How Can it Be?! Clayton is 18 Months

Somehow we are already halfway to Clayton's 2nd birthday!  Happy 18 months, Mr. Baby!  We still frequently call him Mr. Baby (thanks to Nora Kate for getting that sweet little nickname started back when he really was a little baby), and so maybe it's the nickname but I still think of him as much more of a baby than a one-and-a-half year old!  Or maybe it's just because he's the baby of our family and I'll always think of him as a baby...Nora Kate (who loves to act like his little Mama) likes to refer to him as "our baby," as in our whole family's baby.  Clayton's such a good and happy boy that everyone (Dawson, Carter, and Nora Kate) loves to play with him, talk to him, and snuggle him-so he really is our whole family's baby!
Clayton's big milestone for this month was probably my least favorite milestone-he started climbing out of his crib.  Congratulations to Clayton because he was the earliest of the 4 to master climbing out of his crib.  All of our children did so before their 2nd birthday, but none as early as Mr. Baby.  Unfortunately after Clayton realized he could climb out, he was obsessed.  He climbed out over and over and over and wouldn't stay in.  We got worried he was going to get hurt climbing out and falling to the floor, so we converted his bed to a toddler bed. He has done AMAZING!  He hasn't fallen out a single time, and he's done pretty good with this new freedom.  He loves to just climb up in his bed, sit, and smile.  He knows it's a big thing!  Clayton also loves how now Nora Kate, Dawson, and Carter can all (and all do) frequently climb in his bed with him.  
Clayton's daily schedule looks a little like this at 18 months.  He wakes each morning around 7:30 and eats breakfast.  Lately his favorite breakfast is greek yogurt or pancakes.  Then play all morning (no more morning nap), and then lunch around 12.  Afternoon nap at 1, and wake up around 3:30.  Then a snack after waking up, more play time.  Dinner at 5:30.  Bathtime at 6:30, and bedtime at 7:15.  He's sleeps through the nights, and he's still a stomach sleeper (all his own doing from the time he learned he could roll over).  He sleeps with his blanket every night.  He lays his head on it and sucks his thumb as he goes to sleep.  We have never had a thumb sucker until Clayton and it's so cute and sweet-we will see if I feel the same way about it though when it's time to attempt to break the habit.  For now, I think it's just too cute to see his little round thumb in his little round lips-oh sweet, Mr. Baby.
Clayton had an 18 month checkup and did great.  He is perfectly healthy and there were no concerns.
We love our sweet Mr. Baby and are enjoying every moment with him-the moments are just starting to get a little wilder as this boy enters each new stage! 

The many faces of Clayton

Caught in the act of escaping the crib

See, Mama, I just lift this leg up over the side and use my muscles to pull my body the rest of the way up and over?!

Sweet baby

Clayton's first morning waking up in his toddler bed...Nora Kate requested to be in the pictures too.  Haha

Clayton now absolutely loves the rides at Dollywood.  He squeals with excitement at we get near his favorites-the Ducks, Bees, and Pigs!