18-Month Pediatrician Check-Up

Ollie's not quite 18 months old (May 10 will be his 1.5-yr BIRTHDAY!). We went ahead and scheduled his 18-month check-up with his pediatrician and we went in yesterday for that appointment.

And now, presenting Ollie, by the numbers:

...drum roll...

Height: 33.25 inches (84th percentile)
Weight: 28 lbs; 14 ounces (87th percentile)

Also, developmentally, here's his checklist of what he should be doing vs. what he is doing:

• Start to climb and explore - YES; he's EARNED the nickname "Hurricane Ollie!"
  

• Respond to simple directions - YES; "bring it here," "go get the book," and "Ollie, wanna eat?"
  

• Enjoy certain games - YES; I've even seen his sense of humor emerging, like he laughed out loud when I put a book on my head and called it a hat! He also likes to play with his reflection in the glass-front to our gas fireplace. He actually cracks himself up!
  

• Like to ride toys - ?? We don't have any riding toys, though he did like the merry-go-round in St. Augustine, FL.
  

• Become picky about certain foods - NOT REALLY; He doesn't like citrus fruit, as far as I can tell...everything else he likes; one of his favorites is broccoli trees.
  

• Separation anxiety lessens - Ollie really hasn't ever had much separation anxiety; maybe just a few isolated episodes from time to time...
  

• Run well - KINDA; definitely starting to get there!
  

• Use certain words regularly - YES; mostly "Mama," "Dada, " "Bye bye," and "Dat duhn" (all done).
  

• Talk more clearly- SLIGHTLY
  

• Kick ball in forward direction - YES; I have noticed this but thought it was a fluke but, hey, I guess it's a developmental milestone. Cool!
  

• Like to sort toys - NOT YET
  

• String more words together to make phrases or puts together pairs of words - NOT YET
  

• Brush teeth with help - NOT YET
  

• Draw a scribble well - We haven't tried this but we definitely will now!
  

• Say at least 15 or 20 words - NO; he has a pretty small vocabulary but he knows a lot of signs
  

• Feed self with spoon - We've only tried this a couple of times; I'll have to do more of this!
  

• String more words together to make phrases or puts together pairs of words - YES; so far only "Bye bye Dada" (which is just sooo cute!).
  

• Take off an article of clothing alone - NO, but he's really good at helping put his clothes on; he lifts his legs to step into his pants and he's wiggled his arms into his sleeves since he was very young! Oh wait, there was that one time that he did take off his shorts AND his diaper in his crib during nap time!
  

• Jump around - YES; dancing, quick-stepping, spinning, running circles, AND jumping.
  

• Take apart toys and sometimes puts them back together - YES; he likes to pull apart Mr. Potato Head and puzzles that Merrit has completed.
  

• Show signs of potty training - NO
  

• Climb out of crib and high chair - EEK! No, not yet! Better keep those eyes peeled!!
  

• Draw circles - NO; Obviously, I need to give this kid some crayons!
  

• Understand two part directions - NOT YET
  

• Turn pages of a book when you read - OH YEAH; he loves to do this! I try to read to him every day; he LOVES books.
  

• Gets attached to stuffed animal or other object - YES; he has his yellow "silky" (aka "Chuck Chuck" which is the sound I make when I tickle him under the chin with the silky when he's going down for naptime/bedtime; I can't say that he's really attached to it though as he goes to bed fine without it when it's in the wash.
  

• Walk well - DEFINITELY
  

• Sing and like to sing - NOT YET
  

• Get upset when frustrated - OH YES, ABSOLUTELY; I think his greatest disappointment comes when he has climbed the first 2 or 3 stairs to go upstairs when we catch him and bring him back down; oh he is NOT happy then!
  

• Walk backwards - YES! So cute!

• Help around the house - YES; he's great with the weed eater. (WHAT? Help around the house? Is this for real? I wonder what in the world he could help with...as far as I can tell our little Hurricane Ollie likes to UNhelp around the house: Pull clothes out of drawers, unroll the toilet paper, knock over piles of folded towels, pull placemats off the dining room table, throw couch cushions around the living room. I hardly think that qualifies as HELPING AROUND THE HOUSE!)