My Sixteen-Month-Old Son

What to write, what to write?

I want to write about something. Something important. Something insightful. Something of eternal value. I want to write, but honestly, today I am exhausted. My son didn't allow me anytime to myself. No time to think. No time to just be me. This morning, we went to story time at the library. He I made an apple tree craft. Then we tutored together. In between discussing long e, short e, long i, short i with a couple of precious women, we read Dr. Seuss's ABCs and Brown Bear, Brown Bear. After that we came home and he took a ten-minute nap away from his "ninny." After his "ninny night night," we had time to have a phone conversation with Meme, make some sweet tea, and prepare for a special meeting. Meeting, meeting, meeting [insert John pooping all over his clothes and Dada taking him home to play with his new play dough and dinosaurs]. Then I just came home and laughed at my baby dancing and clapping (during a show we like to watch called The Voice), bathing (figuring out how to splash) and running (from Dada when he knew it was time for bed). It's 11 o'clock and he just got to bed. (Oct. 15, 2012)

I guess I just wanted to write this because I often wonder ... What was my life like when I had a four-month-old? ... An eight month old? ... A thirteen month old? There are subtle little differences between the months. Those differences = my son growing up before my eyes. And, well, he's always with me, so I sometimes miss those subtle differences. 

Thus, I am going to record some posts like this. A day in the life of John Beam ... What was he into? ... What were his favorites? Who was my sixteen-month-old son?

So, my sixteen-month-old has been sick. Truly sick for the first time. Snotty nose. Cough. Trouble breathing. The whole nine yards. He is on the mend, though, but he has still been having trouble sleeping, and I've been tired as a result. 

My sixteen-month-old son LOVES his new dinosaurs. Mama left him with Dada last Saturday morning (Oct. 13) to go to a Mom2Mom sale with a friend (John's Aunt Mandy) and brought home a bucket of dinos for John John. He was into it. He has also really started playing ... like pretending [I think ... He lines up his cars and talks with them]. He also loves his poofs ... He loads them up in the back of his toy trucks. I LOVE watching him and his creativity grow. 

My sixteen-month-old son adores books. He reads, reads, reads; he also loves to be read to ... by Mama ... by Dada ... by his favorite babysitter, Mrs. Elise [Mama left him with a non-blood-relative babysitter for the first time this month. John did great. Mama was a little shaky.] ... and by anyone who comes to our newly-founded Thursday night Bible study. His favorite books include (but are certainly NOT limited to) Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?, My First Farm Touch and Feel Book, and (believe it or not) Barbie: I Can be a Pet Vet (bought for tutoring a family of girlies in English ... this book never made it to their house).

My sixteen-month-old son is talking some, babbling a lot. He has learned to say all of his grandparents' names [Meme, Honey, Poppy and Pop ... repeat after me style]. He also has picked up some of my favorite responses to his babbling ... "Oh, yeah," and "Wow!" When Mama says "Caw! Caw!" John Piggy exclaims, "BIRD!" My baby can also say "whoo," "owl," "moo," "neigh," "meow," "baa" (he is very into making animal sounds), "bath," and "wash," "open this" (+ many more). 

My sixteen-month-old son has a gut that just won't quit. He likes his "winky" (Sorry, y'all ... he's a boy). Two things that I notice at bath time, which John enjoys so much! I know that it's time for this boy to get OUT when he starts throwing all of his toys and buckets (full of water) out of the tub. OMGeee, this Boo Boo can be high maintenance.

My sixteen-month-old son is eating so, so much these days. He loves going to his chair for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And he HATES getting his face and hands wiped when he's done.

And oh, the chocolate! My sixteen-month-old son is a Hershey Kiss MONSTER!!! He sort of takes after his Cal Cal in so many things.

My sixteen-month-old son took his first trip to Indiana (Oct. 19-21) this month for a conference in honor of Jesus. He loved DANCING to the worship music so much! It was at this conference that we KNEW he was teething. He is currently getting his four canine teeth. Someone told me that these are called the "stomach teeth" because they mess with babies' tummies. I believe it! John has been pooping so much (and all over my house & his clothes). I'll be glad when these teeth are in. 

Here's the truth, peeps. I'm just smitten with this boy. This little ball of energy. This baby who requires so much of my time, who is really terrible at napping/sleeping through the night {terrible, y'all}, and who has a severe sweet tooth. This boy is so crazy cool. I am completely humbled and grateful that God has entrusted him to me and the studly one known as Dada. 

Here's some more truth. This is just going by so fast. This = John's life. I am so crazy about him. Honestly, when he was born and it was so hard, so hard for him to eat + the baby blues set in + I am really easily stressed = me daydreaming about having another baby. It sounds strange, right? But I was just imagining this perfect child. My next child. You know the one who latches immediately and sleeps through the night at some point earlier than sixteen months. (Does STTN even exist?) I found myself wishing for that child when John was, well, difficult. But I have decided that I don't want that kid ... the one that I dreamed up. The one who sleeps as I do whatever the heck I want. I want my kid. I want him to be mine longer than he will be. Man, he just keeps growing. He just keeps getting smarter. And more hilarious. Oh, he's so funny. Before I know it, he'll be married. 

So, here's the deal. I am going to blog about this guy. I am going to use a lot of words on him. And pictures. I'm going to take lots of pictures. I hope that's okay with you. I hope that you'll journey along with me as I learn from and love this little sixteen-month-old soul who I treasure.

John Pig, know this, little man. Your Mama was sure blessed by your sixteen-month-old self. And your Mama loves you so stinkin' much!