale likes food, we're more likely to be trying to get a spoonful of food into Karston's mouth, since he's not fond of eating. In fact, Cale strongly dislikes being fed. He'll peel a banana and eat it, he'll eat rice with a spoon, he'll gobble crackers and cereal by the handful. He's a good eater, and he likes variety. He will switch between different foods and flavors at the same meal, and he seems to prefer the spiced food that we eat instead of the plain food we prepare for Karston (since Karston, if he will eat, certainly prefers single foods without toppings, sauce, or seasonings).

My how time flies; Cale is a great guy!