Baby Mac - 16 Months

Dear Baby Mac,

Another month has slipped by, turning you more and more into the man you will become than the baby you have been.  Your personality is undeniable these days and I am amazed that such a tiny being can have such strong opinions and such defined traits at such an early age.  I always thought that as a parent, I'd be responsible for shaping the person you become, and while that is partially true, you have taught me that you are already so much your own self and I'm merely here to guide you in the right direction.  There are moments where I look at you and see you as an adult - you truly are 16 months going on 16 years.  Those glimpses into the future not only make me insanely proud of you, but scare me because I'm not yet anywhere ready to move beyond the baby days.  Time is moving faster than I ever thought possible and each day brings new words, new tricks and new adventures.  I am fiercely trying to hold on to every single moment and soak you up as much as possible, but time seems to have a way of moving us along and before I know it another month has come and gone.  

I know I say this every month, but 16 months is such a wonderful age.  You are just absolutely amazing these days and your dad and I are feel like we've won the baby lottery with you.  First of all, I'm completely biased, but I think you are seriously the most beautiful child I've ever seen.  The combination of my blonde locks and your dad's big brown eyes kills me.  No one in your life can say no to those eyes (it's a problem).  You have us wrapped around your little fingers and you know it!  As much as I thought you looked like your dad as a baby, you are looking more and more like me everyday and make so many of the same faces/expressions that I did as a child.  It's the most surreal feeling to look at you and see myself (or my brothers) in you.  Although you did get your height from your dad (still 90th percentile).  This month I feel like you are finally starting to fill in a bit.  You feel more and more substantial every day.  Probably because you're such a good eater (most days).

   

You are still incredibly active and never seem to slow down.  You love nothing more than to be outside playing, either in your car, in the swing, with rocks/dirt, in the sprinkler or with the neighborhood kids.  You still won't sit still long enough to watch even 2 minutes of TV.  Your favorite thing in the whole wide world right now though is to drive.  You are obsessed with driving, whether it's a car (real or not), a tractor, a bike, a golf cart, a lawn mower or anything else with wheels.  You love steering wheels and pushing all the buttons. You know how to insert the key and know that you have to push on the gas pedal to make things go.  You can operate the radio, the windows, the moonroof and the wipers.  If it has a horn you can honk, you're in heaven.

Although there are a few indoor activities you are starting to get more interested in.  My favorite one is reading.  You absolutely love your books and we have to read the same ones (in the order you choose) each night.  Right now your favorites are: Moo Baa La La La, Little Blue Truck (original and city version), Dear Zoo, Llama Llama Nighty Night, Pat the Bunny, Goodnight Gorilla, Yummy Yucky, Rocking Babies, Brown Bear Brown Bear and the Very Busy Spider.  You are also more interested this month in the iPad and we've downloaded tons of apps about animals and trucks/tractors/trains. You love the Peekaboo apps and a Toddler Jukebox app that plays all kinds of kid-friendly songs.  You also love your play kitchen that you got for your birthday and make delicious wooden meals for us and the dogs.  

You're still really interested in how things work.  You are obsessed with pushing buttons to see what they do.  You insist on buckling yourself into the swing and the wagon and will sit there forever trying to figure them out.  You are fiercely independent and love to explore the neighborhood on your own.  I think you've surprised almost all of our neighbors by showing up in their backyards or front steps or in their garage.  Our house is apparently the least interesting place on the whole street and the only place you don't want to be.  You love the neighborhood kids and desperately want to be one of the pack.  Anytime there are kids outside you bang on the door and insist that we go out and play.  They're all so nice to you and treat you like their own little brother.  I'm so happy with where we live right now and just love the little community on our street.

You are also crazy about music.  Kindermusik classes started again and you love to sing and dance around the room.  It's been so much fun watching the kids in your class grow up together.  There are probably 6 kids in your class all about a month apart in age (including your BFF Bella).  I really need to invite them all over for a playdate sometime soon.  You've also rediscovered your dad's guitars.  You love plucking the strings and playing music with him (much more than just listening to him play).  You're very helpful.  And anytime you see a piano, you insist on playing and dancing.  I think we need to get you a kid size keyboard and your own guitar so you can play along-side daddy.  Hell, I'll get a tamborine and we'll have a family band and tour the countryside!  

You are also so incredibly funny and demanding and wild!  I joke with friends that you're half little boy and half wild animal.  You're a tiny tornado that destroys everything in your path.  You love screaming at the top of your lungs and do it whether you're happy, sad, excited or frustrated.  You still don't say a ton of words (although mama and "ALRIGHT!" are new this month), so you still use signs and various screams to get your point across.  You climb everything and as soon as I turn my back for a second you're on top of the counter or half way up a bookcase.  You get stuck in crazy spots like under chairs and halfway through the cat hole in the door to the basement.  You are usually pretty darn happy, as long as you get your way.  You hate hearing the word no, but you sure love to use it back to us when we ask you to do something.  When you don't get your way, we better watch out!  I think the terrible two's have started early.  Man, can you throw a tantrum like an old pro - lay on the ground, arch your back, throw your head back, kick and scream and hit and bite!  Where the hell did you learn how to do that?  It's crazy and also kinda hilarious.  

So, basically, you're just amazing.  You truly are the light of my life and the best part of everything.  I adore spending time with you and even your meltdowns make me proud to be your mama.  You are such a fun child to be around and you really do make everyone around you smile and adore you.  Thank you for being you, wild child.

Love, 

Your mama

Amazing things you do:

• Eat with utensils
• Make animals noises (elephant, giraffe, lion, tiger, cow, camel, snake, dog, cat, horse)
• Climb up and down stairs without help
• Go down the slide all by yourself
• Buckle a seatbelt
• Point to all your body parts (nose, mouth, ears, eyes, hair, head, feet, legs, hands)
• Pee on command
• Blow bubbles with the wand
• Know all the motions to The Wheels on the Bus
• Say "GO CARDINALS" every time you see the Cardinals logo or a red bird
• Sing and play the guitar 
• Open doors and drawers and cabinets
• Move the slider on the iPhone to unlock it
• Asks us "HOT?" when anything is remotely warm
• Pretend to be asleep and make snoring sounds
• Blow kisses
• Tell us when it's time for your nap
• Fart and then laugh hysterically

Favorite things:

• Sage
• Music
• Reading
• Cookies/candy/ice cream
• Screaming
• Driving 
• Puppy (lovey)
• Throwing the ball
• Climbing on the kitchen stools
• Take Me Out to the Ballgame
• Helping in the kitchen
• Blowing bubbles
• Mowing the lawn
• Dancing
• Slides
• Swings
• Rocks
• Horses
• Banging on the fish tank
• Climbing
• Feeding the dogs
• Farting
• Pushing buttons
• Turning lights on/off