After the two-week break, Jack was very clingy for his drop offs at childcare for Monday and Tuesday. However when Doug picked him up each night he was enjoying what he was doing so much he didn't want to stop. On the Monday he was zooming about on a scooter. On the Tuesday he was using a slide with a loud cry of 'whee' as he went down. The existing carers said that they had noticed a big difference in him over the 2 week break, in particular how much he was talking. Not sure if this was increased confidence in himself now that he is walking, more comfortable there since he is now one of the bigger kids (since many of the other older kids have now moved up a room), or increased confidence in talking after 2 weeks at home with his parents. There were also 2 new carers in the room, since some of the carers had also moved up to the next room. One commented to Doug - 'Gee he eats a lot' (with a look to suggest we might be starving him) so Doug felt a little embarrassed. The other commented about how easily he picks up new words if they repeat a word to him a few times.

Jack and I enjoyed a quiet day together yesterday. We did one small outing to a local park. Jack had a short go on each piece of playground equipment, but quickly puts his hands back up and said 'more mummy' each time. He is a cautious little man at times.

Today Jack had his 18-month check up. All went well and he has met all the expected milestones for this age. His speech development in particular was well ahead. His weight (now 11kg) was higher up the scale from the previous low weights, so that was a positive development. Jack doesn't enjoy his checkups. His cries of indignation start the minute I start undressing him, and each additional poke and prod from the health nurse adds to his indignation. After I put his clothes back on he hugged into me with his head buried in my shoulder and refused to look at the health nurse for most of the remaining visit. He did put his head up to wave and say 'bye' as we left. I took him for another short visit to the park next door to give him some quiet time with me, before dropping him off at today's childcare. He cuddled into his favourite carer back from her holiday, and turned to me and waved and said 'bye'. So I promptly departed rather than stopping to chat to her.

Today marks 6 years that I have been working at my current company. You certainly see a lot of change when staying in one place for a long time. I wonder what further changes will eventuate in the year ahead as the company aligns itself even more with the Asia Pacific structure.

Doug's parents came down to stay on the weekend. They enjoyed seeing Jack playing in his sandpit, sitting in his little armchair, and riding around on his bike and car. They also came for a walk with Jack and I to the local park. Jack had his best play yet at the park. He worked out how to bounce himself on a little 3-sided see-saw structure. A little 16-month-old girl came to sit on one side at one stage, and Jack bounced them both, saying 'bounce bounce' and 'rock rock' to her. He was also able to climb all the way to the top of the slide (with a little support from behind) and slide down again exclaiming 'woo hoo'. It it great seeing his developing confidence and skills.

Latest words include pa, pop, plane and tongue. We were all most impressed when he came out with 'helicopt' (pointing at the helicopter flying past).

Yesterday Jack pointed at the front door to go outside. He crawled across the grass, backed over the retaining wall, and then took off with a mission down the court. He excitedly pointed out and talked about 'car' and 'ute' as we passed them on the street. He was so excited at his first chance to walk himself down the court that he went along at a rapid pace. He walked most of the way to the bottom of the street before I turned him around and he walked all the way back up again, saying 'up up' as he walked up the slope.

Later in the evening he pointed at the door again. This time he also took off at a great pace, so I decided to let him go a bit further. We walked to the end of the street, and then a further 2-3 small blocks before I turned him back towards home. At times on the way back he was a little tired and reached to hold my hand. He even crawled for a little while – but all the while did not want me to carry him. The only thing he really got sidetracked by was paved driveways in our court. I would let him walk a few steps up them then turn him around. I wonder how much longer he will be happy to come for walks in the pram before he insists on walking everywhere. And he is not even in shoes yet!

We believe Jack is teething again, and can see bumps in his gums. As a consequence he has been harder work again in the past week. He has been quick to cry and throw tantrums, and wants to stay very close to his mum. With rainy weather in the past few days we also have not been able to get out for walks or to the park or spend much time in the sandpit - so that also makes the day seem a little longer. We did get out to the beach again last Wednesday. Jack was a little more game this time, and sat in the water and ran his hands through it. We also went out to a play centre on Wednesday afternoon. Jack enjoyed climbing up the ladder of the slide by him self, sitting and then sliding down himself with cries of 'woo hoo' and 'wheeee' as he went. It is amazing to see his developing skills.

Jack had another Chiro visit this past week. Another back and neck adjustment amidst plenty of cries. He was then upset while we were driving from the Chiro to childcare. In a bid to distract him I pointed out the park as we drove past. Unfortunately this backfired as Jack then thought we were going to the park. He excitedly said 'park, park' as we got out of the car, then was in a flood of tears when he realised that he wasn't going to the park at all, but to his childcare centre. I really do seem slower to learn than what he does!

Jack is imitating us more and more. Doug has started saying a stern 'no' when Jack does things he isn't supposed to, such as throwing food from his high chair. Now Jack says a stern 'no' while he proceeds to do exactly whatever he shouldn’t be. This morning Jack had hold of a toy duck while I was getting him dressed after his shower. He threw it at me. I said 'poor mum being hit by the duck'. He then continued to throw it at me, saying 'poor mum' each time the duck hit me!

Jack's word development continues at a rapid pace. Latest words include em-tee (empty), shapes, circ (circle), scare (square), bed, wag (wagon), Wags (the dog from the Wiggles), eight, tea, red, bum, loo and cow. He is also getting really good at recognising written numbers and knowing what they are.

Jack seems to be teething again (at least we think he is - the last time we made that diagnosis it turned out just to be a bad cold). He has been much harder work than usual, and is particularly demanding around his Mum. His patience - normally measured in bare seconds at the best of times, is down to fractions of a heartbeat. Sometimes he is throwing a tantrum before he finishes asking for whatever he wants.

The other night as he slept in his cot his parents stole into the room and stood over him. He was sleeping on his front, legs tucked up under him, and bum sticking up comically in the air. It is amazing how quickly such a sight can recharge a parent’s batteries.

Jack has picked up on the variance of tone and volume when I say “no” to him. The louder the no, the more naughty his behaviour. He has taken to mimicking loud no's just before doing something like throwing his food onto the floor. It is a touch embarrassing to know your 18 month old will be firmly saying "No" around other people, and it being a direct reflection on what has been said to him.

I was recounting that to a work colleague today. She told me how her two year old did the same, but also threw in a wagging finger and stern face. I agreed that that looked worse. The two year old had picked up the tone and habit from watching her parents scold the family dog.

You have to be so careful.

Jack has gotten pretty good with his colours - picking blue, red, yellow, white, green and purple most of the time. Lately he has been associating colours with objects. The other night while returning from the shops I had a constant steam of commentary coming from his pram - "red car, bluw car, wellow uot, white tuck". My current favourite comes from when he is slotting shapes into a container, and calls out "Purpl Cirk" for a purple circle.

We were right - Jack's 9th tooth has cut through the gum. That suggests we are probably half way through the antsy episode.

Black duck - photo taken yesterday during one of our regular family visits to the various park lands around the area.

Jack has another tooth partly through the gum, so we were right about teething being the cause of his latest clingy/whingy behaviour. He has also had a bit of a cold over the past few days (as have I) so that hasn't helped either of us. Last week he also had his 18-month injections. As usual, he gave a loud cry when he had the injection, but settled down quickly cuddling tightly into me. It hasn’t been a good week for him!

Jack and I have enjoyed a few more little outings in this last week of break before all his activities commence again. We visited the play centre again on Wednesday. On Saturday we went to a 3 year old birthday party. It was an 'Ed-gym' party at a YMCA facility and all the kids had fun playing on the gym equipment. Jack takes a little while to be willing to have a go at anything new, and clung to me for about 10 minutes or so before deciding it looked like fun and was ready to join in. We also did another family outing to look at ducks on the weekend. Doug wanted some extra time to concentrate on photos, so I took Jack for a walk. We found some cows, and a little park where Jack enjoyed climbing up and going down the slide. We also took Jack out shopping to buy some shoes for him. He is showing interest in them, and Doug managed to get one on him yesterday for him to tap with. We are taking it slowly since he screamed last time we tried to get him to stand up in some. All up it was a nice relaxed long weekend.

Latest words for Jack include hands, fun, rocket, Capt (captain from The Wiggles), heart, outta way (when he wants me to move out of the way), food, seat, and stuck. He has also started saying 'war-ta' (rather than 'wa' for water). He now has over 150 words. The rate of new words has picked up pace in the past month.

Another mother gave me a suggestion of giving Jack a little square of material in his hand while he is asleep, to try to get him used to a different comfort item than my hair. So I have tried that in the past couple days with soft face washers. Last night when I tried to put him into the cot he sat up. When I laid him back down again he went to cry but I quickly put the face washer in his hand. (Thinking there was no way it would work at that point but what the heck). To my surprise he relaxed, lay down and went to sleep. He woke awhile later and came to sleep with me for a while. I then put him back in the cot with a face washer in his hand. To my surprise he stayed in the cot until just before 6am this morning! I can't remember the last time he did that it has been so long. Of course, he also had some medicine before going to bed last night, so that could be the explanation. So it is too early to tell whether this new strategy will work, but at least gives something easy to implement and try.