Dear Graham, 21 Months

Dear Graham,
Your 21 month continued much like the string of months before it, reminding me again how much I am enjoying you at this age.

You are smart and sweet and so, so studious; learning from all that is around you. At the risk of sounding too much like a doting mommy, I'll also tell you that you are stubborn, impatient at times and hate being away from me for long any periods of time. To help with this, we have been working on getting you to try to use the words you know or to learn the new words to replace the "uhh?" sound you say so frequently or the whining that seemed to rear its ugly head this month. But don't worry, even whining, we think you're cute (we just try not to let you know it).

I want to pause for a moment and go back in time to a year ago when we took you for your first picture in the blue bonnets.

Aw, aren't you so cute?

Now, let's look at a picture of you this year in the blue bonnets.

(crickets...crickets...) 

Oh, wait. There are no pictures of you in blue bonnets. That's because when we attempted to take them, you preferred to do this.

Or this:

Or even this and this:

Here's perhaps the best one that actually involves blue bonnets. Clearly, you were really happy about sitting with flowers. 

But, you were really happy when I finally gave up and left you alone to run all around. Such a boy.

Also during your 21st month you and I flew to Florida for a fast trip for Easter weekend. Your daddy had to work and surprisingly there were open seats on flights that allowed us to get there and back. You were the best baby ever during those two flights. Apparently the Target dollar spot knows what they are doing when it comes to entertaining kids. For around $5, I found all kinds of great airplane toys for you, but your absolute favorite were the Sesame Street stickers. You love all things Sesame Street, and most of all Elmo, so you loved naming all of the characters, peeling the stickers and then moving them all around.

While in Florida, you managed some pool time with your Uncle Troy:

Some park time with grandma, grandpa,  Uncle Troy and Auntie Shan:

Reading time with your G-Ma:

 And, of course, an Easter basket too:

Not bad for being on the ground about 52 hours.

Another big milestone during your 21st month was your first real haircut. You woke up from your nap one Sunday looking like Medussa. Let me just tell you that's not a good look. Especially if you are a boy. Your hair had clearly grown beyond the ability of your dad and me to cut it, so off to the hair salon we went.

Fortunately for you (actually, fortunately for me and your daddy as you'll have no recollection of this), we found a place that specializes in cutting kids' hair. Frankly, with so much going on around you, I don't even think you were truly aware of what was going on. You didn't cry, aside from when we made you leave the train table in the waiting area. Overall, it was a positive experience and  your hair is no longer a place for food to hide or bugs to make nests. I'm kidding. (I think.)

During the last month you have started to understand the concept of cleaning up. My favorite example of this is after dinner when you help me to pick up the peas that fell on the ground and throw them into the garbage can. You see, you adore peas but I despise them because somehow you manage to only get 1 out of every 596 peas into your mouth. The remaining find their way onto the floor. So this new exercise not only saves me the time from sweeping peas, it also takes you significant time to pick up 595 peas while I clean the kitchen.

Another favorite recent story comes from your nighttime routine. You love to "brush" your teeth by yourself, which always creates a little bit of a battle between you and me. (It would probably be in your best interest to learn now that I'm not going to give up on hygiene issues.)  I was trying to explain to you that we needed to brush your back teeth. So, you proceeded to take your toothbrush out of your mouth and attempt to brush your back.

And at that I could just smile, and thank God again for the many joys you bring to our lives.

Love,
Mommy