Baby Zwei: 15 months. Ish.

Dear Keats, you're fifteen sixteen months old now. 

Last time I wrote I said that you were crawling faster and faster. Well, at just over one year, you started walking and have not slowed down one bit since. Unlike your brother, who still alternated crawling and walking for quite some time, you wanted nothing to do with crawling once you figured out how to walk. Nowadays, you practically run from place to place. You love being outside now that it has gotten warmer. The local park and playground is a favorite spot to run around, but you are just had happy standing in the driveway with bubbles, rocks, and bits of chalk. 

We are getting a few more words out of you these days. You are such a great mimic that you often point to yourself and say 'mama,' a result of my trying to teach you what to call me. We get 'dada's but it's often also a general cry for help. :) You think Lita's name is 'good girl.'  You love ducks and to 'quack.'  You will point and yell 'dah wun' (that one) to tell us what you want. Challenging for us because it sounds very similar to your versions of down and done. You also say hot, uhoh, up, and make lots of animal sounds. You love Wheels on the Bus and playing Ring around the Rosey with your brother. 

You have 16 teeth. Only two year molars left. Not looking forward to that. You do enjoy sleeping and do okay most nights. You still nurse 2-3 times a night, but I know that will be over soon enough. You take two naps during the day still too. I am going to hold on to those as long as I can since that is my only chance to get some work done during the day. 

Favorite toys now include Mr. potato head, playdoh, Star Wars Rebels figures, and the iPad. 

Favorite books include Crankenstein, Little Blue Truck, I am a bunny, and any of the That's Not My...books. 

You are such a happy kid most of the time. Quick to smile and laugh. You love to be chased and to hide. You love Frozen and to try to sign along. You love swinging. You love when your brother tickles you or has imaginary lightsaber duels with you. You even do sound effects. You are so much fun to have around. 

Love you forever,  Momma

Baby Zwei: One Year Old.

Dear Keats,


You are one. Well, you have been one for a bit now, but, as things often go now, time has gotten away from me. You started crawling at 7.5 months old and have not stopped moving since. You army crawled at first, but it did not really slow you down. You pulled up to standing that same week. You always go big. By 9 months, you were moving full speed crawling and had started to climb. Climb. Anything and everything. There is no turning my back on you.


As a result of all this motion, you have dropped a full curve on your growth chart. I know better now than to worry about that though. At your 12 month appointment you were within a quarter of an inch in height and an ounce in weight as to where your brother was at his one year. How interesting. You are alike and different in so many ways.


You are still full of smiles. But you also have no issue demonstrating your disapproval or desires. You are a demanding, stubborn little man. You communicate in grunts to tell us what you want. You love pointing now too. And while your brother's selected 'word' to get us to look at something was 'ish' (this), you prefer to sort of just stick your tongue out and hiss at us 'tss.' You do know some signs and have started trying to say some words... 'Ah da--all done' 'duh--duck or maybe dog.' We do get mamas and dadas but I'm not yet convinced that you are actually referring to us and not just babbling. Soon enough.


On your birthday you had 10 teeth, counting 2 upper molars that had only partially erupted. These molars have been giving you a heck of a time. I hate teeth. You are sleeping in bed with us. Daddy has started getting a nice bedtime routine down with you. I nurse you and then go take care of big brother. Daddy reads you stories in the rocking chair, and sings The Beatles with you while you rock to sleep. I think he really enjoys your time together. You still nurse at night, but it varies greatly.


During the day, you nurse less frequently and are enjoying solids. As long as you get to feed yourself. By now I just put a bowl in front of you and you go to town. Favorites include yogurt, hummus, blueberries, pineapple, apple slices, spaghetti, pork chops, and chicken.


You are taking two naps a day still. We are lucky enough to have Oma with us often so you get undisturbed naps. I am blessed to be able to give you much of the same dedication and patience that your brother got.


On your birthday the four of us visited a local community center that has a playroom. You loved crawling and climbing. And even jumping on the trampoline! We also had a birthday party for you--Uno themed. You had fun then too and really dug in when it was time for cake.


I have not yet taken you for your first haircut, but it will probably be soon. It feels like the last bit of baby-ness that I am clinging to. Those fuzzy, feathery, baby hairs. Once those are gone, it's all over.




You love your brother. Almost always have a smile for him. You have also started playing rough, pushing him and tackling him. I'm in so much trouble with you two.


You are a joy. A stubborn, smiling, little daredevil. Cannot wait to see what the next year brings!


Love you bunches,

Momma