19 Months

Dear Sam,

You are 19 months old today!  It is so hard to believe that this is the last of your teen months.  You are growing so quickly, and each day I see more and more little boy and a little less baby.

We have no new growth stats, but surely you are growing, because people can't stop saying how you're as big as Avery.  They are correct.  Your belly is hanging out of your 18 month short-sleeve shirts that we can't put away because of the heat.  For fall I bought 24 month clothes and they have a little room to grow.  I've also bought some 2T which is still a little long.  You wear a size 6.5 shoe and a size 4 diaper.

Eating a variety of foods is still not your strength, but since you continue to grow I try not to worry too much.  You still don't try too many unfamiliar things, and if you do, they don't stay in your mouth.  You're even eating less of some previously well-eaten foods.  We can still count on fruit, applesauce, fruit and veggie pouches, yogurt, and cheese.  You get a plate with what we're eating plus some of your favorites to keep everyone happy.  You have 2 cups of milk a day and drink lots of water in between.

You are still on your same sleeping schedule, waking between 6-6:30 a.m., napping at 1 p.m. for about 2 hours, and going to bed at 7 p.m.  Since we started getting up early for school, you've had some very early (5:15-5:30) mornings where we take you a pacifier so you're quiet until it's time to wake up.  You and your sister both wake early if you go to bed late, but I'm wondering if a slightly later bedtime might work out.  You still sleep in your sleep sacks Duckie and your sound, and a nap time you use a pacifier.  We rock before nap and bed, and at bed time you feel you need to talk and try all of your words.  Quiet rocking is not going to happen if the cat comes in, because you call him and say "see you."  And, you know if you start laughing then I will laugh with you, so sometimes rocking is not as soothing as it should be.  You will lay quietly if we sing or hum.

You are quite the chatter box, trying and using many new words.  You call Deda (Daddy), Mema (Mommy) and A-bee (Avery) all the time.  I may get tired of that sound one day but not yet.  This month you have started saying Jen-Jen and some of the names of your buddies there.  We have noticed they are all girl names!  You also call and use correctly Yaya, Poppa, and Mimi.  I know there are many other words that you've learned and are using and some that we haven't caught on to yet.

We turned your car seat around this month and you seem to like that new view.  We also switched sides in the car so that you can see Mommy as we drive each day.  You love picking Avery up from school in the afternoons and work really hard to get down and explore school.

You still enjoy your normal play things and are happy to move from one thing to another.  Balls are still a favorite, and you will play with the ball popper at Yaya and Poppa's for a long time.  You are also sitting longer at toys with different pieces like the zoo, farm, pirate ship, and Thomas set.  You love the train table at church, so it's good that Avery has had that on her Christmas list for quite some time.  You love playing outside but aren't too interested in strolling anymore unless it's somewhere in public.  Around home you would much rather be walking with everyone else.  You love to climb, jump, and move.

You continue to be pretty mild-mannered, and any tough times are easily remedied with Duckie and a pi-pi.  In between your moments of busyness, you like to sit with us and rock, which is one of my favorite things to do.  You are showing Avery your preferences concerning her ideas of love  more and more.  You do just fine when we leave you at Jen-Jen's or with Mimi, but you cry each time at church.  You seem to get happy quickly with some love and a snack.

Sam, you are such as precious gift to our family, and we are so thankful for you.  Each day is an adventure, and it is a blessing to be able to spend our days with you.  I could be sad that the baby is fading away, and I am a little, but I'm thankful for and excited about all the things to come.  Your sister has shown us that it just gets better, so we rest easy knowing all of the wonderful things in store.  We love you to bits and pieces.

Mommy and Daddy