17 months.

Dear Beck,

it has been two months since I have written about you and looking back at the 15 month post, I cannot believe how much has changed.

Let me think...
~you finally started pointing last month and now you point at everything
~if there is something you want, you point AND grunt, charming
~you now say 'dah' (dog), 'woof,' 'up,' 'ish' (this).
~you sign 'more' and 'milk'
~you understand a TON and I can give you simple directions "put your cars away," "give this to daddy," "go wash your hands"
~you give high-fives and fist bumps
~you like shooting hoops with dad
~you are obsessed with your window crayons and enjoy play-doh as well
~you love being outside and people-watching
~you love music and will bob your head right along with daddy's loud music (he is so proud)
~you always kiss us goodbye
~you LOVE when your Grandma and Oma come to visit
~you enjoy truck sounds and have started making then while you play with your monster trucks
~you have had 16 teeth for awhile now (got all four canines at 15 months) and I suspect the second set of molars is starting to bother you occasionally as well (only 4 more to go!)
~you are still a great eater and have definitely started exhibiting some preferences

Phew!  You also had your first major illness.  :(  The day AFTER your 15-month well visit, you were definitely off.  You were home with daddy that day and he took you back to the doc.  You were diagnosed with an ear infection.  A nasty ear infection that gave you 104.3* fever that night.  My poor pumpkin, you were absolutely burning up!  That was our first parenting moment where we were wondering what to do.  The debate of "do we go to the hospital or are we over-reacting" was raging.  You were due for another dose of Tylenol at that point and, thankfully, your fever broke then.  You were only content snuggled up on my chest and slept that way most of the night.  It took a couple days and a course of antibiotics (which you took happily, just like all the other medicines you have received), but you bounced back pretty quickly.  Fingers crossed that was our first and last.

We took our first trip to Ohio to visit your Gpa and Nona for Easter.  You were a great little traveler, as usual.  You do not get to see them too often, but we still Skype every weekend and you are starting to get really comfortable with them.

Just in this last week, you have started walking confidently.  You now do lap through the kitchen and living rooms and enjoy walking the driveway outside as well.

Your dad and I also took you for your first haircut this weekend.  It is absolutely amazing what taking a little fuzz off can do--you look like a little boy now, not a baby.  Which, I guess, is exactly what you are...  Growing too fast, kiddo.

Love you bunches,
Momma