Bobby and Maya’s 18 Month Evaluation (HHB)

(Originally posted here)

The kids wont have their 18 month check-up until the end of the month, but here is my low-down of the babes, at 18 months old.  (Where has the time gone???)

Bobby’s Statistics (using home scale/measuring tape: official apt end of March)

height: 34 in.

weight: 30 lbs.                  

Maya’s Statistics (using home scale/measuring tape: official apt end of March)

height: 30 in.

weight: 22 lbs.                  

Standard Eating Schedule (self fed unless otherwise noted)

Breakfast:

eggs, toast , fruit-or- fruit, breakfast bar, maple corn puffs, served with water or oat/nut milk           

Snack:

2 rice crackers OR 3 fruit/veggie ‘wheels’ OR 2 biter biscuits, served with their drink from breakfast, as desired

Lunch:

cheese or veggie corn puffs, fruit cup, cheese, PB&J single slice of bread “sandwich”, mixed veggies, served with juice, oat/nut milk, or water

Snack:

2 rice crackers OR 3 fruit/veggie ‘wheels’ OR 2 biter biscuits, OR share a Greek yogurt with mom (spoon-fed by mom), served with their drink from lunch, as desired

Dinner:

cheese or veggie corn puffs plus family dinner (cut up), served with juice, oat/nut milk, or water

Other:

6-7oz. bottle of whole, organic cow’s milk before bedtime

• Bobby and Maya will both hold spoons, forks, and sporks, however, their primary eating tools are their fingers.  They will dip their eating utensils in food (help by others) and place in their mouths correctly when they wish to do so.
• Bobby and Maya drink from either Camelback Bite-Valve bottles or straw cups.  Their nightly bottle will be eliminated between 21-24 months.

General Notes:

A typical day begins at 5:30/6am-7:30am with playtime.  Breakfast is normally 8 am, depending on when the children wake up and begin showing “hungry signs”.  Morning nap begins 10:30am-11am, and routinely lasts until 12:30pm-1pm.  During the morning, the children watch Super Why!, a PBS program focused on reading and words.  They have 30 minutes of schooling (shapes, colors, letters, numbers) and play.  They usually watch an episode of Dinosaur Train, a PBS program that educates young children about dinosaurs.  On Wednesday mornings, they attend a multi-age playgroup, and visit their paternal grandparents for the afternoon.  On Friday mornings, they attend a 45 minute toddler music class, and visit with their maternal grandfather in the afternoon.  On Saturday mornings, they attend a 45 minute toddler tumbling class.  After their nap, they play together for 15-30 minutes, until they begin showing “hungry signs”.  After lunch, Bobby and Maya have 30 minutes of schooling, watch an educational or religious cartoon, and play.  We may have a visitor, do errands, or visit the library or park (in good weather) during the early afternoon.  Our afternoon ends with 15 minutes of schooling and then they watch an educational or religious cartoon, before their father returns from work (when he plays with them).  We have dinner at the table as a family, and the children eat whatever we are eating (cut into smaller pieces).  Their bedtime ritual begins immediately after dinner and involves their bath, massage, PJs, bottle, and bed.  Maya will self sooth herself to sleep at both nap and bedtimes (if put to bed awake), however Bobby struggles to do so and, usually, is put to bed asleep.  Bobby and Maya attend church services on the weekend, and, in addition to weekly playgroup, attend 1-2 monthly playgroups(weather and health of other participants permitting).  As a family, they go with us to restaurants once-twice per month.  Once a week, they visit at their grandparents for 5-6 hours.  Bobby and Maya both walk and run, and they sleep in their own beds for nap and bedtime in their own rooms.  They will, on occasion, help put toys away when directed and shown what to do.    Both enjoy playing on the piano and try to mimic whenever a person plays the keys.  They will both go to the piano to play and sing when no one is playing on it.

Bedtime

We had noticed a problem with their sleeping habits.  Both babies were waking up in the middle of the night, consistently.  We implemented the No Cry Sleep Solution and, in a month, the problem had all but gone away.  The kids take 1 nap in the late morning-early afternoon, and then begin their bedtime routine immediately after dinner (which we moved up to 5:45ish from 7ish to accommodate their new sleep schedule).  They are in bed by 7pm and sleep until 5:30-6am.

Personal Hygiene

Bobby and Maya take baths once per day.  They enjoy bathtime and play for 15 minutes before they are bathed and removed from the tub.  They sit in bath chairs and are in the tub together.  They are both still in diapers (Bobby is size 6, Maya is size 5).  Bobby has started patting his bottom when he has a bowel movement and both children will go to their rooms and bang the gates if they need a diaper change that has not been picked up on yet by the adult in the room.  Potty chairs have been purchased and we are currently introducing them to their potties in a non-threatening way.  No attempts to potty train has been made yet.  The children are sometimes dry/clean after naptime/bedtime, but are not consistently showing the physical signs of being read to learn the potty.

Discipline and Behavioral Issues

Overall, both children are well behaved.  We have not had to utilize time-out in months.  They play with each other and around each other well.  Maya is a daredevil and loves to climb the furniture or stand on her toys (that are not meant for standing).  Both understand the word “No”, although they don’t always heed the order.  We do not spank, rather choose to take the child away from the situation and explain why we don’t want them to engage in the behavior.  They are young and this happens multiple times before they understand (for the moment) that they are not to behave in that fashion.  They still chew on their board books when teething.

Verbal Communication

In addition to many non-verbal forms of communication, the children both communicate to their parents and each other.  When they are told it is time for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, they both will walk to the kitchen gate and, once inside, to their chairs.  When told it is time to be changed in X’s room, they will both go to the appropriate room.  When told “No”, they stop their behavior and look in the direction of the parent talking.  When they want to be held, they both can say “Up” and when they want to get down, they can both say “Down”.  When he is thirsty, Bobby will say “Drink”.  Both will tap their trays when they want more food and Maya will smack her lips when she is thirsty.  They both understand the sign language for the name “Jesus” and will make that sign when they see a crucifix in church.  Maya will routinely mimic what is being said to her and Bobby will do the same, on ocassion.  She will say several sentences based on what is going on.  Some favorites are “It’s raining” and “I did it”.  Bobby will echo a version of “I love you” when he is told that (usually a few times); he also routinely says “I’m done.”  They both will say “again” to repeat an action.  They have a version of the word “milk” and their own versions of names for different people.  The children routinely communicate to each other in verbal tones that we, as of yet, do not understand.  They routinely speak 15-20 words and will often catch us off guard with new words.