My Nineteen-Month-Old Son

I love you, Piggy Boy. I love your nineteen-month-old self.

This month, you have shown us just how smart you are! I get so stinkin' proud every time I hear you say your ABC's (even if you say them sans A, and H, and R, and X ... relatively unimportant letters, right? hmmm).

You can also identify so many of your letters ... B & C & E & F & I & M & O & P & T & U & V & W & Y ... until you get tired of identifying them, then every letter is M. 

Another sweet Mama brag: Love hearing you count to ten. Love hearing the strength and confidence with which you say the number TWO (which you will unbelievably be in less than five months). 

Recently, you have been obsessed with Elmo. Let's put your favorite Sesame Street characters in order:

1. Elmo

2. Abby Cadabby

3. Cookie Monster

4. Big Bird

And you couldn't care less about the rest of 'em. I really enjoy watching Elmo with you, brother. 

Mama bought you the Cars movie this month, and while you were watching it with Dada, you made the connection and went and DUG all of your Mater tow trucks out of your toy bin. Smart boy!

This month, you have also been obsessing over Meme. When you look at your picture book of Mama's family, everyone's name is Meme (including Mama's). From time to time you correctly identify Mama, Cal Cal, and Mink. Oh, and Pa. Of course, Pa.

You also pointed to Mason's picture on Mama's dresser and said his name. You love your big cousin.

You have been giving me your version of kisses: You lean in, headbutt me, and say, "MAH!"

There aren't many days that go by when a portion of my lip isn't a wee bit fatter than the rest. You are sort of violent. You really enjoy throwing things at Mama.

You are learning your colors this month. Everything is blue at first ask. You also say "geen" and red and "dah." {Yellow. You say dah every time Mama says yellow. Silly boy!}

Favorite food of the month is grilled cheese. [Dada calls them cheese grill. He is soooooooooo weird sometimes. Love you, Josh!]

I'm not feeding you oranges again for a long time. We dealt with very frequent yucky poops & BAD diaper rash for several days after our orange craving. Looks like Mama needs to find  a substitute favorite fruit. 

You are obsessed with playing with your choo-choos. Mama has started thinking about you birthday party. Every day I ask you to choose who you want on your birthday cake: Elmo, Cars, or choo-choos.

You typically respond with all three. Oh boy.

I don't think you like winter very much. Mama has had a hard time getting you out of the door some days. You HATE putting on your winter coat and hat. I don't blame you.

This morning Mama had a little meltdown. You wouldn't go to the door, and when Mama bent down to get you, her cup spilled Wild Cherry Pepsi all over her jeans, coat, bag, Bible, journal, and planner. Then Mama just started yelling at you. Sorry about that.

After Mama got to work, she was no less upset, so she went down to the car to find her phone to call Daddy. Mama's phone was missing {at home in the Coke-drenched pants she changed out of}, so Mama just sat in the car and sobbed before her Maker.

Mama asked God for wisdom to know how to guide and discipline you.
Mama asked God to give you a desire to obey.
Mama asked God to point you to Jesus (because without Him, what will we do?).

I love you, precious boy. I hope you know how much this month has meant to me. God is teaching me through you ... to be more present, to be more patient, to be more trusting of Him.

Thanks for being you, John P.