Letter to Baby

Dear 18th month old that calls me mom,

You are the cutest, stockiest, funniest, cuddliest, most adorable mean little stink on the planet.  Seriously.  You hit when you don't get your way.  You pitch fits of epic proportions.  You throw, knock down or kick when things just don't go the way you planned it would.  It's really a good thing you only act this way at home or around people you're most comfortable with.  So far we haven't had any incidents at school.

You love dancing.  And music.  Any music can get you on your feet moving and grooving.  And you love playing 'Ring Around the Rosie'.  You fall down and clap your hands.  One of you're favorite songs says 'Peanut sittin' on a railroad track, his heart was all a flutter.  Along came a choo-choo train, smashed him flat! (Clap your hands together here) Choo-Choo peanut butter'.  You move your little arms like you're a little choo-choo, and when it comes to clapping your hands together, you get the best little look on your face like it will be the best clap ever.  Seriously too cute.

You're in nursery now at church, and because church is during your nap time, it's really hard.  You scream and cry when I drop you off, but then when you get settled and I come back to check on you through the mirror, you're playing and having a grand old time.  Your nursery leaders are so considerate to you and your pacifier addiction as well.

You've learned a few new words, the most notable is 'melmo' otherwise known as 'elmo'.  It took me a while to figure it out, but when you started pointing to your diaper, which has elmo on them, I put two and two together.  Your mom is a pretty smart lady, you know :).

You are loving oranges.  Not so much a fan of orange juice, but you can chow down on some oranges. You still love chicken, black olives, fries, fish sticks and peas.  You've tried rice a few times and despise it.  And all of a sudden you won't eat grilled cheese sandwiches.  What's up with that?

You love climbing all over your dad, painting with Luke, playing Trouble with the family, loving on Baxter and stealing Luke's toys.  Oh, you love to torture your brother.  You can be his best buddy, but you can be so mean to him, too.  I know that's just brothers and how you roll, but I really wish you could be just a little kinder to your brother.  He loves you so much.

You're not a fan of the snow.  Not just a fan, but hate everything about it.  Sledding down the hill?  Nope, hate it.  Build a snow man?  Absolutely not.  You just would rather the weather produce no snow or ice and you could be satisfied.

We love you little one, for always.
Mom and Dad