Twenty months!

My little lovey, where is the time going?  You flew through this month and don't show any signs of slowing down until you leave for college!  I would like to soak in all of these moments before you're too old to want kisses and hugs from your old lady in public.  :)

You are quite the assertive and independent little guy.  You can quickly erupt into full tantrum mode if you don't get your way immediately, but I am usually able to distract or redirect you.  We know that it can be frustrating to be a toddler and unable to express yourself clearly.

Tantrum alert!

Normally you are easy going and oh so sweet.  You still have that special little chuckle that everyone loves.  You love to:

-play chase!  Your favorite way to play is to be chased, of course... especially if we make monster noises or if mama barks like a dog.  Oh the things you do for your children!

-eat!  Your favorite foods are fruit (watermelon is #1, followed closely by raspberries, strawberries, applesauce, and mandarin oranges), cooked carrots, sweet potatoes sprinkled with cinnamon, grilled chicken, chicken nuggets, cheese pizza, corn, yogurt, smoothies, pb&j sandwiches, salmon sticks, and any of your snacks.  You have a hearty appetite and are always interested in what everyone else is eating. Gone are the days where I could eat my guilty pleasures without you begging for bites!

-play in water!  Whether it's the water table, kitchen sink, water hose, bath tub, swimming pool, splash pad, or shower, you love it all!  Sometimes I have to get you to stop playing in the water outside by bringing you into the shower inside!  You are definitely a water baby and I'm looking forward to re-enrolling you in swim lessons again soon.

-going to school!  You adore your teachers and are always excited to walk in the door.  This makes my heart so happy.

-to be silly!  You think it's hilarious to walk around with your eyes shut tight.  Once at the park you did this, walked into a bench, bounced off and hit the ground.  Your dada admonished me for allowing you to walk into the bench, but I could not stop laughing.  You got up with a huge smile on your face and laughed.  Oh, my little weirdo!

-to spin around in circles!  Whether it is by your own doing or by the spinning things at the tumbles gym or the park, you love to be dizzy!  I get queasy just watching you, but you always beg for more.

Your vocabulary is developing at a rapid rate, although you still speak your own special language for the most part.  Your frequently repeated word list includes: no, whoa, oooooh, mama, pew (as in stinky), buh bye, keys, ha (hot), eee (eat), and mo (more).  There are many other words you can and do say, but those are the ones that I hear most often.  You have now started to shake your head to indicate "yes" as opposed to just shaking your body.  :)

This age can be so challenging and frustrating but in the next instant so cute and rewarding.  You are a busy boy and are always into things.  You especially like to meddle in things you know that you aren't supposed to - little stinker!  ;)  You are incredibly observant and constantly amaze us with your memory recollection.  If you have seen something done once, you will imitate us days later doing the exact same thing.  We know we have to be extra careful with the things that we do and say around you.

Sweet boy, I love you so and look forward to all of the challenging and rewarding moments to come.  I love you to the moon and back.

Love,
Mama