18 Month Check Up, Update and Ear Infection

Addie turned 18 months old on May 26th!

Things have been so crazy with the end of the school year that I have not had an opportunity to post. We have big changes for summer. Daddy attends a professional development next week at the UofA , it has a nice stipend so Mommy said he could go. He finished up the 2nd portion of his National Board yesterday with a four hour long essay test. Please pray that he passes because it is a HUGE pay raise for us! For the summer, Mommy will working in Decatur and Gentry on Monday and Wednesday, seeing both school kids and some private kids from school that wanted summer services. That turns into extra money for debts and fun stuff like vacation. On Tuesday, I will be working for a friend that has a clinic right here in Centerton. Jeremy and Addie will be spending these days together. On Thursday and Friday, I have enrolled Addie in Gymbo classes at Gymborre. She will be going to Art and the Play and Learn time.

These are the things that are coming to mind right now that she is doing:

• CLIMBER!- You are very adventurous! You can climb on top of the dining room table, fireplace step, back of the couch, and just about anything else!
• EATING!- Not as good of an eater as you once were. You are enjoying "dip, dip" which is ketchup. You are good at staying hydrated and drink very well. Sometimes you request "Sweet Tea and Pepper" No I do not give these to you but sometimes you steal a drink of Mommy's!
• SLEEPING- Well I guess we all have our battles and this is one I have not chosen to fight! When you sleep all night in your bed, we are super excited; when you don't, we go get you and you sleep with us.
• TALKING- To have a mom that is an SLP, most of the time no one can understand you! But you do have excellent vocabulary. You enjoy naming all the people in the room and the animal sounds. You say no in the sweetest voice ever. However, you all but refuse to ever answer yes. You have started a grunting phase which is making your dad a crazy person.
• GROSS MOTOR- I guess your climbing ability is your big jump in this area. I am still concerned about your feet turning in. We have an appointment on Friday with a podiatrist.
• COGNITIVE/LANGUAGE- I am so amazed at what you understand. For example, tonight I said I want to see that paper and you just brought it over to me. You are trying to count to three. You can identify and kinda name these body parts: head, hair, ear, eye, nose, mouth, tongue, beard, belly, arm, finger, leg, knee and toes/feet. You will do the following activities when requested: dancing, marching, fast feet, circles, swimming, jumping (which is also gross motor). You love to identify objects and who they belong to, you have began sorting all the laundry by Mommy, Daddy, and Addie
• GAMES- Your favorite has to be chase and hide and seek. You are enjoying your shopping cart and love to push it around the house and place all your items on the table and then check out! You kinda resemble a bag lady!
  
• OUTSIDE- You are loving your backyard. You enjoy playing in the water. We are going to buy you a sand and water table but haven't yet. Your firetruck is out there, lawnmower and a big basket of outside toys. In the front yard, you love the rose bushes and enjoy watering all of our plants. Checking the mail with Daddy is another favorite.
• 18 month Checkup- You went to see Dr. Harmon today and got your first MMR shot. He seems to think that you feet are going to correct themselves. He looked in your ears and apparently your allergies have turned into an ear infection. This is your first one in 18 months. You have an antibiotic for 10 days hopefully, that will take care of it. You don't have to go back until you are 2!

We are so proud of you and amazed by your learning everyday!