More than a month back Shion turned 18 months old. We had his final university hospital check up just after that {due to him been born prematurely} and now we have no specialist appointments for him as he is completely on par with average 18 month olds in terms of weight/height/speech/other milestones. I can not believe that just over 19 months ago I came back to Japan after 2 months in Australia with Noah who was 12 months old at the time and then promptly gave birth to the little boy above! Such a rocky start but it is seriously feels like such a distance memory now.
Before writing this post I read the posts I wrote in January and early February just after he was born. Looking at pictures of not only him but Noah too and thinking “Wow, both my boys have come such a long way”.
My children drive me insane. They really do. But I love them to death. We have so much fun together. Maybe not all the time but the fun times mostly outweigh the times I want to scream and pull out my hair and really, that is all you can ask for isn`t it when you have two toddler under foot!
Shion`s personality is changing. He is stubborn, shakes his head and says no a lot, throws things, hits, has major tantrums most days but he is also one of the smiliest kids ever. Almost always grinning, getting into mischief and looking at us out of the corners of his eyes to make sure we are watching. He is definitely a spirited child!
He adores Noah. I would like to say the feeling is completely mutual and I would say, from Noah, it probably is more than half the time, but if Noah wakes up first in the morning or first at nap he will say “No Shion. Just mama” where as Shion will point to Noah`s room immediately upon waking.
Speech is coming along each day, we have maybe 8-9 words now, all in English so far. He also signs more/yummy/drink/eat even though I never did much signing with him. He is a champion pointer too 
Loves his food. Still! I swear it is as if he is making up for lost time because he started solids late and when he was tube fed as an infant he started on 2ml every 3 hours. Can you imagine?! He is building up a stock supply! His favourite foods are bananas, nato, yogurt and spaghetti! Although he will literally eat anything….including food that drops on the floor if he gets to it before I can clean it up.
He has completely mastered feeding himself. If you can call having food all over your face/in your hair/on the floor successful feeding! Either way it means I can eat my dinner hot for the first time in like, forever!
He has a “lovey”. Actually 2. He has a blue bear head attached to some material which we call boo boo {Noah`s name originally but Shion says booboo now too!} and a yellow rainbow bright doll called yebow {yellow rainbow!} and he sleeps with both. He is not quite attached to them as Noah is to his “froggy” blanket but he still likes to bring one downstairs after nap/in the morning.
Shion is a trouble maker. I don`t remember having so many issues with Noah in regards to listening. Redirection almost always worked with Noah at this age but Shion just throws himself down on the floor and screams if he can no longer do something he was wanting to do. Like shove stuff down the toilet or go into the kitchen and turn on the oven/raid the pantry {Yes, this is why we have a baby gate} or take all the cushions off the sofa and jump on them…numerous times a day.
He loves my in-laws dog. Unfortunately the dog hates him but well, the dog hates everyone basically.
He also hates teeth brushing. HATES it and screams every night. I try to let him to do it first, then I have a turn after he has watched me help Noah with his but still we have screams and head bashing every night. No fun but I imagine he will be happy when he makes it through childhood hopefully without any fillings.
Oh and the climbing. I swear both boys are part monkey. I see rock climbing in their futures!
Shion brightens our days. I am late wishing him a happy 18 month birthday but I did not forget. May he continue to grow big, have fun and smile every day!
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I am just a twenty something Aussie girl living in Chiba, Japan with my Japanese husband trying to find my way in a country that is not my own! We welcomed our first son in December 2009 (Noah) and a second son {Shion} in January 2011- yes they are just over 12 months apart so life is a little insane with two toddlers underfoot. I am working hard at raising them to be curious, confident, bilingual and happy kids.
Lovely hear all about Shion’s progress! He sure has done you proud!
Lu Lu, a lot of those traits you have mentioned in Shion I recognize from my time in raising a very very headstrong little girl 20 plus years ago !,
I so enjoyed the great summer photo spread you shared on facebook, lots of happy smiles and two very handsome grandsons!
Such a gorgeous little guy, I can’t believe he is 18+ months already!! It goes so quickly.
Lovely post – it has all gone so fast hasn’t it?
BTW where did you get the button shape things? You draw out your own paper versions by tracing them?