Happy 18 Months!

Dear Liam,

You are 18 months-old today.  Such a big guy!  I'm not quite sure I can believe you are so big.

You are a very busy boy these days.  You keep us on our toes! 

You are a climber, and we are struggling to keep you off the chairs and the dining room table.  In fact, one of the phrases you have started saying recently is "sit down".  That's pretty funny.  You definitely hear that multiple times a day from us!

You are a talker.  You say a new word almost every day!  Some of my favorites are:  mommy and daddy (of course!), Elmo, Dylan, eight nine (always said together which is awesome!), stein (for Einstein), cars, and choo choo.  You also love to give kisses followed by a big "muah".  Recently, you just started blowing kisses, which is pretty cute.  You are quite affectionate and love to snuggle multiple times a day.  I just love how you rest your little head on my shoulder.  I could sit with you like that all. day. long.

Even as you grow into a toddler, you have maintained your good nature.  You love to be tickled and laugh.  When we take you to restaurants, you love to flirt and be social.  People always compliment us on how good you are.  Sometimes you get shy in large crowds of people or after you just wake up, but mostly, you love to be around people.

You go to your baby sitter "Leenie" two days a week and you love it.  Whenever we pull up in the car, you start saying "Leenie".  You just love her and you love your friends there. You walk in the door and go straight to Annie, Skyler, and George.  Annie is just a few months older than you and she is your buddy.  It makes me feel good that you love to be there.  It makes dropping you off so easy for me!

The other three days a week we get to spend together.  Our days are filled with play.  As you get older, I try to get you out of the house every day.  If it's nice out, you love to go to the park and be outdoors.  You like to play with sticks and leaves.  We also just started going to story time at the library.  You love to play with the other kids and run around.  You also had your first play date recently with your friend Cecelia. 

We just created a play room for you in the basement so now you have a few different places to play at home.  You still love to use your "popper" and enjoy your new lawn mower too.  You enjoy playing with cars and your musical instruments. We also just got you a picnic table so you have a place to sit and color and enjoy your snack. 

You have recently started enjoying puzzles and you still love to read books.  We read several books each day and before bedtime. Your newest favorite book is Little Blue Truck. Sometimes you read books on your own.  You'll sit and flip the pages and babble as you "read" the story out loud.  That is one of my favorite things to watch and listen to.  You are so sweet. 

You love music and like to dance.  It's funny to watch you break into a dance at random times.  You also love to play the guitar with daddy.  You are trying so hard to say the word "guitar" too. 

You are still a good sleeper, although sometimes you wake in the middle of the night or early morning.  You go down early around 7 p.m.  and usually sleep until somewhere between 7 and 8 a.m.  You also take a good, two hour nap most afternoons.  If you wake early, you love to come into our bed, snuggle up, and if we are lucky, you'll go back to sleep!  When you wake up, you are still mostly content to lay in your crib and play for a little while.  I think you are like me, you are a slow riser.  Sometimes you stand in your crib and say, "mommy" when you are ready to get out.  I just love hearing you say my name! It warms my heart and makes me smile every time.

You enjoy your bedtime routine and love to take baths.  While bathing you do some serious splashing and love to play with the bubbles.

Recently, you have cut several teeth including four molars, but you still have some that need to come in.  Teething is hard on you and you wake up multiple times at night and just want to be held.

You love food!  You are an adventurous eater and will try almost everything .  We feed you pretty much whatever we eat.  You are doing much better these days at eating fruits and vegetables too.  You also love the green smoothies that I make.

Watching you grow and change is such a joy.  You are truly becoming your own little person and your dad and I can't get enough of you.  You make us laugh several times a day and continue to surprise us in so many ways.  We often talk how much we love being your parents. 

Happy 18 months sweet boy! 

Remember always that you are loved!

love,

Mama