Dear Nate,
Today you turn 23 months old. Obviously, this means you'll be TWO YEARS OLD a month from today - but instead of getting wistful about that right now, let's talk about the last two months, which have been PACKED with all kinds of new adventures.
The biggest new adventure has been your big boy bed! Two weeks ago you started climbing out of your crib on a daily basis, so rather than risk having you get injured, we decided it was time to move you to a bed. There are built-in bunk beds in your room (the ladder has been stowed away since we moved in, though) so we moved you straight into a twin size bed instead of getting a toddler bed in the interim.
It's been a bit of a bumpy transition. You've been waking up at 6am nearly every day and won't go back to sleep unless I come in your room (instead you get out of bed and stand behind your closed door screaming because you can't open it). Little by little, I think you'll start sleeping later. Overall, you're doing really well. Nap time is still a struggle most days, especially Saturday, but we're working on it.
Then, of course, there was our trip to the emergency room this past weekend. But you are quite a little trooper. No one would know you had a dislocated elbow this weekend.
If we dig back a little further to last month, you had an even less happy encounter: the Easter bunny! Last year you were so happy to sit on that big, fuzzy lap. This year? Not so much.
But that's okay. I know it'll be better in a few years. You just love to be on the go now and don't appreciate being told to sit in one place for any period of time unless there's food in front of you. You still love to eat, but continue to be a bit picky. It's been challenging to find nutritious foods that you'll eat without hesitation, but we're learning. And you're still growing, so I think everything is okay. You weighed 33 lbs at the hospital this weekend and are wearing all 2T clothes and a few 3T shirts. All four of your two year molars are at least partially in, so you are officially done breaking in any new teeth until you get your adult teeth!
And you take great care of your teeth, too. In your Easter basket from Grandma and Grandpa, you got two new toothbrushes, which you demanded be opened immediately so you could use them - which you did. You spent the next hour walking around, using both brushes simultaneously. You LOVE brushing your teeth (although you mostly love playing with the water in the sink - but you do actually brush your teeth well).
Your first time walking Buster with Mommy... You were SO excited and happy!
Your vocabulary is getting bigger every week and you've begun to know some letters. Yesterday you (accurately) pointed out the letters A, B, C, E, K, M, and O - and even connected some words to them - "B! Boo! (blue)" "M! Me me me!" You basically point out these letters everywhere we go. I think your favorite colors are blue and green, although you call both of them blue ("Boo!").
Your favorite new item is the "mack mack" (backpack) the Easter bunny brought you on Sunday.
For the past two days, you've put it on and tried to leave with me when I left for work. I think maybe you think that owning a backpack means you get to work with Mommy? (Since I take a backpack to work almost every day to carry my schoolbooks in case I have time for them.) I think you'll be very excited to put it on Thursday to take it with you to Grandma's house for the day, even if you don't quite get the concept yet of using it to carry things with you.
Other things you absolutely love right now: playing with your LeapFrog tablet, helping Dada get the dogs ready for their walk, giving the dogs their treats after their walk, pointing out where our jackets are and which one belongs to who, pointing out the cars in the driveway and which one belongs to who, telling me that the door is for going "outside, away," saying, "Oh man!" ALL THE TIME, telling me where my coffee cup is ("foffee! foffee!"), telling me that every bed is "a bed, night night," eating raisins, asking for milk (even if it's water or juice), helping me unload and close the dishwasher, helping put clothes in the dryer... do you see a theme? You love to help, to do whatever we're doing, and to tell us the purpose of everything around. I love watching you figure it all out and how you surprise us with a new word every day sometimes.
I can't believe you'll be two years old next month, although we already say we have a two year old because you're such a big boy to us. We love everything about you. Even the 6am wake-up screams aren't so bad because when we open that door, you are so sweet and happy to see us and start your day or snuggle back to sleep. Every minute with you is a joy, truly. We love you!
Love,
Mommy & Dada
