21 months

Dear R,

Your 21st month was officially the month of "sick." You were on antibiotics two out of four weeks this month and dripping or coughing the rest of the time. We've taken you to the pediatrician's office three times, and your latest diagnosis is some kind of respiratory thing with a breathing machine, a steroid, and yes, the requisite antibiotic. Third round in five weeks.

We're desperately looking forward to a time when you aren't plugged up or needing us to follow you around with a kleenex. You are a champ at wiping your nose with your sleeve or arm, which usually means there's snot smeared all over your cheek and the back of your hand. I can't say I blame you, though-- it's got to be annoying to wait for Mom or Dad to notice that there's a nasal drip halfway down your lip before things get cleaned up. Thank goodness we've (hopefully) cured you of the habit of wiping your eyes after wiping your nose.

Your 21st month hasn't just been a series of illnesses, though. It's getting to sound like a cliche because I think I've said it every month, but there is so much new vocabulary and language stuff going on it's incredible. You're amazingly expressive and you have SO MANY opinions! You're not shy about sharing any of them, either.

Favorite words: "Yeah" and "Noohhhhhhhpe."

I've started echoing my father, who spent years following after me and my brothers insisting that we say "yes." The problem: I am pretty sure that you have learned to say "yeah" from me. I say "yeah, that's right!" and "yeah, very good!" and "yeah!" All. The. Time. I'm starting to think I should start some kind of jar. Every time I say "yeah" I drop in a quarter or something.

You've got please and thank you down pretty good, although we're still working on getting you to not yell what you want at the dinner table, and to stop asking for things by going, "EHHHH!" or "NOOOOOOOOOOO!" I just like that all I usually have to do is prompt you with, "what do you say?" and you instantly start saying "Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeese!!!!" The only problem is that sometimes what I'm asking you is for you to actually tell me what you want, and the only response you'll give me is "Peeeese!! PEASE, PEASE, PEASE!!"

It is so fun to see you using your new vocabularies all over the place. I have a feeling the ride is only just starting.

Love,
Mama