Understanding a Toddler

I was just reading last night about toddler's development in the latest Parents magazine, which said at 18 months old, kids tend to get frustrated easily because they want something but aren't always easily understood, which makes them pretty moody. Eli is a month away from the official time line, but I've noticed this week especially that he is either VERY happy when I understand what he wants or VERY upset when I don't.

When I do figure out what he's asking for, my favorite thing is that his face lights up, he claps his hands, and he says, "YEAH!!" with a big smile. It makes the frustration all worth it :)

Mess Maker

In the last few weeks, I have watched Eli transform from innocent young toddler to a full-blown, mischevious toddler. He is a MESS MAKER. This morning I gave him his breakfast (cheerios and a cut-up nectarine w/ a Nuby sippy full of milk) and as he was finishing up, I took advantage of his strapped-in, contained time to put away clean laundry. Eli took his sippy (this one has a flexible spout - so if you push it upside down on something, the liquid will come pouring out), dumped out the milk, then proceeded to splash splash splash the milk all over himself, the floor, and anything else in its path. These pictures don't really capture the exent of his mess, but you get the idea.

This is only a small example of the things he's been doing lately. When I am in the kitchen cooking, he usually empties out all of the spices from the spice cabinet, takes out the pots and puts the spice jars in the pots. It makes the kitchen a hazardous place to walk (because there are a million little things all over the floor) and it adds more to my clean up time. If we're in my room and I'm attempting to send an email or get something else done, Eli often pulls out all of the computer cords or anything else he can gets his hands on.

I'm afraid this is only the beginning...