16 months of Brooks

General

• Clothing: 12 &18 months, 4-5 shoe
• Diaper size: 3
• 22 lbs (30%), 33 in (94%)

Likes

• Being chased and thrown up in the air
• Playing outside
• Helping mom
• Opening doors
• Throwing everything things away
• Milk (FINALLY), Peanut butter (LOVES)
• Bronco (also LOVE)

Dislikes

• Being told no
• Getting in trouble

Diet & Sleep

Brooks has always been a pretty regular eater. He's not a huge fan of vegetables but there are some I can get him to try and eat. I always tell him to just take one bite and try it and if he doesn't like it, he doesn't have to eat it. He's getting very good at using his fork and spoon. I didn't push this at all, he's so independent, see's how we're eating and begs to follow. It took him about 3 months but now he likes milk. I wasn't super worried because he eats enough cheese and yogurt but I'm glad he likes it now. He eats so much sometimes it's a struggle for me to have enough food for him haha! I feel he's eating me out of home and he's not even 2 yet! No complaints here though, I'm happy he's a good eater.

Breakfast: Peanut butter toast (he brings it to me every morning from the pantry saying "pea buhr!"), bananas, oatmeal with frozen fruit, cheerios, scrambled eggs, strawberries (when they're in season), pancakes/ waffles on the weekends (yes, covered in PB).

Lunch: We'll usually have dinner leftovers (because it's impossible for me to cook for 2.5 people, more like 5 every night). I'll always add in cucumbers, cheese, apples or oranges. Depends on how much he liked dinner the night before ha!

Dinner: For the most part I'll make whatever I want for dinner and sometimes modify it so I know Brooks will eat it. For example I made a new recipe the other night for sloppy joes. I wasn't sure if it would be too spicy for him so I took out a portion of cooked beef and pork out for him before I added the sauce. It's easy and I do this frequently to my recipes to make sure there's some component he'll eat. I'll also supplement his dinner with zucchini (steamed in the microwave, it's one of the few veggies he'll willingly eat!) and cottage cheese since I know he'll always like those. If he's really struggling that night (like teething!) I'll give him a veggie pouch and milk. before bed.

Snacks: Goldfish, cheese sticks, yogurt, fruit, animal crackers, granola bars

Sleep is also going great! He's been taught good sleep habits since he was very little. Since 9 months or so he's pretty predicable and sleeps through the night. There have been some bumps since then mostly caused from teething (molars are so sad!). The only sleep crutch Brooks had that I knew I needed to tackle was the Zipadeezip or which I lovingly call his zippy. It's a loose sleep suit that encloses hands and feet. It's a great tool to transition out of the swaddle and beyond. 

Then one day I found he was biting through one of the hands! I decided it was time. Brooks loved his zippy and when I took it away cold turkey he was beside himself. I decided to leave him be because we were going to Colorado for Christmas and I'd rather wait until after the holidays, plus he was getting his molars in. So he slept in his zippy until the new year, then I slowly trained him to sleep without it. I unzipped one arm for a few days then both arms.

Right before 17 months he protesting his nap and after a week of transition he only takes one nap now from 12-1:30/2.