The baby is no longer a baby!

My little baby boy is in his 18 month of life. 1 1/2 years old! Since the last time I gave you an age update post was quite a while ago, I'm finally doing a little catch-up, right here and now.

First, I'll start with saying that I swore I would not have another child quite as close together as the first two are (23.9 months). Don't worry hubby (and grandmas who watch my kids), I'm not changing my mind on that issue...but I will admit that when I realize what a toddler/non-baby this little guy has become, and how quickly it happened, I do start to get the very start of a little baby-bug again...just the very start :)  Feeling all nostalgic and sentimental, I look back to some of these favorite pics from his birth and those first days as a mother of two... (birth photos taken by my middle sis)

One of the things about having a second child that is fun is to compare it with the first (C'mon, you all do that too, right?). Here, at 18 months, are some of the differences I've observed. Compared to his hyper-active, super-outgoing and overly-emotive big brother, Link is a bit more chill, laid-back and reserved. When the two are in a room together, he tends to get over-shadowed a bit by his big brother. That is, until you do something he doesn't like! Then you don't hear the end of it. He has an incredible stubborn streak (from his mama) and quite a temper (from his papa) and the red hair to match (also from his papa). Though a little bit more stoic than Will (take this with a grain of salt...sometimes I think Robin Williams would appear stoic compared to Will), he does have a wacky, silly, loving and sweet side that is emerging a bit more each day.

So what has transpired with this little guy since we left off?

He turned one

Got his first hair cut

Received his very first Bible of his very own

Donned his second Halloween costume (remember the first, ha!)

Celebrated his second Christmas

Braved his second winter (which was infinitely more tolerable than his first)

Experienced one of the most exciting days of his short little life at this great children's wonderland in the Milwaukee area.

Somewhere along the way, this little guy metamorphosed from a baby to a toddler...

But he still loves his bottles, oh so very much (calm down, he uses a sippee cup too, and his teeth are fine, sheesh!) I nursed him a bit longer than I did his brother, and I'm finding that with him being my second I am even less eager to part with this last little bit of babyhood...

He still puts up with kisses and has in fact become quite generous with his own

He possesses the developing mischievousness paired with a love of exploring by which toddlers are characterized

Unfortunately, he has also become quite the little spitfire with frequent outbursts and occasional surliness (especially when his little belly has not been kept satiated)

Despite this new toddler era with the sudden (or gradual?) dawn of timeouts and tantrums, I am enjoying getting to know the ins and outs and personality quarks of this, my second darling son.

I love you so very much, my sweet little Lincoln (who, incidentally, may need another haircut, but rest assured Oma, this will not be happening again for quite some time. Can't part with those auburn curls just yet!)

It's fun watching you grow little boy.