Monday, April 29, 2019

Tatum Beau: 18 Months

Months 16, 17, 18... Tatum hit 18 months almost two weeks ago on April 16th... I can't believe my little guy is a year and a half! This is such a fun age, he's in such toddler mode and turning into a little boy instead of a baby.



Height, Weight & Health:
Tatum had a great 18 month checkup - about two weeks late.  He weighed in at 24 pounds, 12 ounces (55th percentile) and is 2 feet, 8 inches tall (25th percentile).

He had some bad eczema on his stomach, back and upper legs but we got in under control quickly with some cream.  We then finally thought it was an allergic reaction and went to the doctor but he just had a few bad flare ups and we got a steroid cream for in case it happens again (of course it hasn't, ha!)

After our trip to Florida he came home with a little cold (17 months) and had a pretty bad diaper rash right around when he hit 18 months but other than that he had a good few months!

Clothes:
To start he was in 18 month pajamas right away and still mostly in 12 month outfits with a few 18 months mixed in.  He spent most of these months in 12 months but we switched to 18 month recently even though a little bit.  He's still growing into the 18-24 months but hopefully he grows quickly since the seasons are changing!

Sleep:
Now that we're back on track after the Christmas break and being sick right after (15 months), he's been doing really well sleeping at night - usually goes down pretty well, sometimes needs a little extra rocking and sleeps about 8pm until 7-7:30am.  Since he's getting about 11+ hours overnight, his naps are sometimes shorter the doctor said.

At 15 months we got back into one nap - to get back into it, he'd usually need about a 20-30 minute catnap or quiet time in the morning and then anywhere from an hour to two hour afternoon nap.  Some days he'd just do a nap around 12:30 if we were home.

By the start of 16 months we were back into a good nap routine - Whatever morning activity we'd do, I'd try to be home by 11 or a little after so he didn't fall asleep in the car.  Lunch and then up to nap between 12-1 for a two to three hour nap.  The earlier he went down, usually the longer he napped.  If we were out longer in the morning (like days my mom watched him) he'd fall asleep on the way home and cuddle with me for a big longer before transferring into his crib.

17 months.. his naps are only about an hour 15 minutes to two hours (only will be three hours if he finishes the nap on our lap) - the doctor said this is because he sleeps so well/much at night.  He doesn't always want/need to be rocked to sleep before nap - we stopped his bottle right before 17 months and he's getting into the routine of being put into his crib, laying there for a bit then falling asleep on his own!

We've gotten into a solid bedtime routine each night - we usually go up anywhere between 7-7:30 to get it started - bath, lotion on his dry skin, pj's on and read a book, bottle and into the crib to sleep!  He usually sleeps until anywhere between 6:45 - 8:15/30.  It's usually close to a 7:30 wakeup though.

A couple weeks before 18 months we stopped the bottle completely - a big accomplishment for all because Tatum really counted on that for bedtime - we just eased up on it and within about a week he was able to just be rocked a few times and then learned how to put himself to sleep in the crib - hallelujah!!

Feeding:
Loves food!  Within the past few weeks we've stopped cutting his food up so small and let him bite into things - we are still working on the use of the fork!

Favorite Foods: Avacado, Grilled Cheese, Meatballs, Pizza, Any Type of Fruit, Any Type of Crackers, Graham Crackers, Pirate's Booty, Yogurt, Spinach Pouches, Etc.

Schedule:

Daily:  He used to be up just before 8am each day but as we got closer to 18 months it slowly got early and he's usually waking up at 6:45ish.  He usually lays in bed with us until about 7:30/45 and we come down for breakfast at 8.  The morning is spent at the gym usually or with my mom/the babysitter if I'm at the office.  Lunch is usually close to 11 and nap by noon.  He's up anywhere from 1:45 - 3 depending when he went down and the afternoon is spent playing or doing misc. activities.  He usually eats dinner between 5-6pm (unless on the weekend then usually later - he goes with the flow well) and bed is between 7-8pm, usually on the earlier side!

Weekly: We've tried to better structure our weeks so he has activity each day.  Usually three days a week he'll come to the gym with me to play at the daycare there.  One day he has a babysitter come and one morning he goes to my mom's house so I can go to the office on those days.  We also add in library, misc. activities out of the house and tons of playing.

Likes:
Golf clubs!  After always grabbing for real ones he now has a little set and will play with it endlessly.

Points if he wants a toy, snack or to go to a certain place or room (15 months).

Being outside!  He cries when it's time to come in and always points to the door to go outside.

Saying "no" and he means it.

Running - he could do a little better with his direction though!

Laughing - he has a few tickle spots and will just laugh so hard.

Playing with Stella - he looks to see if she's following him, takes her toy and throws it to her, hands her treats and pretends to feed her.

Learning:
How to use a spoon/fork - he likes to hold it during a meal now and occasionally picks up a piece of food on it or uses his hand to then take it off the fork.  Can use a spoon for ice cream though! (15 months)

His two new tricks - if we say "high five" and hold our hand up, he runs over to give us a high five.  Also if we say "cheers" and hold our cups out he'll reach his sippy cup out for a cheers.

Climbing onto/into things... Anything... All the time.  He knows how to turn around to go down just a few steps - not a whole staircase.  At 17 months he figured out how to go down the whole flight of steps and loves to.

He's snacking more instead of as many bottles - always has at least one or two morning and afternoon snacks - favorites are goldfish, graham crackers, crunchies and pouches.  He's also drinking out of a straw on occasion. (By 18 months loves the straw and no more bottles!)

Tatum likes flipping the pages of books, throwing balls, dancing to music, he's colored for the first time.

17 months... "Big hug" with our arms out and he runs over for a hug, asking him "Where's your belly button?" and he lifts his shirt, looks for it and points, and a trick with Daddy - "Fist bump"

Dislikes/Setbacks:
He had some sleep regression when he was sick - Didn't always sleep through the night, cried when being put to bed and wanted to nap with one of us.  Once we got passed all the sicknesses we really worked on his routine to get back on track (15 months).

He is totally in a hissy fit phase - if you take something he wants, he doesn't get his way, etc.  he'll go limp and just scream and throw himself down (15 months). Tantrums!!

At about 16/17 months he learned to pick his nose but luckily doesn't do it too often!

Milestones:
Not saying a ton of words but a new one is "uh oh" to go with his other two favorites - daddy and NO. Tries to say Thank you and uses noises and pointing a lot.

He had a double ear infection after his bad cold and stomach bug (15 months) and hated the medicine but after about 30 hours on it - he was already feeling much better.  He took amoxicillin twice a day for 10 days - a lot of times mixed into his yogurt so he didn't scream.

He had his first haircut and sat pretty well until he got a little squirmy and whiny at the end (15 months).  He had his second haircut just before 18 months and did really well!

Places:
We took Tatum back to Palm Beach for our annual winter getaway (15 months).  He loved swimming in the pool, eating every meal... along with dessert and really enjoyed the playground.  He also went back in April a couple weeks before he turned a year and a half.

He made a trip down to Washington, DC to see our friends - it was very cold out so he didn't see any of the landmarks but had fun visiting and got asked to be the Ring Bearer in their wedding.

He had tons of birthday parties the past few months and loved all the activity from a gym, to a play center to chasing after kids at home.

He spent two weekends at Lovie and Poppy's while Derek and I had events to attend out of town.

Favorites:
His miniature Mickey mouse & friends stuffed animals - Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto.

Friday, April 26, 2019

This & That

For the final round of The Masters on Sunday each year we try to do a little something to celebrate - we had a couple friends over, everyone brought something and we ate, drank, watched golf and had a great time.


We started swim lessons last week and our little fish loves them just like he loves the pool - he's always sad to get out.


These two are always playing together...


Tatum might not have been interested in his Easter basket on Easter morning - but the next morning, he was super ready!


My girlfriend came to visit last week and Tatum and Stella made an instant new best friend in her dog, Jet!  Tatum's never really played with a dog smaller than him and he was obsessed - he ran around after him with his arms out for a hug trying to play with him the whole time!

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Easter 2019


We took our time waking up on Sunday then all came down to see what the Easter bunny brought! Tatum was distracted by all sorts of things and didn't really care to look in his basket or take the treats out of the eggs - we tried!  He was super into Stella's basket and there were a few toys that he couldn't have his toys (he ended up getting pretty excited about his basket the next day).  We played and watched Peter Rabbit, which he really liked for the morning.


At church Tatum made it through the start of the service and then made his first visit to the church nursery for the rest! 


Once we were done we headed off to brunch with my family - the weather was great and we were seated out on the patio which was nice.  The food was all delicious and plenty of options.


We were all pretty ready for a nap once we got home - one of us fell asleep on the five minute ride back so we spent a little time relaxing before onto the next!  We finished the day off with a little Easter dinner and egg hunt with friends.

Monday, April 22, 2019

Easter Eve Festivities

We had the most wonderful time celebrating Easter this past week and especially Saturday and Sunday.  We had a festive weekend from start to finish - the "eve" of the holiday is always my favorite.  Saturday started out with an Easter Egg Hunt at our country club with his friends.  He wanted absolutely nothing to do with the bunny but had fun picking up eggs, watching the magic show and we all enjoyed brunch.


We needed to run a few quick errands afterwards to get ready for dinner that night so we picked Stella up to come with us.  The pet resort was on our way so I popped in real quick with her to get her picture with the Easter bunny.


Late in the afternoon we had family over for our annual Easter Eve dinner.  While we enjoyed appetizers we let Tatum play on the deck, my mom brought eggs for an egg hunt for him and we opened up easter baskets.


Dinner was delicious consisting of honey baked ham, mac and cheese, mini crab cakes, pineapple, broccoli salad potato casserole and seafood soup.  We had the best "nothing bundt cake" Easter cake for dessert along with a little trail mix.


To finish up the night we setup a bunch of eggs to dye and all got in on the action.  Tatum had fun "helping" and taking the eggs out once they were done.  Once everyone left and the Easter bunny came, Derek and I relaxed on the couch watching the new Hallmark Easter movie.

Friday, April 19, 2019

Spring Happenings


We've had a lot of fun with Easter activities this month leading up to the holiday.  First up was meeting the Easter bunny for the first time and it was NOT a hit.


We also went on a hayride to "Bunnyland" at a local farm and Tatum loved the hayride out but again, hated the bunny!  He did love seeing the baby animals after.


We made sure he had a few Easter books to read at bedtime and his Easter pajamas early on in the season.  He enjoyed throwing it all, all over the place!  (but likes it all now!)


We did a trial run at dying Easter eggs earlier in the week before we do them this weekend with family.  He liked it but cried when he couldn't take them out right away.  He tried with friends a few days later and wanted no part of it, I tried!


To prepare for the weekend my mom had a little Easter egg hunt setup for Tatum when I dropped him off yesterday - he was very into it and even more so when he realized there were puffs and treats inside for him to eat.  They are so cute together!


Last night it was in the 70's and a perfect deck night - we played an Easter egg scoop game that I'd seen on Pinterest and Tatum could have stayed out there playing it all night - a total win!


Enjoy your Easter weekend! xx