Declan 18-months-old

Oh my - how is it even possible that my baby is already one-and-a-half-years-old?!  He is still sweet as pie but has also has many more emotions than just his happy calm self that he once was.  Declan shows his happy side when he is playing by himself, one-on-one with a parent, and riding in the car.  He shows his impatient side when he wants his "ba" (milk) or wants his dinner right now.  He shows his frustrated side when he doesn't want to come inside (he could live outside), when his big brother takes his toys (happens often) and when we say "no".  His little face crinkles up, he cries, or he gets really mad and pushes his toy, your hand, his plate, his brother...you get the message.  Our weekly parenting emails that we receive to help us be better parents :) mentioned an array of emotions at this age and you never know what you are going to get from minute to minute and that is our household to a tee!

Silly boy :)

Back to our happy, smiling baby...Declan continues to surprise us with how smart he is!  He has an excellent memory and usually only needs to be shown once how to do something and he can do it again.  He watches his big brother like a hawk, and he wants to be just like him.  Below are two videos showing Declan trying to be just like Lincoln - he drinks when Lincoln drinks, eats when Lincoln eats, and says "hot" because Lincoln was saying his eggs were hot.  Disclaimer: please do not judge that they are eating their food with their fingers.  They both lost their silverware because they wouldn't stop banging it on the table (and upon closer inspection of the video, Lincoln needs a napkin!).  :)





Declan can say many words.  This always takes us by surprise because Lincoln had zero words at 18-months but Declan is in the typical range.  He has many words that he says on his own - me, mine, all done, ball, up, hot, out, mama, dada, bubble, open, weeeeeee, beep beep.  Then he repeats words all the time.  I especially love when he repeats "thank you" after Lincoln says it.  Such polite boys :)

Declan sleeps very well.  He goes to bed easily (usually) and sleeps through the night.  His bedtime is about 6:30pm and he sleeps until 6am.  He takes only one nap and it varies in length.  Lori says he naps for three hours but at home he only naps for about 1.5 hours.

Declan eats quite well.  He is picky but when he likes a food he will eat a lot of it.  Following in Lincoln's footsteps, he does not like meat but will eat chicken nuggets.  We are trying to introduce different foods, but he prefers the typical kid fare with lots of veggies and fruits on the side.  And, do not forget his "ba" which is what he calls his sippy.

Declan was a late walker but once he started walking he has not stopped!  He is very fast and quite coordinated.  He has been going to Lincoln's soccer practice and really loves playing on the turf during the warm-ups and the cool down times when he gets to run and kick a ball.  I can't wait for him to work on his soccer skills or whatever he is drawn to when he is older!

Declan LOVES playing outside at our new home. He pushes his pretend lawnmower up and down the driveway and digs in the rock pit that is the construction zone next to us.  Declan doesn't quite follow directions or show any hesitations like Lincoln did at this age.  He runs into the street, doesn't listen to no or come here, and he just keeps walking without worrying about straying too far.  Lincoln was very much a rule follower and Declan is just the opposite.  Declan is beginning to show some "stranger danger" and needs some time to warm up in new situations or with new people, but for the most part he is trying to not hold my hand and run in the opposite direction that we are going.

The child shows no fear and "no" means very little to him any more!
Remember how he used to cry when he heard us say "no"?!

We love our Declan very much and can not image what life was like 18-months-ago when he was just a baby in my belly.  Our house can be very LOUD, crazy, and full of smiles or tears, but we wouldn't trade it for the world.

Happy 1.5 year old birthday, Declan Dougherty.  We love you!

Link to Lincoln's 18-month-old blog post: Lincoln - 18months