Jackson at 18 months

Last week our little man turned 18 months! He's officially a year and a half now! As always, he is still very very busy and into everything! In this first picture, he had climbed up on the kitchen chair to finish Kathryn's breakfast that she had left on the table. I think he looks like he's just tickled with himself! "Don't mind me, Mom, just catchin' a little snack."
He still loves his paci, and lovey and blanket, too. He reminds us of Linus as he walks around dragging his blanket after him!
He also loves his daddy! He loves to ride on his shoulders, wrestle with him, and snuggle with him!
He's really been into feeding himself. I know, he probably should have been doing that long ago, but when it's something messy, I try to do it myself as long as possible. One of his favorites right now is yogurt. He uses the spoon to start with, but as you can see, the hands always win out as being more efficient for him!
Yum!!!
He also loves dirt! As you can see, he loves to sit in my planter and put the dirt all over himself and everything around him.

The other day, he fell asleep on the way home from church. He was so out of it that he didn't even wake up when we brought him inside, so I laid him down on the couch and snapped some pictures!
He's been into really cheesing for the camera lately. I can hardly get a picture of him without him squinting his eyes and giving a goofy grin. Here, he was saying "Cheese!"
Happy boy!
I think he looks like my brothers in this picture.
Another goofy grin...
At 18 months, Jackson is also:
-communicating a little more. His new signs include baby, bath, butterfly. He will try to imitate most signs I show him also. However, he rarely tries to say anything I say!
-still grunts all the time! He will try to tell us things by grunting.
-still loves to give hugs and cuddles, and is so sweet and snuggly when he actually stops moving for a few minutes.
-still kisses me with zverberts (sp?). But, they are only reserved for me. He rarely kisses anyone else.
-loves his sister, and is playing really well with her!
-loves his sister, and is fighting really well with her!
-still wears mostly 18 month size clothes.
-loves to run, jump, spin, and dance.
-says "Daddy" more clearly than any other word.
-eats pretty well, but it varies from day to day. His favorites still include bread, cheese, yogurt, cucumbers, raisins, grapes, bananas, chicken, pretzels, frozen veggies, or anything that Kathryn leaves behind that he thinks he's not supposed to have!
-takes one afternoon nap each day, from about 1:00-3:00 (although often it's shorter).
-goes to bed around 7:30 or 8:00, and has recently been sleeping till about 8:00 (since the time change...woohoo!!!).
-gets very excited to see his family and friends, but still cries when we drop him off in childcare at church (but only for a minute; then he's fine).
-will hold our hands when we ask him to.
-will sit in time out when he's being disciplined.
-will hug his sister (or others) to say he's sorry after being disciplined.
-can point to his head, hair, ears, eyes, nose, tongue, tummy, and piggies (toes) when asked.
-loves to take a bath and asks to take one every night before bed (by signing "bath").
-is still a screamer and has a very strong will that we are working on!
-has a great sense of humor, and will do silly things just to make people laugh!

We love you, Jackson! You are such a joy to us, and we pray that God will continue to shape you into a little man who loves Him and shines for Him!