18 months bringing many new changes

I wasn't expecting to have all these new things happening all at one time for Bennet, and the crazy part is he is already 18 months! And if growing up isn't going so darn fast enough for us, he has to keep going so that he can catch up to his big brother. Seeing the two of them play is a mixed emotion for me. They either play great with each other--laughing, driving trucks and cars together in the kitchen, playing up in their bedrooms, etc. Or they are in each other's bubbles, annoying each other so much to the point of screams and tears. Logan especially enjoys getting into Bennet's bubble, chasing him around the house and lightly touching the back of Bennet as if he is going to push him down (which 9 out of 10 times he does). Then comes the drama and tears, screams....

Bennet had his 18 month check up last week and he's finally average. He's 32 inches tall and 24 pounds. Then his head is 90th percentile. We have big knoggens in this family. The dr is happy though to see that he is a very typical, stubborn 18 month old, who seems to be "peaking" at his tantrums. Apparently this is the age for tantrums. Um....we've been experiencing those since 15 months. I just wish they would start to go away. We have found a way to reduce the length, but now he seems to have learned how to whine. And a lot. But at least it's not all the time. Usually when he's tired or hungry. Which is all day long for him.

Bennet also has been dealing with sinus and ear infections since Thanksgiving. Every 3 weeks he gets sick. He's on his 4th ear and 5th sinus infection. Due to the huge amount of infections and the inability to really clear them up 100%, we are seeing an ENT on Friday to look at getting tubes and adnoids taken out. One thing that Jeremy and I have expressed concerns about to our dr is Bennet's lack of communication. He only has 3 words. He is a 2nd child, a preemie, and has had a lot of infections, which all can cause a delay with speech. However, the dr's aren't worried and have reassured us that once the tubes are in his speech will increase within a month. I sure hope so. He tends to grunt a lot.

Overall, he's doing great. He smiles a ton, loves to hang out with the boys, be outside, throw balloons and balls, as well as play airplane with his fork or spoon when he eats. Bennet has also changed a lot with his looks. I think he's a mini-me of his uncle tis and papa don. He has the crazy blond hair and blue eyes, as well as some of their facial expressions. It priceless!