Just when we think Gabriel can't get any more smart/hillarious/entertaining/
At 18 months he knows about 20 signs and uses sign language and grunts and animal noises and pointing to communicate with us. I am surprised at how much I can understand, he really can get his point accross when he wants to.
He loves to play outside. Now that we have warm weather we have been taking him outside more often. We are so grateful to have our backyard to run around in! He will play with Bjorn for hours, just kicking and following a small wiffle ball. When he is in the mood, he'll let me put a coat on him. When I think it's cold enough for a hat and mittens he obliges happily. If his hat or hood falls off as he runs around he will come to us and pat his head until we put it back on. He really can run now!
He has almost always used a towel with a hood after the bath, but recently he loves wearing the towel on his head for an hour after bathtime and refuses to take it off. First he curls up under the whole thing like a little turtle. When I finally roll him over to get diaper and jammies on the hood must stay on! Then he gets up to play, keeping the hooded towel on his head.... even if he is running around in the backyard.
Some of his "tricks": blowing kisses/waving by-bye whenever someone starts to mention "leaving". Or if he just wants us to go somewhere he'll ask to be held, point to the door, and wave bye-bye. When we lay him down for a nap or bedtime he will often blow us kisses as he lays in bed and we leave. He likes to be the one to open the garage door every day. He has recently discovered how to work the blender. I'll hand him fruit and he'll put it in, I'll add the liquid, then he'll point to the buttons or try to grab them until I make it GO. He loves to drink the resulting smoothie as well!
He loves it when daddy comes home! That is sometimes the highlight of our day.
Shopping is becoming more and more of a nightmare. We have a routine to get us through the grocery store, but any other store he hates being in the cart, and is off like the flash the moment his feet hit the ground. At walmart, I bring my own cloth bag (since they don't even have small baskets anymore!) and follow him around as I herd him in the right direction to find the items on my list.
Recent favorite foods include crockpot lasagna and southwest macN cheese. Green beans, cheese sticks, and yogurt are staples, and chicken nuggets are always a classic stand-by. He loves dipping them in ketchup. He actually loves dipping anything! Pancakes, waffles, french toast, nuggets, chips, crackers, graham crackers..... If it has dip he will eat it (or at least lick the dip off).
We tried asparagus again recently and that did NOT go over well..... again. He's not a fan of pickles, onions, or tomatoes; we are discovering as BBQ season is just around the corner!
Reading books with mommy is a favorite! Also loves to throw balls, pretend to shoot toy guns, pretend to shoot legos formed into a gun, and build towers with blocks and legos and knock them down. He is starting to want to color on paper, I think he picked it up from nursery.
He loves to wash his hands. Only at the certain sink with his step-stool though. He'll ask for water and soap and then a towel to dry them off with, then want to repeat the whole process.
....still unwinds toilet paper rolls whenever he gets a chance. Does that stage ever end?
He has had a runny nose almost the whole month and is becoming a pro at blowing his nose when I ask.
We have enjoyed the zoo, the aviary, wheeler farm, and the discovery gateway children's musuem. Also, the family fitness center right by our house has become a favorite playland as well.
