Dear Sweet, Busy, Daredevil Gav-man,
Today you are 18 months... a year and a half... fast approaching two. It seems like we just learned that we were expecting you... time is just flying by. (I always say this, but that's because it is so true.)
We spent part of the morning hanging out at the park across the street. Except when you sat on the bench for a drink, you were in constant motion.
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| Climbing, Sliding, Driving... you love everything about the play structure! |
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| Busy Boy!!! |
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| I adore your face... all of them! |
You are a little package of joy and sweetness.
You're an expert at doling out hugs and kisses, often totally unprompted and for no reason at all - - which are the best kind!
You love to be goofy and make us all laugh.
You LOVE music and are addicted to the pirate song on Preston's Kindergarten cd. You ask for it by saying, "Hee Hee Hee" every time we are in the car. (The lyrics go, "Yo Ho Ho, Hee Hee Hee...")
It doesn't matter what's playing, you'll start "snapping" your fingers, bobbing your head and groovin' your body.
You are so animated and have countless expressions. You have many different kinds of smiles - - all with a different meaning.
You are busy, but self-entertain better than any little guy I've ever met.
At the same time, you love playing with your brother... hide-and-seek is a favorite. You will actually go hide and do a great job at seeking, too!
You have been on your first boat ride. You loved it!
You have been to the Dentist. (You were not a fan!)
You are 24 lbs, 12 oz and 32 7/8 inches.
You outgrew your jumpy - - not by height or weight - - but because you would climb in and out of it. I miss it... it was, until you figured out how to get out, my favorite way to contain you while I got a few things done, especially at dinner time!
You are fearless and when you're tired or have a dirty diaper, you get more mischievous!
You are a bit crazy... a daredevil far beyond the crazy stunts your brother attempted at this age. I can't even believe the things you're doing... climbing, standing up on things that you've climbed and looking to see whether it would be safe (or just fun) to dive off. I have at least ten small heart attacks a day and spend way too much time trying to redirect you.
You're in the not-so-fun stage of throwing things that aren't meant for throwing, climbing shelves to grab things that aren't meant for touching (let alone throwing or drooling on) and general mischief.
You're super sweet when you do something wrong and sign "sorry" and cuddle up for a hug (or grab a leg and hug it tight). Still, though, you're pushing the limits every chance you get to see whether I am going to stop you again. And, as exhausting as it is, yes, sweet boy, I am!
Preston is your idol and surely the influence for so many things that you do, though I think you are inherently a bit more daring and would probably be doing a lot of this anyway! Like your big brother, you are social (though definitely more reserved at first with new people) and you love anything to do with balls, rocks and cars - - including throwing all of them. We are working very hard on throwing balls only... and at appropriate targets. Each day is filled with bits of dejavu from your brother at this age as you're testing all kinds of waters (and that makes for one very tired mama!). It warms my heart to no end to hear you squeal with delight when you see Preston approaching with his class while we wait to pick him up from school. You miss him and Gracie so much during the day even though you love all the one-on-one attention you get while they're gone. You yell for "Bubba" and are so excited to go play at the park. You have no fear and rush out to the middle of the grass to try and mix it up with the big kids. They are really sweet about including you, though often forget to be more careful, so I have to pull you away, only to have you make your "scary face," growl like a T-Rex and head right back in the line of their fire. But, again, as rough and tumble as you can be, you're a great big love, too. And that makes you a great brother to your sister. (Well, except for the hair-pulling stage and using her as target practice when you sweetly bring - er, throw at her - toys for her to play with. Preston did the same thing... not my favorite stage! Or Gracie's!) You offer up so much love to all of us... all kinds of unprompted kisses, hugs, little looks... you are a total sweetie pie.
You are already so helpful... you will bring diapers to me when I am changing Gracie and will take wipes out of the package and bring them to her if she coughs (because you know that if she coughs, she often needs to be wiped up a bit). Sometimes you attempt to wipe her up, other times you just throw them on her... but in any case, you are trying to help and it's so heartwarming. You have the sweet disposition to want to be a helper, plus your big brother is teaching you the ropes about taking care of sissy. If you hear me say I need something, you will often go retrieve it - - or try to. Not only are you a great caregiver to your sister, you are doting caregiver to the stuffed animals and dolls in our home. You often pretend to share your sippy cup with the baby dolls and will give them hugs and kisses while patting their bottoms. (Of course, when you're done, you frequently drop them or throw them!) You also thoroughly enjoy helping with chores. I hope this never changes! Ha! You love mopping, dusting and vacuuming! You eagerly help feed Toby and like getting the mail. You happily help me with laundry by sorting clothes, putting a new load into the washer and transferring clothes to the dryer. In fact, you love these chores so much that I can often distract you from something I don't want you to be doing by asking if you want to help me do the laundry! :) Again, I hope this quality never changes!
You are so chatty and love using your voice (it's loud!) and signs. Your manners are amazing. For so many months now you've been signing "thank you" and saying/signing "please" (sounds like "pee) every.single.time they're appropriate to be used. All unprompted. Since you don't say "thank you" aloud, I often have to let others around us know that you've acknowledged them or they'd have no clue. You'll often sign "thank you" over and over until someone finally says, "You're welcome!"
You have a huge vocabulary in voice and sign... though only Preston, Daddy and I can understand most of your verbal words.
You LOVE to read. You will ask for "more" (both in voice and sign) whenever we get to the last page of any book. As much as I hate to, I put a limit on the number of books we read at night (otherwise you'd never go down!). I have to let you know "one more" when we are in the middle of the second-to-the-last book and "last one" when we start the final book so you're fully prepared that story time is ending soon. You sleep at night like a champ and go down really easily... now! It took a lot of tough love to get you to say goodnight and lay down. Now you are great at it. Daytime naps are another story. However, now that Gracie and Preston are in school again, you're doing better by napping while we walk Toby or while we run errands. It is difficult to get you to go to sleep at home during the middle of the day. But, I'd rather have that than rough nights. (Between the dog going out three times a night and Gracie's night parties, I am super grateful that you rarely wake up!)
You are obsessed with the moon and Daddy's Jeep. You beg to go outside and look at the moon and sit in Daddy's Jeep every night. It's super cute. You are equally obsessed with your Daddy and squeak and squeal with such delight when he gets home from work. "Dahhhhhhdeeeeeeeeeee!" So entirely sweet to see your face light up when you hear his voice or the door open.
Daddy and I constantly marvel at you. We feel so lucky to be your parents. Watching you grow and change is such an adventure and privilege. So, please keep that in mind and go easy on us as you dive head-first into toddler hood!
I love you Boo-Dee!
Mommy
