Eighteen months.

I am so in love with this little bear.

It is hard to believe that there was a time when he was not part of our family. He turned eighteen months last week, and I thought I would write about and share pictures of what he is doing these days.

To begin with, Sam is a really easy-going kid who likes to laugh, imitate his older brother, run around with his Daddy, and snuggle with his Mama. He is gentle, but not passive. He is independent, but wants us nearby. He understands much of what we are saying, and he speaks a few words, some by way of sign language. He is entering toddlerhood, and therefore, is displaying some defiant behavior with a few tantrums, but these often occur when he is overtired or hungry.  Sam is learning how to share, and he will hold up one finger to indicate that his brother may have a turn with a toy in one minute. He enjoys playing with other children and is kind to them. He loves listening to music, and his favorite singer is Elizabeth Mitchell. We listen to her CDs at most meals, and Sam bounces alongs to the beat as he eats. He often plays his little piano and resonator bells.

Sam enjoys cooking in the play kitchen, pushing around trucks and cars, and doing puzzles. He has good concentration, and he will take his time with whatever activity he is engaged in. The following pictures are of Sam involved in some of his favorite activities.

When we first gave him this game three months ago, Sam needed help in order to put the beads onto the dowels. Now, he is capable of putting the beads onto the dowels all by himself. Sometimes, he sticks his index finger into the hole in the bead in order to guide it onto a dowel.

Sam enjoys scooping and pouring activities. He sometimes misses the hole into which he is pouring the beads/marbles/rocks/cotton balls. He always picks up whatever has fallen outside of the container, and then, he manually puts it into the container. Additionally, he enjoys opening and closing containers as well as putting lids onto containers. He often carries a basket or a container filled with an assortment of play things around the house with him.

Sam loves stickers. When he first began using stickers, I was surprised at how capable he was of taking them off of the sheet. He needed very little assistance from me. Big stickers, however, are easier for his little fingers to manipulate.

Sam paints, but he eats the paint occasionally. He is learning his colors and shapes at the moment. I am unsure of what he can identify at this time, but I think that this upcoming month will bring a more solid understanding of them as well as the ability to identify them.

He likes to romp outside in the snow, but he tends to get cold quickly because he takes off his mittens, despite my best efforts to keep them on him.

Sam’s passion is books. He will look for a very long time at the pictures in the books. He turns pages, points to pictures, and loves to be read to by anyone who will volunteer. His favorite books are Sesame Street and Toy Story.

He will look at a book, and then leave it out so that he can return to it at a later time, or

he will carry it around with him,

and he will flip through it while other stuff is going on.

Gazing out of the window, he loves to watch the happenings of the world. He especially loves watching the cars and trucks drive by as well as the birds flying around the trees and landing on our lawn.

At night, Sam loves bathtime and, afterward, wearing his plush light blue robe that matches his brother’s robe. He looks so stinking cute in it too! I need to snap a picture of him wearing it. He has a fastination with flushing the toilet, and he likes to brush his teeth with his Cookie Monster and Elmo toothbrushes. When we cuddle down at naptime or nighttime, he likes to be real close to me, and he snuggles into my side, with his little hand on me. Usually, he will give me some smacking kisses before he falls asleep. Such a sweet gesture — it is this mama’s bliss.

And that’s just a peek at what Sam is up to these days! Thanks for letting me memoralize all of this to you as a way to help me remember.

Please feel free to share with me what your kiddos are up to these days in the comments.