Dawson Turns 18 Months!

Since Dawson is now 19 months old, I figured I better post a couple of his 18 month photos. :) 

Dawson's personality is as big as his smile.  He certainly knows what he likes and doesn't like and is either laughing or crying.  

Dawson still loves/borderline worships Bridger and wants to do whatever he is doing.  He follows him around like his shadow which more often than not results in punches thrown and a wrestling match (despite mom's best efforts to enforce the "hands to yourself" rule!)  

Dawson is called the "eating machine" by his Grampa because he literally does not stop eating all day long.  Most tears can be stopped if given something to eat.  His current favorite foods include-smoothies (green smoothies!), fruit, lots of MEAT, and broccoli.  However, he generally enjoys without complaint  just about anything you put in front of him.  

Dawson loves music and dancing!  He will "sing" songs at church at the top of his lungs and often sings "Blurred Lines" walking around the house.  He knows "I am a Child of God' and can sing the words when in the right mood.  He loves singing "Happy Birthday"!

Dawson is much more of an independent player than his brother is (or ever has been).  He often can be found in another room entertaining himself with toys (mostly cars, trains or balls).  He loves to act like a big kid and play with all of his brother's toys.  

One of Dawson's favorite things to do is race across the living room.  He often says, "Ready, set, Dough!"and then runs as fast as he can across the room.  He also loves to wrestle and built forts with Daddy.  When Daddy comes home is certainly Dawson's favorite time of day!

Dawson also says "Nope." "N'Yeah"(this means yes but often sounds like no) and yells "NOOOOOO!!!!" regularly.  He is known for some pretty dramatic tantrums.  Heaven help me.

Dawson will now attempt to say almost any word you ask him to.  He knows the names of almost all of our extended family members and most objects around the house (Though, most of the time, only Mom, Dad & Bridger understand what he is saying!).  He has started saying family prayer and gives the sweetest, simple few-word prayers.  A couple of months ago when we were calling Dawson for family prayer before bedtime he came in, sat down on the floor next to the bed and scooted his legs underneath.  For several days he would do this, always scooting his legs underneath the bed and then folding his arms and closing his eyes.  It wasn't until it happened a couple of times that we realized he thought that is what we were all doing!  He didn't understand that we were kneeling so our legs were bent behind us.  We had a good chuckle about that. He has since figured out how to kneel--nothing cuter than that!

Dawson knows all of his body parts and thoroughly enjoys playing Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes and Ring Around the Rosey

One of Dawson's favorite things to do right now his sit on the "mower" and ride while we mow the lawn.

Dawson is helper!  He is surprisingly good at cleaning up after himself. If he gets it out, he will generally put it back.  When Mom says it is time to clean up, he doesn't complain, he gets to work.  We are really hoping this continues into his teenage years. :)

Dawson has an obsession with DOGS. He loves them.  He sleeps with a large stuffed dog that I brought him back from New York.  Dogs are the first thing he talks about in the morning (wants to look out the window and see the dogs) and the last thing we do before he goes to bed.  We read books about dogs, we play with the dogs outside, he loves to help feed the dogs and I have even caught him in the garage on his hands and knees drinking from the dog's water bowl.  (Yes, it was very traumatizing for me!)  Dawson can identify most other animals as well.  He calls rhinos "'No's!!"

We have slowing been introducing dairy to Dawson.  So far, so good!  He has not had any adverse reactions to the small amounts of cheese, ice cream and cow's milk in things.  However, we have yet to try giving him straight cow's milk to drink.  He still drinks soy milk but refuses to drink it in a sippy cup.  He wants it warm and in a bottle.  Yes, he is WAY too old to be drinking from a bottle, but it is the ONLY way to get him to drink his milk.  So, he drinks water from a sippy all day and milk from a bottle in the evening.  He loves water!  He gets that from his Mama!

Dawson is a snuggler!  He loves to cuddle with us in the rocking chair in his room.  He always brings me books so we can sit and read together.  He chews on the tags of his blankie and we read book after book or sing song after song.  I treasure those moments because I know how fleeting they are.  Those are certainly the times that I feel the most connected to my dynamic little Dawson.  And no matter how stressful of a day it has been, when Dawson looks at me and smiles, I smile.  

We feel so lucky to have Dawson as a part of our family.  He truly has the best sense of humor and I feel like I can already see the type of kid he will be based on his personality.  This age is probably one of my favorite ages and I wish I could just freeze time for a little while!