21 Months

Age: 21 Months

Favorite Activity: You love the playground! We found a playground during one of our walks and it has quickly become one of our favorite spots. You are a pro at going up the steps to the slide. Then you sit down (waaaaay back) and scoot up to the top of the slide. The grin on your face as you slide down is nothing short of precious.

Honorable Mentions:  You were awesome at the super fun hotel we went to. I was shocked when you decided you wanted to walk in the pool on your own. Then you saw a ball and took off after it. Luckily, Daddy picked you up when the water got to your chin and took you over to the ball. Once you had the ball, you demanded Daddy lift you up so you could put it through the basketball hoop. Daddy and I were shocked. I didn't teach you that. Daddy didn't teach you that. Have you been secretly watching SportsCenter?

Least Favorite Activity: Your teeth are making you crazy. You bit me twice this month. TWICE! And your Mama bruises like a peach, dude. I can't wait until your two year molars come in. You are miserable, buddy.

Milestones: Did I mention you drink exclusively from a cup with a straw last month? You chew on regular straw, but your hard straw cup is a hit. We're currently working on drinking from a regular cup. It's...messy.

New Activity: In the hotel elevator (you are still unsure of elevators), you suddenly exclaimed, "Two!"  "Three!" as the floor numbers showed up in the wall.

Communication: Your speech is becoming clearer and you are definitely communicating with us. One morning, I was daydreaming while you were eating breakfast when you said, "Here you go, Ma!" and handed me your fruit pouch. You ran around the other night saying, "A ball! I've got a ball!"

You also grab tissues/paper towels/papers and pretend to sneeze. "Ah...ah...CHOO!" It is the most adorable thing ever.

Sleep: You all but refuse to take a nap anywhere but your crib. This makes planning day trips a challenge. We've had a few 30 minute power naps and a few no nap days which you handle too well. I dread the day you drop all your naps, buddy. Mama needs rest time, too!

Best Moment: Watching your face light up when you try new things melts my heart. I love watching you experience things for the first time.......I'm already counting the days until your first Disney trip!!

Worst Moment: You are incredibly accident prone right now. You crawl under tables, forget you are there, and stand up where you bonk your head. You bite/chew on one of your trucks and cut your lip. You bit your tongue. I hate seeing you in pain. I'll be happy when this accident prone phase passes...it is going to pass, right!?

Eating: We took you to an Amish restaurant one day and I gave you some traditional egg noodles. Oh my gravy, I thought you were going to inhale them. Normally, you don't really like pasta, but holy moly you liked those! I try to give you one new/different food at every meal to get you to try new things. Generally, you hand the new thing back to me with a horrified look.

I'm fighting every urge to force you to eat different foods. Things I KNOW you like. I keep reminding myself that you know your body. You know when you're hungry. You know when you're done. If you don't like something, that is your choice, but I am still going to keep presenting these foods to you in hopes someday you'll try it.

I'm pretty sure you also hate peanut butter. As soon as you smell peanut butter it is coming back to me. You will not eat it. I'm fighting every urge not to disown you. WHO DOESN'T LIKE PEANUT BUTTER!?

Favorite Foods: Amish egg noodles, pork, whole apples, bananas, Cheerios, yogurt, cheese...you love food...just not the same foods consistently.

Teeth: C'mon 2 year molars!

Oh, and this! You are a zoo fan! You enjoy looking at, not only the animals, but also the people. I hope we continue to have these fun family outings. I know you may not remember these adventures in the future, but we will and we will take pride in retelling these stories to you for years to come.

20 Months

Age: 20 Months

Favorite Activity: Being a daredevil! You are constantly climbing on things. Luckily, you haven't decided to start jumping off things...yet. One day, you climbed up in Daddy's chair and decided to climb on the arm. Luckily, I was there as you toppled over the side toward the hardwood floors and impending doom and I was able to grab you, by the leg, before you hit the floor. You thought it was hysterical and were giggling the entire time. I was not as impressed.

You have also decided you love playing in your room and your crib. I don't know where/how you got the idea because I have been very strict about never letting you play in your crib so that you know the crib is a place to sleep, not play. While in your room, you have discovered that baby in the mirror. He is adorable and I catch you making faces and interacting with him quite often now. It's hilarious to watch you watch him making the same movements and facial expressions as you.

Honorable Mentions:  You love playing outside. Often, you drag your bubble mower around as we move around the yard. You are an excellent helper when we pick black raspberries. Well, I pick raspberries, you steal them from my container. You also love to visit the piggies out back. My favorite part of the day is our morning walks. Some days you chatter a mile a minute as we walk and other days you just ride and take in the sights.

You also LOVE coloring. You will color for a long time given the opportunity. I'm still very controlling over your access to the crayons, but so far you are doing an excellent job keeping the crayons on the paper.

Least Favorite Activity: Coming inside or stopping something before you are darn good and ready.

Milestones: Baby's first ice cream cone! Baby's first mosquito bites. :( Raspberry picking!

New Activity: You love going outside at our new house...but you're cautious. The walk through the grass back to visit the neighbor's pigs is the only time you willingly hold my hand. You're not quite sure what to think of all the grass and uneven terrain.

You also love playing in your turtle pool. Daddy and I are working on getting your sandbox up here, but it may take us a little while.

Communication: You are getting more verbal every day. It's funny when you repeat things we've been saying out of the blue. For example, one day you passed gas. Before I could say anything, you looked at me and said, "I toot." Then you ran off giggling. Sigh. The fart jokes are already beginning.

You also understand that sometimes my questions require an answer so you will shout, "OTAY, MA!" It is just about the cutest thing ever.

Sleep: You have decided your new bedtime is 10 o'clock. Oh, no, sir. You still go to bed at 8 because I don't want this new bedtime catching on.

Best Moment: Getting to spend my days with you is wonderful. I'm so thankful we have this time together. 

Worst Moment: You got the worst diaper rash/yeast infection this month. It was horrible seeing you in pain. We made it through with lots of diaper rash cream, baking soda baths, and free birding at home. Let's never do that again, mmmk?

Eating: You still don't care for beef. However, you will eat a hamburger IF we let you take bites like a big boy. Sigh. Stop growing up so fast!

Evidently, we share Golden Grahams now...you're lucky you're cute.

Favorite Foods: You love Cheerios. We've gone through a box and a half of Cheerios this month. Yikes, buddy!

Teeth: We have good teeth days and bad teeth days. Hopefully, those 2 year molars pop through soon!

Oh, and this! You and Grandpa are definitely partners in crime. The two of you love causing trouble. When it comes time to get in a car to go visit, all we have to ask is, " Do you want to go see 'Pa?" Then you race us to the door.

The Day You Tried to Escape

Today, Daddy was working pretty much all day long. Instead of us just hanging around the house staring at each other all day, I decided we should go see Grandma and Grandpa. I mean, these little day trips are part of the reason we moved here, right!? Right!

After you ate breakfast, we loaded up the car and headed for Grandma and Grandpa's house. You were very patient riding in the car and watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. We arrived at Grandma and Grandpa's and you had a lot of fun running and playing with your toys. You inhaled the yummy stuffed pork chops that Grandma made for lunch and after playing a little bit more, we sat down to watch your show before your nap.

I took you upstairs for your nap, like we've done dozens of times before. Thus began two and a half hours of chattering, babbling, and general merriment. Of course, I forgot the baby monitor so I sat at the bottom of the steps listening to this. You would get quiet...and then you'd babble...quiet...then babble. I would go up and check on you at regular intervals. Around the two hour mark, you had been quiet for about 15 minutes. "Finally!" I thought and went to the kitchen to help Grandma with dinner. Ten minutes later, I came back and went upstairs to check on you.

I tiptoed to the side of the pack 'n play and saw this:

"Aww...how sweet," I thought "he wrapped himself up in the blanket and fell asleep."

I gently started pulling the blanket form because you wrapped up in a blanket is not safe and  did not find a form. There was no baby in my pack 'n play!! My first thought was one that would cost me a dollar with Grandma. I immediately started looking for you and trying not to think of the stairs you could fall down at any moment.

As I raced into the hall, I noticed the door to the bathroom was open. I clearly remember that door being closed when I left you upstairs.

There you were, sitting in the bathtub and having a wonderful time. How you got into the bathtub, I don't even want to think about. "Wombat!" I exclaimed half relieved, half angry, half laughing. You jumped a mile. Evidently, I scared you.

The only reason this is remotely funny is because you are perfectly fine. I am so thankful for that, because this could have ended horribly. 

I love you, buddy. Please stop giving Mommy a heart attack.

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words