At 16 months Xol became a full fledged toddler. She began the transition from baby to toddler in her 12th month and every month after that brought more change in that direction. However, at the beginning of her 16th month, Xol started forcefully throwing around the word no or “nyo-own”. By the end of the 16th month, Xol began getting out of her high chair and intentionally disobeying mama. I mean. COME ON! I was unprepared for this. I thought for sure this behavior would come out of someone else’s child. Certainly not my little angel, Xol, and definitely not this early. I guess when your child is exceptionally advanced you have to be prepared for everything to come a little early. Touche! Speaking of, it’s my opinion that Xol was ready to start potty training at 12 months (remember she did pee pee in the potty on her 1st try?). However, I decided to hold off because I read that if any major changes (ie. moving, going back to work, etc) were coming up, it may negatively effect the potty training child. So, I decided to wait after I went back to work (part-time at 14 1/2 months old). When I did, Xol regressed a bit and it was obvious I would need to give it some time before starting the training. Cut to 16 months old and Xol is telling me when she has pee pee or po po’s in her diaper and can take her diaper off and pull her pants up. She even tells me no when she isn’t ready to have me change her just yet. She is ripe for the learning! However, in her 16th month, pop went on a month long European tour! (Side note on this. While pop is gone, Xol has taken to screaming out “Pop” when she sees bald headed men, usually with goatees. Today, she even screamed that to a bald headed clown.) So, I wait…yet again for the right moment. It’s looking like the process will begin right around the time she is 1 1/2 years old! Sounds just right to me. Anyhow, she had already started experimenting with 2 word sentences but she made some advancements from the days of “Come on! and Mom, doing doing? or Mom, going going?”, Xol started stringing words together. At 16 months she started saying things like, “Mom, cup” when she wanted the cup. She also started playing better with other children. Did I forget to mention her dance skills are exceptional? When I tell you this child can move…you better believe it! She started with her hand in the air, then moved to the shoulder shimmy, and now? She’s got the hip action and booty pop working for her. Dancing is her favorite. She still does her fake laugh when she wants in on the conversation. She even slaps her knee sometimes. She is still nursing. GO MOM!! She is still a dream to be around, but her outburts are making me nervous! What’s up 17 months? Bring it.