19 Months

Dear Luke,

You're almost 19 1/2 months already...sorry this is so delayed but you've been keeping us busy.

Your croup from last week turned into a bad cough at the end of the week, followed by a pretty severe double ear infection this week and the need for nebulizer treatments and a steroid to get rid of that nasty cough.  It's been almost 2 weeks since all of this sickness started and I think we can all say that we're ready to get it out of here.

Aside from all THAT, you are literally changing before our eyes.  There are so many new fun things that I just don't even know where to start...

You love shouting out the names of things you know.  Your favorites are car, bus, truck, train, plane (can you see the pattern here??).  But also you love saying Dada Dada Dada Dada Dada all.the.time.  It's a treat when I hear Mama!  

You love to lead us around by holding our hand. You used to do this before, but it's on a whole new level now.  You have no plan...you just walk up, grab our hand and lead us randomly through the house.  You'll stop here and there, but you just like being able to lead us around.

You are really learning to test us with your behavior.  If you do something wrong (like throw a toy or food from your highchair), I'll scold you and you look down and won't make eye contact with me.  Then you slowly look up and throw something else just to see what I'll do.  Today you found out that it will get you a time out in your bedroom with the door shut.  That's all it took for you to come out and pick up the food from the floor and give your Mama a kiss.  You will never know how hard it is for me to punish you and hear you cry like your little heart is breaking.  But I suppose that's what Mama love is - teaching you how to be a good boy.

Your latest feat is climbing out of your bed.  Ugh.  I knew it would happen sooner or later but I wasn't ready for it at this moment.  You have been waking in the night since you got sick.  Two nights ago you woke up at 4:30 and immediately started screaming.  Dad got up to get you some medicine and I was looking at the monitor.  I saw you leaning over the edge of the crib and starting to put your leg up and I sprinted out of bed into your room.  When I got there you were standing on the floor.  Last night you did the same thing.  Tonight, I went to get you dressed after your bath and your Dad had completely outfitted your room.  Pillows and blankets on the floor and all sharp corners anywhere near your bed were covered.  My guess is you'll throw yourself out of bed and find out it's like a bounce house and you'll just want to keep doing it.  I think I know what we'll be getting you for Christmas though...a brand new big boy bed.

There are so many other amazing things you do on a daily basis.  I love every moment with you - sick or healthy.  You have a personality and you're such a little boy.   I am so very lucky.

I'll leave you with a video from a few nights ago (the night you fell and hit your head).  You surprised me by "singing" songs with me.  Please disregard the fact that I FORGOT THE LYRICS TO TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR (Wow.  I'm going to blame that on exhaustion).

We love you Bubby!