Blogging Baby

23 Months

Emilio,

In one more month you will be 2!  And you know it!  As well as when your birthday is.  It has helped immensely that so many of your friends at school have had birthdays recently.  

You continue to grow and learn and shine so brightly in our lives.  

You love to sing, play with your animals, both stuffed and plastic, dance, give hugs and fist bumps and of course eat.  Our time together during the week is when we’re having dinner.  I’ve recently started eating dinner when you do, so we get to eat together.  It focuses me on just spending time with you, and you always enjoy getting to try what I’m eating if it is different than yours.  And even when it isn’t.  Usually about 3/4 through the meal you’ll have enough of sitting on your own and hop on my lap.  It makes eating a little harder.  But I love it. 

You continue to do and say things that make it so clear that you’re a little boy now.  Like riding a mini carousel for the first time, or learning the difference between here and there.  And especially signing a full song.  Like Twinkle Twinkle or Ba Ba Blacksheep.  You are so confident in your movements and what you want now.  You walk in to a room and tell people where to sit.  You know where things are kept and can clearly ask for what you want.  And you’re starting to become much more reliant on heading to whiny voice when you don’t get your way immediately.  That we’ll work on.   

You are such a love bug.  You are happiest when we are all together, Dijjy too.  If Dad and I are hugging, you are heading in to the hug too.  If you and I are cuddling on the couch you’re getting Dada in to the cuddle too, “Come on Dada!” Whenever one of us is picking you up your first question is always, “Dada Too?” Or, “Where Dada?”  

The big event this month was Thanksgiving.  We traveled up to NH to celebrate with Mimi, D, Uncle Sam, Tia and Black Doggie, and Mimi’s family on Thursday and then back to NY on Friday so we could celebrate with Mema, RoRo and Bapa.  So much family and celebration!  You loved having all the family around and in NH warmed right up to everyone which was great.  You even got to stay up late one night to greet Uncle Sam. 

I think sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes were your favorite.  

But, what really won the weekend was getting to see some Horsies and Cows.  You are such an animal lover and I’m amazed at what a difference I see in your interactivity with live animals.  Just a few months ago you were terrified of these Horses.  Now, you’re happily feeding them grass and carrots! 

You’re a very playful and silly boy too.  You get that from your Dada.  You’re always up for a laugh, playing hide and seek and telling us a joke.  You let yourself have quiet moments too, when you take in the world and digest all that is going on around you.  These are often in the car, and I know I can rely on you to tell me just what is going on in your head too.  I’ll say, “What’s Milio doing back there?” and you’ll respond with, “Looking at lights.” Or, “Talking Elmo.” If you’ve been having a quiet convo on your own.  

We’ve added book reading to our nighttime routine.  Your favorites are Pooky Little Puppy and Good Night Moon.  You can often be heard talking about the books, and recently you’ve even picked up Good Night Moon and read it, from memorization.  We’re pretty impressed.  What a memory!  

I love how adaptable you are to seasons, and how excited you get about new seasonal elements.  For Halloween you took to the mummies, ghosts, pumpkins and bats very quickly and even kept talking about then well after.  As soon as the snow men, reindeer and penguins started showing up, you were a fan.  It really is a reminder to slow down and take a look at the magic of the world through your eyes.  And I take advantage often.  

You are quite the little boy now, Emilio.  And as much as I can shake my head and marvel at how quickly time has gone by, I also have so enjoyed each day, and week and month of the journey and look forward to continuing to watch you grow and change and thrive.  As much as you’re still my little boy, who needs to nurse and cuddle to fall asleep, who wants his Mama when he’s hurt, or tired or scared, you are a boy bounding in to big boy hood with all your might.  

I’ll still be here though, for whatever you need.  To kiss your finger when you hurt it.  To give you a hug when you’ve had a hard day.  To talk, to listen, to encourage and give advice.  You’ll always be my son, I’ll always be your Mama.   Aren’t we lucky?  Yes, yes Emilio we are so so lucky.  

The world is a scary place, and horrible, tragic things can happen in it.  But you my boy are joy and light and hope.  Keep that inside of you.  Hold on to it and don’t forget it.  I’ll be here to remind you if you do.  I’ll be here to protect you if things get confusing.  I’ll be here.  

I love you my sweet boy, I always will,

Mama

22 Months

Emilio, 

In 2 months you’ll be 2.  2 in 2.  If I’m being honest, you already seem like a full blown 2 year old now.  You express your feelings, you talk in sentences, you run, you walk up stairs, you climb and color and cry much less.  I don’t see you as being 2 as me rushing you in to 2, more just recognizing how much of a toddler you are and maybe trying to make the actual turning of 2 a little less of a shock to my system.  

Boy, we’ve been busy this past month.  As fall got in to full swing we took full advantage of all the fun we could have.  We went to petting zoos, we took hay rides, we saw many many pumpkins.  You fell head over heels for all things Halloween.  Frankenstein, Witches, Black Cats, Mummys and Skeletons.  A big YES to all of them - if you spotted them you let us know.  We even got to go see Rise of the Jack O’Lantern with Mimi and Tia which was hundreds of pumpkins carved and lit up.  Your favorite was spotting Kermit!  You held my hand and walked through one part and were such a big boy pointing things out and just taking it all in.  I can’t wait to take you trick or treating next year!  

We also got outside a lot together.  Now that you are more independent and want to spend more time on your feet exploring we get to enjoy doing it with you!  It isn’t so much that you’re a nature guy, but you are inquisitive, curious and enjoy exploring new things.  We have a lovely preserve near us that we’ve been to before with you, but this time you lead us.  We weren’t out for long, but it was fun.  AND- we saw a school bus there.  Big score!

You love to do things on your own, or help us.  It is classic toddler behavior and I take full advantage of it.  If I ever need a few minutes to do something without you asking to be picked up, stand on your chair, or “Milio do it”, I just ask you to go retrieve something (Grover, Elmo, School Bus, Animals, Book) and off you go.  I usually count on something distracting you along the way buying me a few more minutes.  I try to let you help out whenever I can.  We make mashed potatoes together often, and you’re great at stirring and putting chopped veggies in to a bowl.  One thing you haven’t taken a liking to is cleaning… I hope that isn’t a sign of how you’ll be in the future.  

You’re still very much a Mama’s boy.  The Dada of yours though, boy does he have a special place in your heart.  You know that Dada means fun, and you always want him around too.  It is just when you’re upset or tired, Mama feels best (and has milk).  First thing in the morning, you’re on top of Dada.  Last thing at night, you’re asking to say goodnight to Dada.  I love watching you two together.  

While you don’t really know it, we had quite the adventure together towards the end of the months.  We had our 2nd Hurricane together.  The first one, Irene, it was just you and me and we were only out of power for a day and 1/2.  This one, woo - it was a doozy.  Our patterns and normalcy changed a lot.  You were of course a trooper, and I think really appreciated all our time together.  It was clear that you were ready to get back to your routine and friends though.  Heck, after two days of pizza you asked for veggies!  Thatta boy!  

We got a lot of playground time, built some mean forts and you became an iPad pro.  

Also, it got pretty chilly and you got pretty excited about wearing multiple hats.  In this one you’re wearing 4.  FOUR!  When you get focused on something, you go in headfirst.  It makes it easy for me because you’ll get fixated on certain foods and I can prepare them for a week of meals and know you’ll be satisfied.  Your recent favorites are pasta, zucchini, smoothies, dried natural mango, frozen grapes, hot dogs and mashed potatoes.  I die a little every time you say zucchini “cuchini” and frozen grape, “frasen brape”

Our commuting habits changed and we got to all take the train together on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Watching you snuggle up with your Dada was pretty sweet, and I got a glimpse of that little boy I knew as an infant.  

I love when I catch glimpses of the baby you used to be and are rapidly leaving behind.  Your sweet face, your naivety, your vulnerability, your need for me to take care of you.  I still crave it and seek it as your Mom.  I love the quiet moments when you snuggle in to me and just want to lay.  I love that you roll over and spoon in to me at night as your falling asleep.  I cherish it.  

Emilio, you were a cow for Halloween   While we didn’t get to do Trick or Treating given the weather, we did have a party on Sunday, before the storm, and you showed off your Proud Proud Cow!  

The amount you’ve learned and how your language has grown in the last month amazes me.  You’re singing full songs now, including ABC.  You are talking in more complete sentences and have added, “I don’t like it” to the mix.  You have a very good memory and often are retelling weekend events well in to the week.  You understand that more than 1 is 2 now and love counting and hearing counting.  Lately your counting goes, “1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 13!”.  

You’ve gotten amazingly adept at using the iPad.  I was hesitant of introducing you to technology and TV for a long time, but it is something that is going to be a huge part of your life and you enjoy it so much.  It is a blast to watch you navigate to your favorite apps.  Which are very often the ones involving animals.  

Your two loves are cars and animals.  You are also artistic, loving a good messy painting session, and love to dance and sing.  It brings me such joy how well rounded you seem to be and I will continue to foster that. 

Oh boy, I could go on and on.  You are such a dynamic, fun, smart, energetic, sweet, loving, gentle, and inquisitive kid.  I’m exhausted and elated all in the same moments.  

In the mornings, you wake up and slide yourself off the bed and say to me, “Mama come to?”  And I can’t help but say, “Okay, sweet boy, I’m getting up.” 

Because everyday, every moment with you is full of who you are.

I love you, every little piece of you,

Mama

21 Months

Emilio,

Welcome to 21 Months!  Sometimes I can’t believe you’re not two yet because you’re already so grown up in some ways.  I struggle sometimes to comprehend all the ways you’ll continue to change and grow.  But, for the most part I just sit back and enjoy and try to not think ahead too much.  I don’t want to miss any of this!

Our biggest adventure this past month was the 7 day cruise we took with Dada’s family.  I can only imagine how satisfying it was for you to get to spend a whole week with some of your favorite people.

We cruised down to Bermuda and you got a lot of pool time.  My favorite moments were when the pool was empty and you and Dada swam together.  You made him take you all over the pool by saying, “Over there!” and then when you got there proclaiming again, “Over there!”  I think that is one of your new favorite sayings.  

You are starting to exploring some aspects of artistic expression more and seem to be enjoying markers, so I brought some along for us to play with.  You knew right where they were stored and would take them out and ask to color.  We made pictures for everyone!  You assigned them.  You also figured out that you could color on your self, and got pretty good at opening and closing the markers.  Oh boy!

Something that we already knew, but that you are continuing to foster and grow is your love of music, dancing and singing.  There was often music at the pool and you’d groove along splashing in the shallow areas of water.  And these last few weeks you’ve been singing so much more.  Your favorites to sing are “Elmo’s Song”, “C is for Cookie”, and “What’s the Name of that Song”.  I get such a kick out of it!  And, swell up with pride every time. 

And, in Bermuda you got to go to the Ocean one last time for the season.  This time you explored eating sand.  

You still love animals and love telling us what each animal says.  You’ve also started to tell us what some people say.  Mostly this involves Sesame Street characters- like “Bert Says: ‘Doin’ the Pigeon’”.  Smart boy!  

You’ve established some clear favorites for most things in your life, food, books, animals, clothes, sleeping locations, toys, activities and you definitely get adamant about sticking to them.

Some of your favorite foods are broccoli, carrots, hot dogs, turkey chili, Shepard’s pie, cereal, waffles and macaroni and cheese.  Your favorite book right now is Goodnight Moon.  You are always up for wearing your Dino shirt, and you prefer to sleep in our bed.  One of your favorite activities is going for walks, and playing with your cars.  Your favorite toy is your school bus for sure.

We went to The Berkshires at the end of September for Pete and Libby’s wedding. The location of the wedding was right near the Summer Camp Mama and Dada met at!  It was fun to get to take you on to the camp and explore with you.  If it weren’t for that camp, you wouldn’t be here!  Mimi and D watched you while we attended the wedding festivities.  You weren’t too happy about us not being around at bed time, but you’re a trooper.  Plus- Mimi took you on a school bus!  

You continue to be very sweet and loving, while also being silly and stubborn at times.  When you’re tired or hungry you definitely get upset much more easily. I’ve started trying to help you connect with what your feeling and let you know I empathize, that does seem to be helping.  Overall, you are one great kid and I continue to be amazed as I watch you develop a sense of self and understanding of the world around you.

You retain so much memory now and I’m always impressed when you tell me about something that happened to you earlier in the day, or an object helps you recall something that happened with it a day or two before.  

You can focus much longer on a single activity now and tend to stick your tongue out a little when you’re doing it.  Those activities usually involve your animals or cars.  You’ve created your own little worlds for these toys and I love watching your imaginative play start to come out.  You’re asking a lot of questions, and I try to turn them back on you so you can begin understanding how to figure things out on your own, or just use your smarts to make educated guesses.

Dada and I went and learned more about how you learn and how you’ll be taught in the coming year at School and it made me so much more attune to intentional teaching and how I can apply it as your Mama.  It also made me so excited for you to learn and grow in School and outside of it.  There is so much for you to learn and explore!  

I’m so excited to do it with you!

I love you Emilio,

Mama

19 Months

Emilio,

Wow- I can’t believe how much you’ve done in a month!  Your 19 months now and it is becoming more and more clear that you are becoming a kid, a grown up boy, a real little person.  It blows my mind, leaves me nostalgic and excites me all at the same time!

So what have you been up to?  Well, adding multi-word strings for one.  At your 18 month appointment I asked the doctor when you’d start saying 2 words together and he said that the typical pattern is 1 word at 1, 2 words at 2, etc.  Literally the next day you started stringing together 2 words much more frequently.  You’re still a pro mimicker and so now you are often heard saying, “Come Here.”  ”Let’s Go.” “Do it.”  But, our favorite is “Love you.”  If that doesn’t warm a Mama’s heart.  

We’ve been up to a lot this past month!  From Visits from Evelyn, Jen and Tim and Berry Picking to NH visits and fun races, to going to the Bronx Zoo for the first time and heading back to the Shore for a long long weekend.  I’m so happy we get to travel around with you so easily.  I love getting to have fun with you in places that I’ve always loved and nothing is better than a family vacation.  

We had so much fun with the Swartouts visiting.  You asked for Evelyn for a few days after they left.  And you of course loved Berry picking, yummy!  I’m so glad you’re such a good friend and always up for opening up to new people and having adventures!

You seemed a little overwhelmed at the Bronx Zoo, and I can’t blame you- there was so much to see and take in!  I think your favorite was the Lion.  Or maybe the Peacock, a word you learned there!  I loved watching the Giraffes with you.  

That’s Grandma’s camera in that shot.  You’re going to have a good store of videos to watch when you’re older.  

After the fun trip to the zoo and your growing love of animals I decided to get you something to help grow and foster your love. I bought some baby safari animals.  We brought them to NH and you had such a good time taking them in and out of a tin and making them swim in the watering can.  The best part, was watching you learn all their names and proudly pronounce them as you lined them up.  I take such pride in watching you grow and learn in this way.  It is amazing watching your brain work and grow.  You also got to help Mimi in the garden and taste some broccoli (one of my favorite words you say), zucchini, peas and beans.

Then, we headed to the Shore to meet Mimi, D, Tia, Auntie and Uncle Sam.  We also got to play with Sadie, Emily and Brian on the beach.  You LOVED the water, except for 2 times when you wanted nothing to do with it.  You loved splashing in the tide coming in and out, loved being held in the water and bouncing up and down in the waves.  You played in the sand with Mimi, and played with Tia on the dock at the house as the tide covered it.  Great splashing and bubble blowing opportunities.  On our last day at the Shore we headed to the beach and as soon as you saw the sand you said, “Ocean!  Water!”  You were so happy.  You made everyone so happy to be together, it is amazing how much love such a little guy can share and spread.  

You are still a great eater and seem to prefer processed meats (like hot dogs, meatballs, ground meat) than straight up chicken, turkey or steak.  That’s cool, I’m the same way and we’re lucky that we have a lot of options for more healthy versions of those meats and the means to buy them for you.  You love your fruits and veggies and have loved getting a lot of summer corn.  You’ll eat it right off the cob, but love having me cut it off too.  Your favorite summer fruit is peaches.  I love how you say it too.  

You have been in the Toddler room at Daycare for a month now and you’re doing so well there!  You nap well, play nicely with your pals and are learning and growing so much more.  You build so nicely with blocks now, love puzzles and conquer them like a pro, and you mimic and talk with us like I think you hear your friends do.  One of the best things is they send us emails and pictures most days to let us know what you’ve been up to.  It is the best part of my day, before I get to pick you up.  The other day in the grocery store, you took my list from me and then proceeded to speak like I had been, pointing out items to get and bossing Dad and me around.  Such a character! Your biggest thing is telling us, “Milio” when you want to do something your self.  This happens most with teeth brushing.  

One of the bigger changes I’ve seen in the past month is the frequency of melt downs.  I wouldn’t exactly call them tantrums, and I can often distract you out of them.  Maybe you’re easing me in to tantrums?  I can understand, there is so much going on in your world right now plus you’re getting some teeth in, it must be overwhelming.  It still isn’t fun, and I’m learning every day how to best manage them and to make sure to recognize why you might be growing so you feel understood and like you can directly communicate how you’re feeling in the future.

When we were in NH, you went over to one of Mimi’s stone walls and started to move one of the stones.  Mimi called out to you, “Oh no buddy, don’t move that rock, leave that there.”  You took your hands away, but immeidately started crying and walked over to us.  ”Wait,” Mimi said, “Was that a tantrum? Because he stopped doing it!”  Boy, I hope that’s always the case.

Oh, Emilio, whether crying, laughing, sleeping, nursing, eating, pooping, bathing, playing or fussing you are the greatest joy of my life.  Just getting to watch you become the person you’re becoming is such an honor.  I know I play a part in who you are, who you become and how.  I know I’m responsible for your basic needs still.  And, I think your Dad and I are doing a bang up job.  But I also know, nature plays a part and just by nature you my lad are awesome.  You’re smart, you’re silly, you’re loving and warm.  I’m so proud of who you are.  I’m proud of myself too.  Thank you for making being a Mama so much fun it seems easy (even though it isn’t).  

I’m a little scared at the rate of growth I’ve just seen, and I’m also so looking forward to continuing to watch you become you.  

Oh Buddy, I love you so much.  

Forever,

Your Mama

18 Months

Emilio,

You’re 1/2 way to 2! 18 months is a pretty big milestone in the baby/toddler world.  For us, its been big for a few reasons, but the biggest is that on Monday you officially moved in to the Toddler classroom at school.  I’ve known for sometime that you’d left babyhood behind (besides when you’re sleeping in my arms, or crying for me in the night) and charged right in to toddler hood.  But seeing how much you’ve changed just in the last two weeks as you transitioned in to the toddler room has really opened my eyes to how much this process of watching you grow can throw me for a loop.  Sometimes there is slow progress and change, like learning to crawl and walk.  And then there are days when you wake up and I swear you’re inches taller, and you’ve added 5 more words to your vocab.  Overnight.  

So what have we been up to?  A lot!  Our play dates have increased dramatically in the last month, and it is great!  I love watching you interact with other kiddos, and I love watching you explore new worlds and activities.  We joined some Meet Up friends for a BBQ and a swim in the Pool, we headed to our new favorite park a few times, we spent time with some day care buds in our new wading pool at home, we went on Grandpa’s boat for the first time, we went to MA for Evelyn’s 2nd birthday party and we explored Long Beach and the Ocean for your second time, but the first time you’ve really enjoyed it.  You love water!

You make everyone happy everywhere you go.  Whether it is with your love of food, your willingness to try things out, your strutting, singing or just your smiles and words.  You’re so good natured and I’m so proud.  

You continue to add new words to your vocabulary and have really blossomed in your identification of animals, body parts and sounds.  Our favorite word that you’ve added recently is Hippo.  You love your stuffed animals, and they’ve really helped you learn animals.  But most of all, you’re learning through reading books.  It is often that we sit and just read through your entire stack of books.  You love to flip the pages and point out what’s what.  You’re happiest in the car when you have your stuffed animals smushed in around you and a book in your hand.  Your favorite books right now are: Hug, Goodnight Gorilla, Brown Bear Brown Bear, Polar Bear Polar Bear, Have you Seen my Cat, Olivia’s Opposites, and Potty.  

Bud, your favorite food right now is broccoli.  I just want to document that for future, if need be.  I love that you love to eat, I love that you know what you love too.  I’m finding it to be very true that I need to trust that you know what you need and want and to look at a whole week or day of eating rather than the meal at hand.  I also continue to be glad I can fall back on you getting what you are lacking from breast milk.  You tried Peanut Butter and Banana for the first time, and yes, you loved it.  

Emilio, you just continue to amaze us everyday.  Sometimes I just watch you and marvel to myself how beautiful you are, how much I love you, and how lucky I am that you’re mine.  You are loving and love to cuddle with us in bed.  I know if you aren’t sleeping right next to me, often with your head in my neck, you’re cuddled up with Dad on the other side of the bed.  One morning recently you woke up, leaned over and kissed both of us good morning and then got to crawling all over us and giggling.  How can we be upset about 6:30 wake ups when that is what is waking us up?  

I think one of the biggest changes I’ve seen this past month is your love of music, and your singing of songs.  You have one I call the tired song.  It comes out usually when you are a little over tired/hyper and you start singing it no matter what you’re doing.  Walking around with Grover?  Singing.  Sitting and eating dinner?  Singing.  In the tub?  Singing.  On the changing table getting ready for bed? Singing.  I love it.  I listened to Baby Beluga about 10 times with you the other night.  The good news for Dad and I who love all music and want you to be exposed to it, is that while you prefer children’s music, you also can get down to some of our tunes too.  I was playing Nick Drake the other day and you had no problem swaying along to his mellow tunes.  You love to make your guys dance too.  I just love watching the wild abandon you have when it comes to music, dancing and singing.  You are so lacking in any kind of self consciousness and it is beautiful to see.  How do I help you retain that?  

Up there?  That’s you dancing and singing as you walk along on Long Beach.  Maybe we can do that together on your 18th birthday just as a way of helping you remember to always be proud of who you are and own it.  That’s one of the most beautiful qualities you can have.  

I continue to be the happiest I’ve ever been when you run at me with your eyes wide, your face big and bright with a smile and smush your face in to my chest, or kiss me with a big open mouth kiss.  

You my beautiful boy, make me the happiest I’ve ever been several times a day, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.  

Thank You.

I love you and your wild, wonderful, who you are ways,

Mama

16 Months

Emilio,

You are 16 months old!  I have to admit, while time does seem to have slowed down a little bit since your birthday, this month flew.  And you, as always, were along for the ride. 

You are still an eating champ adding some new things here and there but mostly just continuing to eat an array of great foods.  You still nurse at night and in the middle of the night.  More on the weekends.  You like the comfort, mostly seeking it when you’re tired or feeling off.  I’m happy to provide bud.  

The biggest change I’ve seen in the last month has been your gross motor skills.  You take the playground like a pro now, climbing up stairs, deftly going down the slides and then signing more as you head back for another round. Dad and I can just sit back and let you go, its so fun to watch.  I’m honestly impressed every time you make it down the slide sitting up and just pop off on your feet.  

You are still quite the chatterbox, picking up new words and hanging on to your old favorites too.  You have started more naming and identifying of things.  You call Elephants, Harry (it is a hard word!) and Monkeys are Ee-ees.  You’ve also started saying some words we can’t quite make out.  Due to our recent plane trip together a fun new word is Airplane, which sounds a lot like Happy.  Airplanes make you happy!  

We’ve had quite a few fun trips this last month.  We flew, just the two of us, down to Knoxville for your very soon to be Auntie’s Bridal Shower.  You were such a good boy on the plane, and made lots of friends too which helped when you, understandably, got a little fussy at times.

Then, it was up to NH for a fun long weekend with Mimi and D to celebrate Mimi’s poetry book being published and launched!  You got to stay up late toasting Mimi and then saw a cow, and a horse up close.  You weren’t happy about each.  But we had a blast up there, as we always do, going for bike rides, taking walks on the wide open country streets and just hanging out.  

We also got in a visit with Evelyn, Jen, Tim, Helena and Your Great Aunt Chris and Great Uncle John in MA.  Evelyn took us to a really fun playground where you got to explore some new structures, ride on some fun things and play in the sand!  It was a little cold and windy, but you had a great time.  Dad said you got pretty transfixed watching the big kids play.  I love watching you watch other kids, I can see your little brain just thinking, “someday…”

While you are quite the “full of life”, silly little boy, you are also very thoughtful and inquisitive and take the time to really investigate something.  At the sandbox you spent a lot of time just picking up sand in a shovel and watching it fall through the little holes.  You often spend your bath time just picking up water in a cup with holes and watching it fall out, and I see you really study and take in books in a way that is different than your usually flip through the pages and say, “all done”.  When I see this side of you and think of it in balance with your funny nature I know it is all your Dad.  Because, he is the same silly man and inquisitive thoughtful guy.  You two are going to be quite the pair.  

This last month marked the first time I wasn’t home with you during the week for dinner.  It was a big step for me, and next month I’m going to miss putting you to bed.  But it is okay, it is good.  More importantly you rolled right with the punches, as I knew you would.  Thanks for making it easy.  

The last month, we also got you some fun new toys.  A bike, which you love being pushed in.  The other night as we took a walk you were waving and saying Buh-Bye as we walked, like you were the main attraction in a ticker tape parade.  Which , we’re sure you will be someday!  We also got you a basketball hoop, and you’re already practicing your dunks!  You continue to love being in the bath too, which is always fun to watch and be a part of.  

While you start off the night in your crib, you pretty much always make it in to our bed during the middle of the night.  You make waking up so much easier.  Lately, you like to get some cuddling in in the morning with us, and we soak it up.  Nothing is better than giggling and cuddling with you in our comfy big bed.  

The other night, you woke up in the middle of the night as you usually do and Dad got up before I did and picked you up out of your crib.  You were soothed, but still wanted me, your Mama and you kept asking for me.  I was right behind Dad and as soon as I got you in my arms you wrapped your whole body around me, settling deeply in to me, and sighed so contentedly, “Mama.”  Your head resting on my shoulder, your arms around my shoulders.  I felt you relax, I felt you soothe, I felt your love and happiness.  I felt you, you amazing little boy and I couldn’t have been happier.  That moment, it so aptly defines us.  I’ll always be there when you need me, and you know it.  No matter what you need in your life, I’m here.  I hope you always feel that ease when I hold you, hug you, let you rest your head on my shoulder.  

It just keeps getting better, this journey we’re on together, doesn’t it?

I love you,

Mama