17 months old started off like every other month, but we didn't know the surprise that was to await us in a few weeks. 17 month old Ryan had 6 teeth, and a few more words. At the end of April, Ryan and Mommy were on our own for a week, when Daddy, Oma, and Opa went to Hong Kong. He became obsessed with the moon, or "moo." Ryan also started saying "hi" and "bye," but, his big word came around the 10th of the month, when he said "lawn mower," or more accurately, "maw mo." Ryan also got his own slide in the middle of May, which he loved from the beginning!
Unfortunately, the middle of May brought us scary news, Grandpa (Mommy's dad,) had a heart attack, and not just a Little one, it was one that landed Grandpa in intensive care, and required him to be paddled back to life. A very frightened Mommy and Daddy hopped on an airplane on May 17th to New York. In typical Ryan fashion, he was wonderful on the airplane ride over. Ryan's first week in the States brought his first time in a hospital after he was born. Of course, Ryan loved the hospital, because he got tons of attention from the nurses and Grandpa. Because it was a stressful time, we decided to give Ryan some special time, and visit the beach as often as possible while we were home. Turns out, we have little explorer, who loves the beach.
He spent days and days wading into the water, and picking up shells, seaweed, and rocks. He loved looking for the moon, and making seagull noises. Ryan even said "beach" to Mommy and Grandpa one day. Once Grandpa got home, it was tough for Ryan. Grandpa had lots of doctor's appointments, and Ryan had to be a really good, and patient little boy as we went from doctor to doctor. While we were at Grandpa's house, Ryan enjoyed climbing the stairs and trying to climb up on Grandpa's bed to get Lucy the cat.
Ryan learned to "high five," and found his love for blueberries, or "boobeesh," while we were home.
Daddy had to leave before Mommy and Ryan, which meant we were home for a week on our own, and it also meant that Mommy had to fly alone with an 18 month old. Scary stuff that flying alone with a toddler. Turned out that all my fears were for nothing, Ryan did fantastically well on the plane. He immediately befriended our seat neighbor, and she took him on her lap and sang with him. She even played with Ryan while I ate dinner! I wish I could find the airplane neighbor and give her a hug!
Once we returned to Germany, life became normal again pretty quickly. We returned to playgroup and Music class. Ryan's vocabulary continues to grow daily. By 18 months, Ryan's vocabulary included "car," "bus," "Bababa" (Babybel cheese,) and a host of other single words. Ryan also discovered Daddy's hairspray and hair dryer. He stands now on the toilet lid, grabs the can of hairspray, whispers "dadada," and makes a "shhh" sound. After his hairspraying show, Ryan then will to point to the hairdryer and make a lower "shhh" sound. He also makes a sound for a payloader, and a cement mixer.
Ryan learned the movements to "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around," and pats his head when we sing "I am a Firefighter." He also does the hand motions to a song we learned about birds in Music class. Now, when Ryan sees a bird, he taps on his arm, because one of the lines in the bird song is "nuthatch hopping down the tree," and you motion your fingers down your arm like a bird hopping down a branch.
The last two months were just wonderful in terms of Ryan's growth and change. He's really no longer a baby at one and a half, he's all toddler, and having the time of his life!
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