22 Months

Age: 22 Months

Favorite Activity: Lunch dates with Daddy! You love walking over to school each afternoon to eat lunch with Daddy. As soon as I open the door, you come racing over to hold my hand and start walking. You know what door leads to the dining hall and you get highly annoyed when we bypass that door to go meet Daddy first. You enjoy eating with the big boys and you especially love when they clap. Your entire face lights up and you clap too!

We often walk Daddy back to his classroom and then meander our way home. One day, we happened to be walking home when another teacher let his dog out (I think she's a Maltese). You thought she was just the neatest thing since sliced bread. She didn't hiss. She didn't hide. She chased you and you chased her. Happiness. I know, I know...you want a puppy, now.

Honorable Mentions:  Flower picking! We always stop along our walk to pick flowers. You carry that flower in your hand for the rest of our walk. You love yellow flowers. Dandelions are your favorite, but you also like the mums out in front of the school. Shhhh...we won't tell anyone you're the one picking them.

Least Favorite Activity: Teeth brushing. Don't get me wrong, you love chewing on your toothbrush, but if I try to get you to brush your teeth or I try to brush them, oh heaven help us! You didn't use to mind, so I'm hoping this is 2 year molar related. Please, oh please, let it be molar related.

Milestones: You will hold our hand when we're walking in public! Now, that doesn't mean that you won't try to ditch us if you see something really interesting, but for the most part, you've stopped the go limp, sit on the ground when we try to hold your hand. This has resulted in a lot more freedom from the stroller for you which makes you almost giddy.

New Activity: You're attempting to scare the bejeepers out of me. One morning, I was washing my hands in the kitchen when you suddenly got quiet in the living room. When I went to check on you, I found the following scene:

Stop climbing on things!

You also love washing your hands. As soon as you hear me go in the hall bathroom, you come racing down the hallway, grab your stool, put it at the counter, and start washing/playing. If we wash (with soap) and dry our hands, you're ok with leaving. If we skip a step, oh my.

 If I happen to open the fridge when you are nearby, you will come grab a fruit pouch out and hand it to me to open so you can have it.

Communication: It feels like you are gaining communication skills every day. Phases like, "here you go, Ma" pop out when I'm least expecting it.

Sleep: I'm convinced you are on the cusp of dropping your nap altogether. If you get up past 8 o'clock, I know nap time is pretty much shot. If you get up between 7 and 8, I have a 50/50 shot. This makes me very sad. First, because you really need a nap. Secondly, I need a few minutes during the day to do selfish things like sit down, eat, shower, and go to the potty. I'm working on quiet time bins for you to play with during quiet time (formerly nap time), but since you're so little it's challenging to find things you can do that are safe if you decide to eat them.

Best Moment: A few times, while cooking dinner, you will run over throw your arm around my legs and hug me. It melts my heart every time (THAT is the time to ask for a puppy, Buddy).

Worst Moment: Carrying you home after lunch one day while you had a screaming meltdown because I wouldn't let you walk home because you refused to hold my hand was not fun. You have to hold my hand. It's to keep you safe.

Eating: Grandma keeps asking me if we feed you. You are a bottomless pit! And you ate broccoli! Granted, only one floret, but you ate it!

Favorite Foods: You are an apple lover. This makes me so happy. Together, we will eat a lot of apples, baby.

Teeth: Four little white bumps on the bottom right side of your mouth! 

Oh, and this! One night during one of "free range" walks, you suddenly dropped Daddy's hand and started to run while holding my hand. You thought it was great fun to run away from Daddy, then stop and let him catch up before taking off again. It was almost like you were playing tag with him. It made us all laugh and it was also great exercise for Mama. Win-win!

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

19 Months

Age: 19 months **Red chair picture coming...once it's unpacked**

Favorite Activity: Watching the gravel trucks driving down the road at Grandma and Grandpa's house. You would have spent the whole day watching them if you were able.

 You also love to swing. You have your very own swing at our house, Granny and Grabdad's house, and Grandma & Grandpa's house. 

Honorable Mentions:  You are an excellent helper. You love helping Grandma or I push Grandpa's wheelchair. You've only pinched your fingers once, which made me super sad, but you recovered quickly and finished helping push the chair.

Least Favorite Activity: We had to introduce time out this month. At Grandma & Granpa's house you were fascinated with the fan. Fans are a no. A non-negotiable no. We tried our old methods of saying no and redirecting, but you kept going back. I tried swatting your hand. It was not my proudest parenting moment. I hated it...and you just giggled at me. So now, when you touch the fan, I stop whatever I'm doing and sit down in a chair with you on my lap for 1 minute. Oh how you hate it. You loathe being confined. Having to be still for a whole minute is like torture for you. Once you've served your time, I tell you why you had to sit and send you on your way.

It is funny, however, when you start yelling for Grandpa to save you. " Pa! PA!" you shout. Ohhhh, little man, Grandpa can't save you now.

Milestones: You are an expert in climbing up into our chairs and the couch. You even bamboozled Grandma in order to sneak upstairs at her house. You've mastered going up stairs, you have not mastered going down. You are also able to answer questions and follow directions when asked. It's very exciting to Daddy and I when you understand. Even if you don't obey, you understand!

New Activity: Grandma taught you to blow kisses. Now, when it's time for bed, you blow kisses and say "night!" to anyone in the vicinity.

Since you've broken your leg, I involuntarily gasp every time you take a tumble especially on the hardwood floors. Now, when you fall, you pop up and exclaim, "Otay!" before you go toddling off to continue your adventure. I greatly appreciate the reassurance.

Words: "Night, I'm sorry, " just to name a few. However, it's less about words right now and more about sentences and phrases. You also know that a cow says "moo," a horse says "neigh," and a kitty says "meow." You also point out noses, eyes, ears, chins, and mouths on other people. On you, it's a bit more challenging.

Signs: You're using "please" and "more" consistently during meals. 

Sleep:  Sometimes you fight nap time and bedtime. You're just having so. much. fun. Generally we put you to bed around 8 and you're asleep by 9-9:30. Putting you to bed later just prolongs your actual sleep time so we keep your bedtime consistent. I did enjoy our slumber parties while we were at a grandma & Grandpa's and Daddy was packing up the house.

Best Moment: For Memorial Day weekend, Daddy and I went to see my surgeon and then we took you to Myrtle Beach for a couple days. Last year when we went to the beach you were a little over 8 months old. You liked playing in the sand, but you hated the ocean. Hated it. You touch the water, the water does not touch you!

This year, you immediately loved it. We walked into our condo and you raced over to the sliding glass door and exclaimed, "Woooooow! Woooooooow!" over and over again. That moment alone was worth the cost of the trip. You playing on the beach and jumping waves with Daddy and I was just the icing on the cake.

Worst Moment: Nothing horrible or traumatic stands out in my mind. You have been delightful this month.

Favorite Foods: You love your fruits and vegetables. This month it seems like cucumbers are your favorite. Though, you stole Daddy's apple from his plate at Pabera one evening and proceeded to eat at least half of it. All by yourself! 

Now you enjoy eating whole apples all by yourself. I don't leave you unattended with it, but you have a wonderful time while you're eating it.

Eating: You can eat just about anything. You don't eat everything, but you can. If I slip something you don't like onto your high chair tray, you politely hand it back to me or impolitely chuck it on the floor. Manners are a work in progress!

We went for frozen yogurt this month and you love eating your own frozen yogurt with your own spoon. You're getting so big! You are starting to insist on feeding yourself more, which is messy. However, you're getting better!

Teeth: I can see white on the bottom right. I'm pretty sure your 2 year molars are trying to come though.

Oh and this! You make these little "mmmm" noises the entire time you eat. It's hilarious. The more you enjoy what you're eating the louder you "mmm."

Last Day

Wow. It's here, buddy. Our last day in this town. 

The next few weeks are going to be full of changes. Luckily, you weather changes like a pro. We are going to spend some time away from Daddy and I dread how sad that will make you...but it's for a good reason. Daddy will miss us like crazy, but he's going away so that he can take care of us. That's what your Daddy does. He always, always takes care of us. We're lucky to have your daddy. We should tell him that more often.

Personally, I cannot wait to leave. I will miss my job, my workplace, and our friends terribly, but I will not miss this town. In fact, I hope you will not remember this town. 

I'm looking forward to our new adventure. A new house, a new job for Daddy, a new job for Mama, and a new world for you.

However, there will always be a small part of this town with me that I will hold special because it's where we met you. It's where we brought you home from the hospital. It's where you learned to crawl and then walk and then run. I will always remember you standing at the doorway, yelling, "Ma! Ma!" for the first time. 

I have my issues with this town, but at the end of the day, I've loved living here because it brought us to you.