20 Months!

Dear Bubby,

Well, your 19th month has flown by in the blink of an eye.  It was a busy month with all of the holiday festivities and tons of sickness.

You were so much fun this year at Christmas....old enough to get excited over gifts and able to stay up and enjoy the chaos of it all!  We traveled to Iowa the week before Christmas and had the Hoyt Family Christmas and then went to Michigan over the actual holiday to spend it with the Adams Family.  You got so many incredible gifts from everyone; I hope someday you know just how much you are loved.

I'll do another post about some of your Christmas fun, but I wanted to write about how much you are changing right before our eyes.  It's like our baby is really gone...

You are so much fun, but so stubborn!  You love to yell and I'm constantly telling you to use your inside voice (by the way, I used to silently curse those mama's who would say that all the time, but man, sometimes there's nothing else you can do).

You mimic everything and repeat everything.  You know lots of songs and shout out the last word of each stanza.  It's pretty hilarious actually.  We like singing song when you're in the bathtub.

You jump.  Jump in place, jump while you're walking, jump on the furniture, jump off toys, jump in your bed.  You also like to stomp.  When you get up in the morning there is no tip-toeing so mama or dada can sleep for a bit longer.  You like to make your presence known!

Your favorite words are "no no no no NO" while shaking your finger.  This is not good.  Ready to get dressed?  "No no no no no".  Ready for school?  "No no no no no.".  Ready for a bath?  "No no no no no".  You get the idea... Usually we can coax you after a bit, but sometimes it's not so easy and you end up going kicking and screaming.

We got into a habit of watching "shows" (movies) over the break and during all of our sickness.  It has become your obsession now.  Your favorite show is The Polar Express.  I think I wrote something on Facebook early in December about how I loved that you loved that movie.  250 viewings later, I have a little bit different outlook.  You wake up, stomp around in the living room shouting "show! show!"  "choo choo, choo choo!!".  Seriously.  At 6:00 am.  We're working on weaning you off that one...

Your sleeping is really wonky.  You were a fabulous sleeper for what seemed like forever, but ever since you got sick with croup you have not been good.  You're finally back to sleeping through the night again but you are still waking early and are CRABBY.  And now you have this new thing where I have to pat your back for you to fall asleep.  You say nigh-nigh to me as I rock you, I put you in bed and before your head hits the pillow you're saying "pat pat pat".  So I stand there and pat your back, but it's gotta stop pretty soon I'm afraid.  My back can't handle it much more!

You are so good at giving hugs and kisses.  I love it.  You still love to read books and have a few new favorites from Christmas.  You love to hide in the dark.  It's a bit freaky.  And you're very good at waiting for us to find you....almost too good.  I will not lie that my heart has started beating pretty fast a couple of times when I couldn't find you in the house.

You love to go in your room and slam the door shut.  Scares me to think about what your teenage years will be like.

And I'm saving the best for last here....you've pretty consistently favored your dada forever.  You wanted me when you were hurt or sick, but other than that, it was dada all the way.  However....woot woot!  Mama has made a comeback!  I hear you say my name much more often now and you run to me with that same excited smile that you give to your dear old dad.  Now, it MAY have something to do with the fact that you're starting to get a bit naughty and Dad MAY have a tendency to be the law enforcer, but whatever.  You're loving your Mama these days!

Bubby, you are so much fun and I am loving (most) every minute with you!  You are challenging me far more than you have in quite awhile, but it really is amazing to be able to watch you learn new things every single day.

I wish I had been better at getting pictures this month, but the only ones I have are from my phone.

We love you so much big boy - I'm so excited to see you grow this year!

Love
Mama

Before you were sick...early December.

Getting your first nebulizer treatment at the doctor's office when you had croup.

Felt better for a couple of days before heading to Michigan for Christmas. Breakfast at Ikea with Mama.

My poor sick boy on Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning - Santa brought Buzz!

Christmas with the Adams Family