After you’ve wiped the last of the ice cream and birthday cake off of baby’s chin, and finally managed to get her off of the high that came as a mixture of too much sugar and so many loved ones eager to share her big day, baby’s second year of life begins. Like the year before it, this year is filled with all kinds of milestones to look forward to. Here are some of the things you can look forward to from your baby between thirteen and eighteen months:

• By thirteen months, he will have picked up one or two words other than mama and dada which he will proudly and correctly use. He will bend over to pick things up (a bit unsteadily at first) and may enjoy looking at his own handsome mug in the mirror.
• At fourteen months, she’s likely to turn into a comedian, doing her best to imitate what others are doing. She should be toddling along fairly well, and with a little work, she will likely recognize the various parts of her body. She’ll also start using a spoon and fork by herself, so be ready for some messes.
• At fifteen months, she may start her athletic career, showing more interest in playing with balls and similar toys. She probably will be able to scribble a little with a crayon, so watch the walls. Also, she’s likely to really latch onto words like “no” and “shhh”, which she will use to great effect.
• At sixteen months, she’s likely to pick a favorite toy. Be ready to have that one with you for a long time. She may have temper tantrums when she has trouble getting what she wants, and she will learn the art of climbing if she hasn’t already. This might be a good time to think about a big girl bed.
• At seventeen months, it’s time for him to get his groove on. He will likely dance to music, and will start throwing and kicking balls and other objects.
• Eighteen months rolls around. Halfway to birthday number two. At this point, she may start pretending to read by herself, will start to put words together into two or three word phrases, and may even be ready to start potty training.

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