Made in Richmond

JR,

What the…? What is happening? How are you A YEAR AND A HALF old? This unacceptable, young man, and you just wait until your father gets home.

Now I will gush.

So, yes, my sweet boy, you are 18 months old today. That means in six months you will be two years old. And I will be dead because my head will explode with the absurdity of that.

You are…oh, just so incredible right now. While I loved it when you were a tiny baby, this stage of your life (our lives, really) is the most fun I have ever had.

You talk constantly — some babbling, some actual words. Here’s what our days usually sound like (and please imagine these all said in an extremely high-pitched voice, even though when you babble, you take things down a few octaves):

Cracker? Milk? Mama? Dada? MY Dada? Shoot-ah? Wawa? Bath? Heddo? Na-night? Teeeeeeth? Soap? Wash? Ross? Watch? Peeeeeeease? Ah-side? Walk? Car? Dog? Na-night? Ca-poot-ah? All gone? Down? Up?

You’ve recently realized that saying “more” isn’t always specific enough and started tacking on nouns to that from time to time. Usually it’s “more cracker?”

Speaking of food, we’ve had a couple days lately where you’ve been willing to try new things. You ate a ton of watermelon on Mother’s Day (with strawberries mixed in without your knowledge), and you scarfed down a ton of sausage the other night. You even tried some asparagus, which you promptly spit out, but, hey, trying counts for something.

School is still going well. You’re napping better there (but you still won’t give them the solid three hours that you do at home — thanks for that, by the way). It seems like you and the kids in your class are getting to be more interested in playing together. See?

You love coloring these days (although your word for it sounds very much like your word for “cracker” which is sometimes frustrating). You’re getting better at holding the crayon and pushing down so you can make a mark. Pink seems to be your favorite right now. Your Aunt Stephanie will be pleased.

Recently you’ve developed a fascination with hiding things. You enjoy hiding your shoes (usually right before we need to go somewhere) and putting your toy cars into your dad’s mixing bowls stacked on the island in the kitchen. While it can be frustrating, it’s pretty cute after you tuck something away because you lift up your hands and make a face that seems to say “Where did it go?”

You’ve also gotten to be more cuddly. We were in the store today and you started getting fussy. When I turned to you, you reached up and said “Cuddah?” I bent down and nuzzled you a bit and you snuggled right into my neck. We sat like that for a few seconds and then you were fine for the rest of the trip. It’s exciting that you’re getting better at communicating what you need or want from me. In fact, last Friday, I was doing some unexpected work on the computer while you were playing. You kept coming up to me and fussing, but I had to finish what I was working on. Finally you toddled up and said “Mama? All done?” I can take a hint.

This month we took our first solo family “vacation” together. Actually it was just a weekend trip to Blacksburg, but this was the first time we’ve headed out of town without your Mamaw and Papaw to help out. We shared one room at the hotel, and despite a brief scream-fest that first night, you did very well.

We went to Blacksburg so you could see your first Hokie football game — they play their Spring Game every April, and it’s free to get in, so we figured it made sense to try things out then. Even though the game took place right in the middle of your nap time, you held it together. We only stayed an hour, and you were more interested in the cranberries we had brought to snack on (which you haven’t eaten since), but overall, it was a success.

We tried to get you to say “Touch down!” during the game, but you were too distracted. However, as we walked out of the stadium, passing other Tech fans, you enthusiastically threw your hands up in the air, hollering “TAHHHHH DOOOOOWN,” charming the pants off of everyone you passed. As usual.

My boy, I must say, it’s been a pleasure being your Mama these past 18 months. I can’t wait to see how you continue to grow and change into a little man.

But don’t change too fast, ok? I don’t think my heart can take it.

Love,
Mama

Today I’m especially thankful for these boys. One whose birth made me a Mama, and the other who I’m so pleased to have along for the ride.

I wanted to write in detail about last weekend’s wonderful mini vacation to Blacksburg to see the Hokies play in their spring game, but yesterday afternoon I was flattened by a stunning case of food poisoning. So instead, I’m throwing pictures at you until I am myself again (my current energy level is less than or equal to that of a weak kitten).

Enjoy!

JR,

I almost forgot to write this month’s letter. I’d like to say it’s because I can’t believe you’re already this old, but it’s more likely that I’m tired. Because, dude!, you run me ragged these days. But being your mama is still very, very fun.

You had your first “real” Easter this month. You were around for Easter last year, but at only 5 months old, you weren’t really into it. This year you got an Easter party at school, Easter baskets from us and Grandma, AND you got to decorate Easter cookies with Mamaw and Papaw. You didn’t know what all the fuss was about, but you seemed to have a good time.

School is still going well. You’re in a new class with a new teacher who, I’ll be honest, I don’t like as much as your old teacher, but that’s just because your old teacher is a hard act to follow. You seem to be doing well and the assistant teachers love, love, love you. Napping still doesn’t really happen at school, but you’re never really in a bad mood in the evening, so I’m not sweating it too much. Plus, you sleep wonderfully on the days you’re home with me.

Speaking of those days, can we talk about how wonderful they are? Fridays are our date days. I try not to do any work at all and just focus on you. You seem so happy and calm on those days — it seems that we both need that time together so much. We don’t really do anything special (usually errands or just take walks) but it’s nice to have time to just soak you up without any distractions.

Your vocabulary is continuing to grow. There have even been a couple times when you’ve put two words together. Both have involved your Dada. Once you looked outside to see him sitting on the porch and said “Hi, Dada!” Another time we were at church and you were getting restless. I got up to take you outside and you were NOT happy about leaving him behind, causing you to howl “MY DADA.” It was very sweet. And loud.

Eating is still not particularly interesting to you. It seems like if you know we REALLY want you to eat something we put in front of you, you will definitely NOT eat it. It’s frustrating, but normal. I’m trying to not make an issue of it. I usually fail, but I’m doing my best. That will be a common theme in our parent-child relationship, you’ll soon learn.

You have two new and very exciting skills: helping to clean up your toys and blowing your nose! The first one helps keep the living room clean and the second one keeps us from having to use the nasal aspirator which you hate. So, good things all around.

Wherever we go, everyone points out what a happy little boy you are. And it’s true. If you get upset, it’s usually over pretty quick, and you love being out and about, visiting with people. You always seem SO happy to see everyone, even if you don’t know them, greeting them with a big smile and sometimes a squeal. Funny, you often get that in return, too. But how could you not? I mean, look at that face!

It makes proud to see how happy you are — I feel like it shows that we’re doing this right and giving you what you need. And that’s all we want in this whole, wide world.

Thanks for being our super-sweet, super-fun little bud. You’re really good at it.

Love,
Mama

JR is a big boy. Even though he’s moving back towards the 70/60th percentile, he’s still just a big ol’ chunk of baby. So, I’ve gotten fairly used to people making comments when we go out. We usually get things like…

“Those cheeks are killing me!”
“Look at those thighs!”
“How old did you say he was?”

Today was different.

I took JR into Great Clips (shut up, it’s cheap and he’s 1) to get a haircut.

When we walked back to the stylist’s chair she looked at JR, looked at me, looked back at JR, and looked back at me, obviously focusing on my hip-area.

As if that weren’t awkward enough, she then said, “So, did you have a C-section or an episiotomy?”

(!!!!)

“Um, a C-section.”

“I wish I had done that when I had my son. When I had him, they gave me an episiotomy that was about four inches long.”

I just blinked a lot and then asked her to not cut his bangs too short.

As JR gets older, we’re starting to notice certain characteristics popping up that can easily be attributed to either Ross or myself. For example…

From him:
Blue, blue (oh, so blue) eyes
A very notable brow
Feet perfectly engineered for flip-flops (i.e. lots of space between the first and second toe)
Giant hands
Sleeping with the body positioned much like the number ‘4′
No volume control
Appreciation for bathroom humor

From me:
Fair skin
Long lashes
Chubby cheeks
Big, silly teeth
Hunger-induced rage
Trepidation around strangers
Tendency to produce drool puddles the size of one’s head

I mentioned last week that JR has learned to express his displeasure with situations through the use of the word, “No.”

Well, now he has added a special move. Three special moves actually.

The first: When you try to pick him up to put him in his car seat or stroller and he doesn’t want you to, he plants his feet on the floor, bends slightly at the waist, looks at the floor, and says, “Nooooooooooooooooooooooo.”

The second: When you are holding him (much to his dismay), he folds himself in half as if he’s trying to hurl himself towards the floor, while grunting, “Nooooooooooooooooooo.”

The third: Once you’ve gotten him into the car seat or stroller (which he apparently views as Thrones Of Torture and Doom), he arches his back, scrunches up his face, and shrieks (you guessed it), “Noooooooooooooooooooo.”

It’s as awesome as it sounds.

I’ve been trying to make this place a bigger priority. Seriously! I had ideas! Things to share! Stuff to talk about!

And then this weekend happened.

See, Ross and I had been battling (and losing said battle) a cold for about a week. Luckily, as of press time, JR has yet to suffer from the same cold (although I’m SURE he brought it home from the germfest that is day care) but man, it sure was wreaking havoc with us.

And we were holding it together, trying to blame it on allergies, and generally being very positive.

Until Saturday. When I woke up mute. As in no voice. Nothing. Not a whisper.

You know what is hard to do when you can’t speak? Parent.

Parenting is made even harder when your parenting partner is down for the count.

And we did what any respectable adults would do in this situation. We called my mother.

Luckily, my mother is addicted to JR, so she zoomed over, scooped him up, and kept him overnight so we could recuperate properly.

Despite our unexpected child-free situation, we spent Saturday (the most beautiful day Richmond has had in, oh, EVER) cooped up inside, drowning in our own snot, trying to sleep, ordering pizza (you KNOW Ross was sick if he allowed such things), and watching such stunning cinematic contributions as Confessions of a Shopaholic. And I specifically spent the day not speaking. At all. Do you know how hard it is to boss your husband and dogs around without being able to talk?

We’re doing ok at this point. I still sound like I smoke 4 packs a day, and we both are still spending lots of time with the Neti pot. But, I’d say we’re on the up-and-up.

And I’d say that if JR actually does end up getting this, I will punch day care in the face.

JR,

The other morning I came downstairs (after your Dad let me sleep in a bit — take note of such things) to find you puttering around with your toys. You looked up at me, smiled, and said, “Hi, baby!”

That pretty much encapsulates how you are lately: totally and completely adorable.

That’s not to say that you don’t, um, challenge us from time to time. The biggest issue in my mind has to do with food. I pray every day that soon you’ll realize that man cannot live on bananas (now called “mimis”) and pretzels (”pabas”) alone. Occasionally you’ll eat a sandwich or a few bites of eggs or applesauce, but that’s about it at this point. Luckily you still like smoothies, so I cram as much stuff into those that I can.

You had your 15 month check up a couple weeks ago (I waited a bit to take you in since you were recovering from The Ear Infection Of Pain and Woe). I’m a horrible mother and don’t remember at all how tall you are or how much you weigh, but I do remember that the doctor said you are finally on the curve! No more 90th percentile for you! Yup, you’re turning out to be quite the average-sized kid - except for the cheeks. I really think people perceive you as chubbier than you actually are because of those chubbers (and, let’s be honest, the fact that you have a HUGE melon).

The doctor pointed out that you’re very verbal for your age. You’ve got all kinds of words these days: mama, dada, dog, car, key, bowl, ball, Tess (a friend from church), book, Nona (as in “Strega Nona”), cracker (sort of), please, thank you, not to mention your repertoire of animal sounds, both of the barnyard and safari persuasion.

Until recently, you had been letting us know when you needed something by emitting quite the unpleasant sound. It went a little something like this…

“EHHHHHHHHHHHHHNNNNNNNNNNNNN!”

In an effort to save our ears (and sanity), I taught you to say, “Help, Mama.” You’ve turned that into “HAHma!” And you say it to everyone. All day. Every day. Oh well, it’s better than whining.

You’ve also very recently (as in last weekend) learned how to use the word “no.” I’m not going to lie, it’s cute sometimes, particularly when you say it to the dogs, but let’s not repeat Monday morning’s incident of looking at me, shouting “NO!” and hurling your sippy cup across the table, hmmmmmm?

But overall, you really are delightful. You talk, laugh, and hug more than ever. We can play with you now instead of at you or near you, which is just kind of how it goes with babies at first. Anything involving peek-a-boo or tackling usually goes over well with you.

You definitely have favorite activities such as sitting on things, closing the dishwasher, kissing the dogs, messing up people’s hair, looking at books while babbling in a high-pitched voice, and eating off of plates. What can I say? You’re easy to please.

I think I’ll keep you.

Love,

Mama