18 Months Old!

A quick Rhys update:

• He made friends with a random little girl at the playground last week.  This was the first time he's shown interest in a kid his own age (he normally only cares about playing with older kids).  She looked exactly like Priya, our friends Joe and Bree's little girl, so maybe that helped.  Her name was Izzy and he followed her around for half an hour, showing her fun things to do and trying to impress her with his climbing and sliding abilities.  At one point she started to run off and he ran after her, and gave her a hug when she stopped.  They then took off together and proceeded to fall down at exactly the same time.  They both handled it like champs, got up, brushed themselves off, and continued playing.  I was so proud of him for being so friendly, fun, sweet, and tough all at the same time.
• For some unexplainable reason, he started hating swings over the summer- wouldn't go anywhere near one and would whine and struggle if I tried to just put him in.  He used to LOVE swings so I have been really sad about it.  But the strike is finally over- he just decided to try it again this week and loves it just as much as ever- hooray!

• He said "Hi" and "Bye" to strangers while waving for the first time last week.  He's only just waved quietly in the past.
• He's been an absolute angel lately.  When he's not obeying, I ask him to put on his "listening ears."  He immediately perks up, grabs his ears, and listens to my request and (usually) complies right away.  He gives us lots of unsolicited hugs and kisses, loves to help with chores and cleaning up, and eats what we eat with very few complaints.  I've been ending the day feeling sad to see him go to bed!
• He can make just about any animal sound there is, can point to most of his body parts, and can say eye, nose, ear, and knee.  He can also point to himself and say his own name now.  Yesterday, he said Paul, Amy (memee) and 'lijah to each of them over the phone, and then we looked at a picture of David's family and he said Grandpa, Paul, Scott, Matt, Ryan, and Sarah, and then made up words for Sharon, Erin and Grandma.  For some reason though, he insists on calling me daddy even though he can totally say mommy.  If he doesn't start pretty soon, I told him I going to call him Veronica.
  
• He gave up his first nap a few weeks ago, but transitioned seamlessly to an hour of quiet time in his crib.  He helps me put the toys in beforehand and clean them up afterward; he plays and has fun all by himself and would keep going for longer if I let him; and he has even asked to have quiet time again later in the day several times!
  
• He loves to watch movies.  He will watch just about any full length Disney movie without getting bored.  Tarzan and Monster's INC are his favorites.  I only let him watch one or two a week- but I wish I could bring myself to let him watch more because he will sit on my lap and snuggle the whole time- plus, can any kid get too much Disney indoctrination?!
• He has the cutest personality.  He loves being silly (as illustrated by the Happy Meal Hat below), but he also seems to understand being "cool."  We'll find him putting on a cool hat or his sunglasses and then strutting around like he's the best thing since sliced bread

• He's been saying please with a big cheesy grin when he wants something for a couple of months now, but now he's learned to say thank you when he gets it.  That makes me feel really happy.
• He's wonderful at folding his arms and being quiet during prayers, and even reminds us to say them sometimes.
• He's obsessed with monkeys (after seeing Tarzan).  He loves to make monkey noises and play with his monkey stuffed animals.  Grandma Barbara just sent him a baby chimp as a present and he has to sleep with it now.  So naturally, he's going to be a monkey for Halloween. (pictures to come!)