Monthly Newsletter, Month Twenty

Goodness, baby boy - you're heading towards Two at quite a clip!

This month has been hysterical. You have turned into such a goofy little ham. You do these funny little walks - spreading your legs and stomping around. You shuffle sideways. You "sing" along with me when I sing Baa Baa Black Sheep. You do a funny little laugh when everyone around you is laughing - you actually say "Ha! Ha ha!"



Not too much is new in the talking department, but you're definitely getting there. You repeat, poorly, a lot of what we say. You say "dank you!" and "neeeeeeee (please)" all the time - sometimes without any prompting! You smile at people and say "Hi!" and "Bye!" It's absolutely heartwarming, and sometimes very uncomfortable, that you don't know the difference between a crazy wandering guy downtown and a business man - both get a cheery "Hi!" from your stroller.



Almost every night, Daddy gives you a bath. You guys laugh and play; I have no idea what's going on in there. Then you pop out, totally nekkid and gleeful, and run down the long hallway to me at my desk. I give you a cuddle, and send you back to Daddy waiting in your bedroom. One of us reads you stories, and then it's time for bed. You reliably give a goodnight kiss, and then I lay you in the crib with bumper. You say "nie nie" and I say "night night" and you say "nie nie" and I say "night night" and a few more times. I close the door, and you often keep chatting to yourself. A few nights ago we heard you counting to yourself: "Two, fie, two, FIE!" Sometimes we hear you up to an hour later, chatting to yourself. It makes me feel so good how happy and secure you are all alone in the perfect dark. We have raised such a good, happy, cheerful, secure little boy.



You are a swimming superstar, Nate, and I can't tell you how proud I am of you. You are a natural, as comfortable as any baby I've ever seen in the water. You never mind the water splashing you in the face, even when you're choking on it. We went swimming with Reese and Amy and our other friends last week, and found out the hard way that the heated pool isn't heated starting in April. You simply couldn't have cared less - you hauled me down the stairs and straight in up to our necks. Then you laughed and splashed. I put you in a swim ring (Ack! Call CPS!) and you kicked your way around the whole pool. Argh, my heart is swelling just thinking about it.



You are a very social little boy; I think you're going to be an amazing big brother. Anytime I hold another baby I expect you to get jealous; you never do - you sidle up to me on my other side, and give the baby a soft, gentle side hug. You love to find babies all around us and point out every one to me. You pet them softly on the head. You and Reese are finally friends, and you and Sophia from down the street are, too. They both pretend not to like you, since you're a baby and you're a boy, but they both do. Whenever we leave one of them, after a playdate or just running into them on the street, your face crumples and you cry. It's so sweet and so sad.



You and Daddy are such good friends. He bought a bike seat and a helmet for you, and you guys have been running around town together. After a skeptical start, you have come to really, really like it. I love that there's a world that you share with Daddy that has nothing to do with me. But I also like that you're not such a Daddy's boy anymore - you seem to love us both equally right now. We'd better enjoy that while it lasts!



We went to see Aunt Deborah at work last week, and passed a fire station on our way there. They were pulling two trucks back in after a call, and they say you staring so they invited you in - before I knew it one of them had grabbed you and put you right into the cab of the truck! I'm not sure you really got how cool the whole thing was, but if they let you back in a few months I think you'll be really happy.



You and Grandma have such a wonderful bond. Every Wednesday I go to work and you go spend the day with her; I don't know who has the most fun. Yesterday you and I spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa, and Daddy came to have dinner with all of us. He was holding you when you were upset about something, and you pushed away from him to go to Grandma instead. Daddy and I were both so happy about how much you love and trust her, and Grandpa too. Whenever you see Grandpa, you squeal "Papa!" We are all so lucky to have each other in our lives.



You love sushi.



I love you.
Mama