Levi Andrew: 19 Months Old

Dear Levi,

Today you turned 19 months old!

First time playing in the snow

You are really starting to become a little boy and not a baby anymore.  You are learning new words, gaining new skills and becoming independent.

Hot stuff!

Some of your new words are cookie, bar (like granola bar), okay, no, bye bye, hi/hello, fire truck, hot, set (and get into the football stance), bubble and head.  You are learning to point out your body parts, too.  You are aware of things that are hot (food, oven, stove, hair straightener).  It is so precious how you look at the hot thing with a concerned face, point at it and warn aloud, "ho{t}".  You currently love fire trucks and garbage trucks and can identify the sirens and garbage truck noises that you hear outside.  We have started watching for the garbage man on Wednesday mornings!

Obsessed with cars!

You are developing more skill with throwing balls, tackling, the set position, shooting hoops, and catching/fielding balls.  You can jump and stomp your feet rapidly.  You love to run (and run away--what a fun game to play!).

You have developed a serious crush on two of your blankets and two of your lovies which are named Dolly and Doggie.

You are learning to color, paint and stamp.

This month you are really interested in reading certain books.  I got you some transportation books.  Those are your favorites!  You also still like the book called "Dear Zoo" and now you like "Brown Bear".  The simple picture books with one picture per page also hold your attention.  I am so excited that you are getting interested in reading!  I'm enjoying having you grab your favorite books and then sitting in my lap to read with me.

The walls of our home are filled with your laughter!  You are so funny and the best part is that you think I'm funny!  I am grateful every day for your joyful spirit.  I love your smile and your laugh!

I am thankful to witness how generous and loving you are.  You are so good to Whitney.  She doesn't deserve it sometimes!  You always pick up her special toys and hand them to her even while she is screaming in panic thinking that you are taking them away.  I've started letting you hold two vitamins and instructing you to go and give one to Sissy.  You love gummi vitamins now that I switched away from the liquid!  You are generally so loving towards me, giving me hugs and kisses when I ask you for some lovin'.  You also enjoy cuddling with me on the couch each morning along with all your blankies and dollies.  You still like to be held by me or crawl into my lap to read books.  You still can fall asleep on my chest in the Tula or be rocked to sleep (you are so big though!  It is getting awkward).  You adore Daddy and when you hear the garage door open in the evening, you stop what you are doing, yell, "Daddy!" and run outside through the garage door to greet him.  You are such a sweet boy.  A million thanks!

First time feeding the ducks

Still love to be carried!  

You are also more independent lately.  In certain situations like walking to your classroom at the gym and preschool drop off/pick up, in which I used to carry you in the Tula, now I'm letting you walk freely.  You are learning to hold my hand and are getting better about it.  I love to see you acting more cautious and aware of the rules.  Not that you obey perfectly--you test the boundaries a lot lately.  I'm just enjoying watching that awareness and maturity develop in your character as I loosen the reigns a little more and more.  You are also good at walking your feet while riding your tricycle.  You and your sister can ride up and down the street now!

You have become a little more disobedient these days.  Nothing Mommy can't handle.  {Oh, I know that is coming.  I remember that phase with Whitney and I'm bracing myself for it with you!}  You hit the blinds on purpose to get a reaction from me.  Or change the channel/turn the TV off.  You also sit at the computer and bang on the keyboard and click the mouse.  You know you aren't supposed to.  You throw things when you get upset.  You stand on the dining chairs and jump on the couch (and threaten to topple over the back of it).  You push the dining chairs to the kitchen, stand up and access the knife block.  Crazy kid!  I can't take my eyes off of you for a second when you are in Curiosity Mode.  You also like to flush the toilet repeatedly and unravel the toilet paper.  When you get redirected from something you were doing wrong, you generally stomp your feet and whine, "No!" or lay down on the floor and dramatize a bit more.  This paragraph paints a side of you that isn't the best but I want to document the memory for what it's worth!  You are still super loved no matter what.

Behaving :)