Twenty Months

Dear Nate,

Today you are 20 months old. You are no longer a teen-toddler (I have no idea what that means but I just like the way it sounds). Part of what it must mean, though, is that you really are in toddlerhood now, heading straight for preschooler age. Your dad and I look at you now and there are few remnants of babyhood left to you. You look and move like a little boy now, with a little less of that toddler tummy, much less early-toddler uncertainty, and even more agility than you already had.

This month has been a fun one for you. It was your second Christmas and the first holiday you've actually understood and appreciated opening presents, which made it immensely fun for your dad and I. The moment in which your dad and I brought out the wrapped kitchen from Grammy and Pop-Pop and you realized that it 1) was a present and 2) was for you will remain one of my favorites.

And now you have a new obsession: Thomas the Tank Engine. Uncle Kenny bought you a Thomas bath toy for Christmas and now you have to take the little Thomas with you everywhere. You ride your trike around the house with Thomas in your hand, sit on the couch with Thomas, take him in the crib for naps, keep him on the table while you eat - you are never without your "choo choo!" (As I write this, however, I have to admit that I don't know where Thomas is right now and am totally scared of not being able to find him later.) You'll point to your Thomas toy, then to the remote, and then to the TV, which is your way of telling me you want me to put Thomas on Netflix. (Thomas on Netflix is how Mommy gets to take a quick shower, which is very useful.)

But this doesn't diminish how much you love to be active. You run laps around the island in the kitchen and love to be chased. You love to kick your big bouncy ball around the house and run with it (like you're dribbling a soccer ball). You are trying to figure out how to jump but all you can manage right now is to get up on your toes.

You mastered climbing into and out of your high chair (mostly, except for one fall) so it was time to move on and this month also brought your booster seat, which you are very happy with. What you're not always happy with, though, is eating. This month really brought out the whole picky eating thing and now it's basically a guess as to what you'll eat on any given day. Last night for dinner I made stew. Four of your favorite foods are shredded beef, potatoes, carrots, and peas - all of which were in the stew. However, you ate none of it. Every time I tried to give you some, you turned your head and simply said, "No. No." So your dinner was applesauce, carrot sticks, and animal crackers. But we keep trying. I know this won't last forever and you still eat plenty of good food, so it's really not a problem, just something new from our little boy who used to eat anything.

You're still a good sleeper and seemed to have gotten past the little glitch in the past two months where you were waking up early or in the middle of the night. You're back to sleeping roughly 7pm to 7am and taking a nap from about 12:30pm to 2pm. All that running you do means you need a lot of sleep, so I always feel better when you're resting well.

You love to say things twice - once in your regular voice, and once in your monster voice: "Oh no way!" then in a growly voice, Oh no way!" You love puppies (all dogs are puppies) and anything crunchy is a cookie. You love to look out the window at all the cars in the morning and help Dada get the leashes ready for the dogs to go outside. You love to give kisses and hugs (you give me a big hug when I put Thomas on) and you love to snuggle on the couch right after you wake up. You love to help zip up your coat or your pajamas and sometimes you can put your own shoes on (and even if I help you, you like to close the velcro). Sometimes you pat your diaper to let me know when it needs to be changed, but you fairly consistently don't like your diaper actually being changed. That process has become a bit of a battle, but you're also definitely not ready for potty training so we'll just battle it through for now.

You are joyous, curious, silly little man. You are loving and sweet but with the best glint in your eye because your curiousity always has mischief right around the corner.

Happy 20 months to my handsome little man! Mommy and Daddy love you so much.

Love,

Mommy.