My Linus (the long-winded version)

William is a real hoot.  He just turned 18 months old and his personality is really starting to show.  A few recaps:

At 16 months, William started talking.  He quickly learned "dog" and "cat" and "woof" and "meow" but would only say them if he felt like it.  He also learned that it is hysterically funny to run away from Mama, especially if he is going somewhere off-limits.  William also started pointing at anything of interest.  Because I didn't bring a sippy cup for him on our vacation to Utah, he quickly mastered drinking from an open cup.

At 17 months, William started getting attached to the blanket you see pictured.  He would carry it around the house with him everywhere.  It is supposed to be a quilt for a toddler bed but that didn't stop him.  Often, he would sit down for a little break and suck his thumb while holding the blanket against his cheek.  He also started really getting interested in stuffed animals, like some of our giant stuffed dogs.  He would giggle and laugh every time we put him to bed because he loved cuddling with those dogs so much.   William also fell in love with water at around this time.  I think he loves it even more than milk--in fact, it is a little difficult for me to get him to drink all the milk he is supposed to have because he would just rather have water.  Well, there certainly are worse problems to have and I'm not going to lose any sleep over it!

Besides drinking water, William loves getting wet.  It is the high point of his day if you spray him in the face with water.  He went through a phase where he would purposely ask for more to drink just so he could splash it on himself.  When he hears the bathwater running, he comes dashing in and bounces around until I strip him down.  One time William found a teacup the kids had been playing with in the bathtub and, like a little gentleman at a tea party, he dipped it in the toilet water and drank it down.  I don't know how long he was at it before I found him but it still gives me the heebie-jeebies when I think about it.  It was the first time I was truly tempted to wash a child's mouth out with soap.

One time when William wanted a snack, he took my hand and brought me into the kitchen.  Then he pointed to the pantry and started laughing gleefully.  Of course I couldn't refuse and he got what he was after.

He also learned the word "mine."  In fact,  his favorite game is to snatch something, hold it over his shoulder and yell, "Mahn!" while running away.  

William discovered the joys of being outside and loves the freedom so much, he makes a break for it anytime he hears a door open.  And yes, if he gets out into the front he goes right for the street (thank goodness for a fenced backyard).  My sister-in-law has had to keep her house in constant lock-down because of her toddler and I'm wondering if we'll end up having to do the same thing.

At 18 months, William is my little shadow.  He follows me everywhere in the house except for the times he is chasing after his siblings.  William has also started to get a little possessive over me.  A classic example is what happened last week when I was making dinner.  Everett had fallen asleep on the couch and was really groggy and grumpy.  William had just woken up from his nap and was also grumpy for whatever reason.  Everett came into the kitchen and leaned against me while I was chopping veggies.  As soon as William saw this, he raced in, yelled and yelled, and started trying to shove Everett away.  Fortunately Joel was home and I had him distract those two from their tussle.

We also have to be careful in Church.  Joel ends up holding William most of the time during Sacrament Meeting because if one of the other kids is on my lap, William goes nuts.  This poor little guy's world is about to be turned upside down when the new baby comes!

The transition to Nursery went great.  As much of a Mama's boy as he is, I don't think good-natured William even noticed my absence.

William has always loved roughhousing with Joel and the kids and never seems to notice that he is the smallest one in the pile.  If he knows that others are playing around, he'll run into the room and throw himself over anyone low enough to the ground.

The best thing about William at this age is that he jabbers constantly.  It is pretty funny.  I'll say something to him ("Where did Everett go?") and he'll reply "Ah-da (Everett) jabber jabber jabber jabber."  He loves to talk and he goes on and on as though you can understand everything he's trying to say.  If you keep talking to him, it is like an entire bi-lingual conversation.  I would love to know what he really wants to say.  What does an 18 month-old think about?  This is a mystery to me.

William and Everett are still best buds, but William and Ashley are also starting to develop a really sweet relationship.  Like Joel, Ashley is not big on babies but once they get big enough to interact with, she has a lot of fun.  

The latest naughty trick of William's is to climb up onto our dining room table.  Fortunately there is carpet because if all the chairs are pushed in, he can't use them.  Unfortunately there is always someone who forgets to push the chairs in, and William gets onto the table several times a day and gleefully throws off whatever is on the surface.  Yes, he knows he is not supposed to be up there.  The fact that he grins and laughs mischievously each time I catch him up there gives that away.

I'm so happy we have our little William.  He truly is a delight and he has been such an easy baby!  After two easy babies, I'm pretty sure I am in for it with our new November arrival.