Dear Barrett,
I meant to write you a note here around your first birthday, but you have been keeping me too busy! So now you are just a smidgen past 14 months and I love you more than I did the day before. That will never change.
Things you like right now include
Story time! You bring me a book with enthusiasm, wanting me to sit with you and read it right now. You seem to have some favorites, like Everyday Babies, Jamberry, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, Wild Animals, and many more.
Sandwich! That dog is your best friend. She makes you so excited, you say “sah!” when you see her, and you yell “SAAAAH!” when you are especially worked up about something she is doing. You like to throw her ball, put your hands all over her face and in her mouth, roll around in her bed (with or without her in it), and you say “woof, woof!” – though right now, all animals say “woof”, according to you.
Shoes! You point out shoes and boots in books, you love to bring us your shoes to put on your feet, and you point out shoes that other people are wearing.
Vehicles! Out for a walk, you are quick to point out the passing cars and trucks. On garbage day, you know the noise of the big trucks and point to them. Daddy got you a green recycling truck which you are really into, and there is a dump truck in the yard that you like to push around. You have a little car noise you make when pushing your cars around. You also like to point out wheels in books and on things we have in the house.
Snaps! If anyone is wearing a shirt with buttons or snaps, you are quick to point with a “snaa”. Zippers also are “snaa”.
You sure love your sippy cup.
And:
- Being sideways! At the dinner table, you like to turn your head 90degrees and point at us to do the same. You also like to lay on the floor laughing, just because you have a different perspective.
- Getting up on the couch! You crawl up on your own now (makes cooking dinner more difficult to keep an eye on you), and last night I caught you on the couch with your toy, laughing hysterically and rolling around rubbing your belly. You were SO worked up about being on the couch and you didn’t want me to grab you.
- You still say “that!” to anything you don’t know the word to. It’s a pretty good filler, I must agree.
- Your lamby is pretty special to you. You are loving other animals too, but you will love on lamby’s ears and hug her tight.
My silly little Bear.
Some sweet things you do include:
- When we come to get you from a nap or in the morning, you will throw yourself down on your bed, on your tummy, giggling and wanting to be tickled.
- I love bedtime with you. After your jammies are on and the lights are off, you want to cuddle with me on the rocking chair, humming along while I sing “twinkle twinkle” or “you are my sunshine”
- Any music that comes on, you are ready to dance! This includes the short musical interludes on NPR. And you usually look to daddy for dancing.
- You give good hugs and snuggles. Sometimes when you are eating snack and I walk by, you’ll lean over with one arm, wanting to give a quick hug.
- Daddy taught you how to “cheers!” at the table, and you are really good at cheers-ing your water cup. You cheers mommy’s cup, daddy’s cup, a mixing bowl, my dinner plate, and anything else now, too.
Possibly the only not-sweet thing you do: Brushing teeth is a huge struggle. This week you developed the most ear-piercing scream when I try to get in there, and now you are starting to completely turn your body away so I physically cannot get in there. I promise I am only trying to help you, child! We try to make this experience positive by letting you brush your teeth, our teeth, we sing and dance, we let you rinse the brush … but you hate having us do it for you. That will change, I know.
Let's GO, mom!!
Surely, there are at least one hundred things more that I could write about. Every day I find new joys in being with you. You really are my sunshine, and you make Daddy’s and my life so full of love we never knew existed.
