18 Month Checkup

"So we have an ox on our hands, huh?" I introduce you to the Ox.

That is what Cope's doctor asked me today as she tried to do his exam. Now people are starting to see what I am up against. The boy is strong. And with a little attitude thrown in the mix as well, it makes for quite a combo. Then add in his beauty..Oh my. Oh how we love him though. All 28 lbs 14 ozs. I couldn't believe it when she didn't say he weighed 30+ pounds. He is in the 81 percentile for weight, and he is 33 1/4 inches long, which is the 70th percentile for height. Simms was barely 23lbs at 18 months.

Speech or lack thereof...
Cope says very, very little that we understand. He does, however, talk constantly. Just in his own language. He has close to 5 words we recognize. His doctor isn't the least bit concerned. Especially since he tries so hard to be verbal all day long. He will catch up, she says. She also said his 2 surgeries for ear related issues have contributed greatly to this. And that he is perfectly normal. Thank Goodness. Ya'll know I have worried and worried over his speech. I like to know what my children are saying or asking for. I like understanding them. It has been hard. But it is kinda funny too listening to him chatter away in his own language.



Food or lack thereof...
He doesn't like to eat. He loves to drink. And he prefers his milk over anything else. In a bottle. Yeah, I know. He will drink out of a cup, but really wants that bottle. And I am still giving it to him. And probably will for a few more weeks. Every child has something they can't do without. A bottle happens to be his. He seems to be growing fine so we are supposed to keep offering foods till he starts eating them. He will eat some things. He is just very, very selective.

Childproofing...
I didn't even know what this entailed when Simms was Cope's age. She never tried to climb, jump, pull lamps, hit the TV with things, you get the idea. We have a lot we have to do at the Goodwin house unless we feel like seeing Cope constantly in a cast or with stitches. I may have a nervous breakdown before he turns 2. Every step he takes I wait to hear some sort of crash, bang, break. I love having my boy though. We just rarely sit down around here!


Discipline...
Our main issues come up due to Simms and Cope not getting along. Yeah..that's fun. She isn't always sweet to him and he isn't always sweet to her. He fights back now too. And I did mention he was ox-like, right? And she is pretty fragile? Yeah. It's a constant job. That requires lots of "quite time" and praying on my part. They do love each other. And I pray will one day realize how lucky they are to have each other.

She looks pretty innocent doesn't she? Right.


Favorite Things...
milk in a bottle as mentioned above and his Daddy. And then, after his daddy, probably his uncle Miles, then any other male. He loves being around men. He does a Riverdance number when he sees Dru coming towards him. Cars. Anything with wheels really.

And as I told them today to play quietly and nicely in the den while I folded laundry..this is where I found them..waiting for me at the dryer. I have had so many mundane moments this summer where I have realized the gift that getting to stay home with them is. Nothing special happened. Nothing profound was said. It was just like WOW...this is a gift I am truly grateful for. I don't want to take it for granted. This was one of those moments.

So that sums up our life these days and my sweet boy. He is loads of energy, and full of love. And he still has beautiful hair that I am not ready to cut. But Dru is. I don't know how long we will disagree about the hair, but I tell ya, I am NOT backing down anytime soon. HeeHee. And one day soon, I am going to be brave and post a picture on here of what my house looks like at 4:50 p.m. Scary.