16 Months

Dear Little Man, 
Today you are 16 months! This month is unlike any month. We started it off by spending the morning at the doctor’s office. Mommy was concerned over the weekend when you started tugging on your ears and having a runny nose. I made you an appointment as soon as I could get you in! Despite feeling awful you have been in good spirits and even made friends in the waiting room at the pediatrician. Two little girls seemed to be playing doctor with you. Oh, and by the way you were the doctor. They kept saying things like “Doctor, your patients aren’t ready for you yet” when you tried to open the door of the playhouse and also things like “Doctor, do you need your instruments”. I couldn’t help but crack up, my 16 month old the doctor for two older women. The doctor called you back pretty soon after that and it turns out you have a double ear infection. I blame the stupid cold going around that everyone in our family seems to have got.

Aside from being sick you’ve been saying Mama more often, which I love. It melts my heart. You can also show me what a duck is. When I say duck or quack quack you bring me your rubber ducky! You are learning everyday and I love watching your mind work. You have also learned how to use a spoon. You eat yogurt with a spoon and ice cream now. In fact you want to eat everything with a spoon even things like goldfish and sandwiches that don’t require a spoon. Lastly we are going to the beach at the end of this week to see your Nanny (AKA Great Grandmother) it should be loads of fun now that you’re a toddler. The last time you were down there was 3 months old.

Mommy loves you soo much! I am the luckiest person in the world to be able to watch you grow. You are an amazing little boy.
Love, Mommy

15 Months

Dear Little Man,
I am finally settled enough to write your 15 month letter! This is such a wonderful month for you but before I touch upon that lets get your stats out the way.

Your 15 month appointment was on February 8th. You weighed 25 pounds 5oz and were 32 inches long. I completely forgot how big your head is because I was excited to hear you are growing just fine. I was very relieved because I was starting to think you were too skinny and not getting enough to eat. Especially, when everyone acts like I'm starving you because I don't let you eat junk. Aside from that you still only say "Mama" "Dada" and the occasional "No!". We are also trying to get you to sign words like eat and drink. You don't care too much to learn but you do laugh hysterically every time you hear the word eat.

Your favorite things to eat this month are still bananas but you've added apple slices, oranges slices, and mandarin orange fruit cups. You also enjoy steamed cauliflower and barbecue chicken, you are quite the little eater.

Lastly, we went on our 17th plane ride together! We flew 700 miles to visit daddy and we'll be staying for awhile. You love your daddy a lot. At first you were scared because you haven't seen him in awhile but eventually you overcame that and now it's father and son once again! It melts my heart so see you both curled up on the couch together.

I love you little guy.
Mommy

14 Months

Dear Little Man,

I know I say this every month but time does fly. It always feels like I just brought you home yesterday but the truth is that was 14 months ago. With every passing month it’s getting harder and harder to see the baby in you. You are definitely ALL boy. Despite that you’re still incredibly sweet. You love giving me hugs and kisses and you still love to cuddle. In fact nowadays you climb up on the couch and snuggle up next to me when you’re ready for sleep. It literally melts my heart.

Over the past month you have learned to climb (even better). You climb everything, the couches, your climber, boxes, toys, snow banks, etc. There is nothing you’re afraid of and this scares me. Especially because you have discovered that by climbing the couch you can jump over the railing. I have to watch you like a hawk because I know you are plotting to go over. You also stand on your climber and jump from it to the coffee table, which makes me super nervous. How will I ever handle what’s to come? All the random injuries boys seem to bring upon themselves. Believe me I know, I used to be the tomboy who played on the playground with all the little boys.

Another thing you love to do now is pretend you’re on the phone. You hold my cell phone up to your ear and talk, talk, talk. It’s so funny! You also love to help me workout. When you see me putting in my workout DVD you always hand me my weights. When I do planks you try to crawl under and when I do crunches you sit on my stomach and pat my back every time I rise up. You are quite the little personal trainer.

You have 7 teeth now! They just started popping up like mad. From 2 on your first birthday, 2 more at 13 months and now 3 more. This is crazy for someone who seemed like they’d never get one. Also you teethe like a champ. You never really fuss. You just get extra drolly and gnaw on spoons. Before I wrap this up I just want to say besides Mama, Dada, and the occasionally No, or yah you don’t say any words. You communicate by pointing to things. You want juice you point to juice and bring me your cup. You want food you point to your mouth; you want to be picked up your raise your arms. It’s too cute. I’m glad I can understand your actions because you are quite the demanding kid. If someone gets things wrong boy do you get mad. We will have to work on that.

Oh, and BTW I gave you your first haircut. Yes, you heard that right twas ME! You just needed a little evening out that I did with my hair scissors and now you’re hair is growing like weeds. Your bald spot completely disappeared after the cut. I gave myself a pat on the back.

I love you,

Mommy

13 Months (a little late posting)

Dear Little Man,

Today you are 13 months old! And although I love watching you grow and thrive it sometimes chokes me up knowing that a piece of my baby disappears with each day. When I look at you now I see a boy and not a baby. You know, a messy, sticky, dirty, screaming, adventure seeking, tantrum throwing, intelligent and sweet little boy. When we go outside you head straight for the garden and immediately start letting the soil pass through your fingers and you run around pulling up the grass. I’m actually glad the ground started freezing this week because some of the things you pick up and try to eat are icky and I don’t want to touch it let alone pry it from your ironclad grip.

Over the past month you have GASP actually started listening to me! Before you would just ignore me or look my way and then go back about your business. Now if I say something like “Come to Mommy” you come walking over. Also if I say, “Put that down” or “Don’t touch” you look, stop what you’re doing and then cry because you think I’m a big meanie. Aside from that if I say, “Mommy needs a hug” or “Give Mommy a kiss” you come give me a big bear hug and a kiss. You also bite my nose I don’t know what that’s about but for right now it’s super cute. When you have more teeth we will have to reevaluate.

Along with listening, you had you’re first real Thanksgiving this past month and definitely enjoyed it. You ate a lot of yummy foods like mashed sweet potatoes, greens, turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, and macaroni and cheese. You also surprised everyone when we found you underneath the dining room table eating a whole pumpkin pie. I have no idea how you got it off the table but I’m going to have to watch you like a hawk. Since Thanksgiving you have also learned that when you want more food or drink to hand your sippy cup or plate to mommy and look up at me with these puppy dog eyes. You are too cute for words.

Now we are getting ready for Christmas. You helped me decorate the wreath for the door and were in awe of the lights. I can’t wait until we go pick out the Christmas tree because last year nobody would let me bring you. They thought 7 weeks was far to small and so we stayed home and watched The Santa Clause. Well this year you are coming and hopefully we go to the farm where you can run free instead of the little lot at the police station.

Anyway I just wanted you to know that I love you (like I don’t tell you enough).

Love Always,

Mommy 

One Year

Dear Little Man,
Today you are one year old! I can't believe how fast the time went by. It seems like just yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time and my heart completely melted. All the cliches people told me about cherishing the time you have and how it goes by quickly are indeed true. It is true because when I look at you I no longer see my peaceful sleepy baby, I see a curious boy ready to explore the world.

My 7 pound 15 oz, 19 inch long baby boy is now 24 pounds, 4oz, and 29 inches long. You have grown so much in the past year and will continue to grow big and strong. I am unbelievably happy you are healthy but at the rate you eat I'm not sure I can afford to feed you especially when you hit puberty or bring over droves of your teenage friends. Thankfully that is many years from now but like I said the time passes faster than you expect.

Over the weekend we celebrated your birthday with family and friends. You had a lot of fun even though you were cranky at times. I know it was due to your teeth FINALLY coming in. That is right you have not one, but TWO teeth coming in. I can see the little buds when you flash a smiles at me. Your two front teeth!!! Other changes are you are walking non stop now and you are very good. You don't sit still for a minute.

Some other things that will be happening this month are your first official Thanksgiving. Yes, you were around last year for Thanksgiving but this year you will be able to enjoy all the wonderful food. No pumped milk or formula for you. Now you can have your own plate of turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, the works and I know you will love it.

Little Man I am so happy and blessed to have you as a son. It has been one great year. You've learned to rollover, sit, crawl, say dada, stand, say mama, walk, say ba (which, we still don't know what it means sometimes it meant bottle other times you would point at strangers in the store), you can wave, you play peekaboo and patty cake, you can do all the actions to "if you're happy and you know it" and I'm sure there's more I missed. Sorry for the mommy brain moment. I love you with all my heart Little Man.

Have a Happy Birthday and another wonderful year!

Love, Mommy

11 Months

Dear Little Man,
Today you are eleven months old and one step closer to the big numero uno! This month has been one of the most stressful for me but I’m glad I have you here to make everything seem better and keep me (somewhat) sane. I have enjoyed seeing you grow and reaching new milestones every month but it’s almost time for me to step away. I was truly blessed being able to stay home with you this long but I knew it couldn’t last forever so now I must prepare you for a new chapter in our life, daycare and working mommy.

I had you at a point in my life when I was supposed to be getting my first grown up job and embarking on further schooling. I still plan on doing that so I have been applying to different jobs and hoping I get a few interviews. I want to be able to set an example for you that you can achieve your goals and I also want to be able to provide you with whatever your little heart desires!

In other news you have changed a lot in a few short weeks. You no longer drink out of your bottle and have started using a sippy cup. I thought it was going to be hard to get rid of your bottle but you didn’t fuss or protest once. It’s funny the day you had your last bottle was the day you decided you could hold it on your own. Along with getting rid of the bottle you have embarked on the big boy feat of walking. It started with you just walking around pushing your walk and play but now you occasionally walk unassisted. I think you only walk every now and then because you can’t get to what you want as fast as you can crawl to it. I’m sure after time and more practice you will be walking and running laps around me!

You are still bald in the back of your head and our toothless. I’m patiently waiting…anytime now. Besides not having teeth you are growing everywhere else like a weed. You are wearing size 18 months and size 5 shoes. Everything is a little big but 12 months clothes were getting to be too short for such a tall little guy like you. I think all the new clothes we got at the outfits will last you through the season. Hopefully you don’t lose your new shoes either. I know you are a fan of taking them off and chewing on them and your socks.

P.S. Can you please cooperate more during diaper changes? You always try to crawl away, stand up, and fling the diaper away. It makes it so hard for me and it’s especially gross when you have a poopy diaper. Maybe you can cut down on the yelling too when I try and keep you still…just a suggestion?

I love you Little Man you are an amazing gift. Happy 11 months and keep growing, getting smarter, and being such a sweet boy.

Love, Mommy

10 Months Old

Due to all the traveling we've been doing the past few days I didn't get a chance to post this when I wanted to.

Dear Little Man,
Today you are 10 months old! I can't believe how fast time is flying by. In just 2 short months you will be a whole year old and already mommy has been working diligently at throwing you an amazing first birthday.

Everyday you look more and more like a toddler than my little baby that used to fall asleep on my chest. In fact nowadays when you do that it feels like my lungs are going to collapse and I'll stop breathing but it's okay because I love having you near. In fact I'll take every slobbery baby kiss and cuddle I can get because one day you will think you're too grown for all that.

In the past month you have started standing on your own instead of holding on to things and you have even taken your first steps. Most of the time daddy and I don't think you notice you are doing these things. When people clap or say "Look at Aidy standing" you quickly fall down or go back to crawling. Another thing is you still have NO TEETH! Yes, I will say it again you have NOT ONE TOOTH in your whole mouth at 10 months old. There have been many times I thought you were teething but in the end a tooth is never produced. I have a feeling that they will all come at once and that is definitely something I'm not looking forward too. Despite having no teeth you love to chomp on everything. You hate purees and would rather sit and gum real food all day which is okay with me because I don't really feel like blending things up anymore anyway.

Well, Little Man, I am truly blessed to have you in my life. You have changed me for the better and brought out many qualities I didn't know I have. I have learned to be truly selfless, patient, and more compassionate. I now love somebody unconditionally no questions asked and always will for the rest of my life. Happy 10 months boo boo. You truly are my blessing.

Love, Mommy

6 Months

I can’t believe it’s been 6 months since I gave birth to you. Time sure flies. Today was your 6-month checkup and we found out you weigh 19 pounds 9oz and are 27 inches long. You sit up unassisted and can keep yourself occupied on your playmat while I get things done. It seemed like this day would never come. You always wanted to be held and I could never put you down, not even to use the bathroom. Now you're reaching for your toys, passing them back and forth, and rolling over. You laugh, you babble non stop and you love ripping up newspapers and magazines on the coffee table. Never did I think I would love another person as much as I love you. Happy Half Birthday Aidey Potatey!