Kathryn Reese: 18 Months

 Weight: 21 pounds, 3 ounces (30th percentile)

Height: 31.8 inches (50th percentile)

Head Circumfrence: 19.25 inches (98th percentile)

Clothes: 12-18 months

Diapers: Size 4

Another well check is in the books, and we again have a very healthy report from the pediatrician. Oh, how lucky we are! As in posts past, you are still on your growth curve - average height, light in weight, and a head that is nearly off the charts. Developmentally, you are doing very well, and the Dr. Newton tells us you are quite advanced when it comes to verbal ability, as you are already stringing together 2-3 word phrases, and that is apparently quite uncommon at 18 months. I figured it was just a girl thing, since I knew Carter couldn't do that at this age, but it turns out you are a smarty pants. :) Attagirl! 

 The past few months brought you your first double ear infection. It was SO sad. You were crying out a lot in your sleep, and you woke up from naps after about 45 minutes SO mad. Thank goodness we live in 2015 and can very quickly get you on antibiotics. Other than the two ear infections, you have been quite a healthy girl. (Knock on wood!) The occasional runny nose or stomach weirdness, but really, you've been a breeze in that sense.

 You NEVER STOP MOVING. Unless you are eating, sleeping or being confined in some way against your will, you are ALWAYS moving. Running, playing, begging Carter to "share" with you...you are a BUSY girl. One of your favorite games right now is to find a group of something (for example, a box of blocks), dump them out, and move them to a new location (like the train table or your baby doll crib). This can easily entertain you for 20 minutes, so if I need to cook or something like that, I'll give you a bowl full of plastic utensils and another bowl to move them to. Works every time. :)

You get plenty of sleep overall - but, baby girl, you really dislike sleeping. You despise naps and rarely nap longer than 90 minutes, and it takes you a good 30 minutes of fussing at night to give up and drift off. So different than your brother. To be honest, I think you're just built like your momma and just can't turn it off. The world is just SO exciting to you right now, and I can say with 100% certainty that you think sleeping is just a waste of time. You've got things to do...

Like EATING! Oh, how you love food. It amazes me you don't weigh more, because you want to eat ALL. THE. TIME. You used to be big on meals (meats, pasta, fruits, etc), but lately, you've become a snacker. Your favorites right now are yogurt, fruit snacks (sigh), goldfish (fishies), chicken strips, macaroni & cheese, pizza, sausage, corn, apples, grapes, watermelon (you are OBSESSED), and mandarin oranges. If it's sweet, you like it. 

You are still, of course, our strong-willed, sassy, and dramatic one, but lately, I've really seen your nurturing side come out. You love to take care of your baby dolls, and if Carter is upset, you love to give him hugs. At bedtime, you insist of giving "bubba kisses" until we cut you off, and you give the BEST neck hugs. You squeeze with all 21 pounds of you, and it melts me. You are becoming very tender-hearted, and it just makes me a proud mom. We can't wait to see where life takes you, and watch you grow and really start learning next year in preschool.

We love you, baby Kate!