Had some time to kill so I thought I'd update the ol' baby book with a little info from BabyCenter.com

New this month: Tantrum triggers
New?

Some days it may seem as though the littlest things set your toddler off. You serve his morning milk in the "wrong" cup and he throws it at you.

Maybe that is why the Lynches can bear witness to Harry tossing his yogurt and sandwich through the air on Saturday. Bad Dora tray! Bad!

Or he wants to go barefoot, even though it's raining outside, and screams his head off when you insist on putting on his boots.

Carry the boots with ya. They'll figure it our when they get cold.

What's going on? Sometimes the triggers will be more obvious than others. He may be tired or angry. Or he may be frustrated by his inability to complete a task that he is determined to do, like putting a round peg in a square hole.

What you can do
Tantrums tend to occur at the worst possible time for you. It seems like when your toddler blows a fuse you're either in a hurry to get out the door in the morning, at the grocery store with half the shopping done, or in the waiting room of the doctor's office.

Ah! People are just too uptight. Allow extra time.

What do these situations have in common? They are times that a typical toddler might feel emotional overload, and like he doesn't have your full attention. If you are aware of the situations that trigger tantrums, you may be able to prevent many of them with minor adjustments or a little advance planning. Get out of bed 15 minutes earlier in the morning so you're not rushing around the house.

Duh!

If you must grocery shop with your child, do it when he is well rested and fed. Carry a favorite book or stuffed animal to doctor visits — anything you can do to keep him calm will help. Also remember that the occasional tantrum is a normal byproduct of toddlerhood and development.

Other developments: Learning how to share, comfort objects
There is no "yours" in a toddler's vocabulary — everything is "mine!" So your car keys,

Oh, I didn't realize that. Hmmm...That explains a lot.

a sibling's beloved stuffed dog, his dad's boots, the slide at the local playground — all these things are, in the eyes of an 18-month-old, his. You can help your child understand what sharing means by praising him when he does give a toy to another child or lets another toddler go down the slide first.

Always! (As far as I know).

When reading a book or watching a video, point out examples of sharing. Try to avoid scolding him when he doesn't want to; sometimes just acknowledging how difficult sharing is will make him more willing to do so. You will have to be patient, and take comfort in the knowledge that other parents of toddlers are going through the same thing.

For a toddler, a favorite stuffed toy is a great source of comfort. He might also have some habits that soothe him — like twirling his hair, rocking, or sucking his thumb. Most children naturally outgrow these behaviors by the time they're 4, so there's probably no need for you to intervene now.

Harry has Snoedel, but that is just for nighttime. Snoedel suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, so he is only allowed out of the crib for short periods of time. I distinctly remember being told by my parents that the police would arrest them if I were on the boardwalk in my stroller after 8PM. Even as a 2 1/2 year old, this seemed odd to me. I vowed right then to not lie to people, especially my children. I have always had trouble when people ask me if they look fat or their new hair cut suits them. (You may have noticed). Maybe that is why? But with Harry, well, I guess I have just learned to get better at it! -No, wait. I am not lying. I am fake-believing! I am teaching him to use his imagination, as I do with mine! Yeah---I'm sure this one won't come back and kick me in the tush when he's 15.