20 months is here! Ben has starting stringing words together to make small sentences. "Blue car", "Mama sit", "I did it", and "one more time" are all current favorites. He's quite able to make it clear what he wants (and can be a little bossy about it) but sometimes he, and I, get frustrated because we just can't understand each other.

We're still dealing with the pushing, and now we've added in a little hitting. Mostly just to Zach and I but it's very frustrating because he knows he shouldn't and will usually say "no hit" just before giving a good whack. I vacillate on how to handle it which I know isn't helping either of us. Consistency is key, or so they tell me. We've also reached a bit of a possessive phase which also isn't really fun, especially when the thing he's trying to get isn't his. Ripping another kids toy from their hands isn't a way for either of us to make friends. Normal but frustrating.

I'm reading a book called, "Raising your Spirited Child" and I think it's helping me understand him a bit better. Spirited kids don't operate on the same level as other kids, and knowing how to approach different situations helps me be, or at least feel, better prepared. Not only physically but mentally. One thing the book said that hit home was just changing your language from negative to positive. Ben isn't pushy, he's determined. He's not into everything, he's curious. He's not hyper, he's energetic. He's not whiny, he's expressive. It's such a simple thing, but it really has helped me shift my thinking.

We've had a string of visitors which has been nice. It's nice to be around family, and have Ben get to know his relatives from across the country. It also means Zach and I can get a night out here and there, which is also very nice. I hear there's things called babysitters which also facilitate this, but I have yet to procure one. Maybe I should try harder, because a night out with a good drink and adult conversation is pretty much the best way to get refreshed.