Love Letter to a 13-month old

Dear Peanut,

Today you turned 13 months old. This last month has been so incredibly fun with you. It is hard to describe. Your walking has given you a new sense of confidence that I find both thrilling and scary all at the same time. You have become a master at climbing up stairs and going down slides on your own. The fact that my baby is turning into a little girl is apparent by your need to run and to explore.

Your favorite game right now is emptying baskets/bags/trashcans. Right now the waste basket in the kitchen is turned backwards and placed in the far corner of the kitchen. It isn't too convenient for throwing away trash, but it is pretty convenient for catching you before you drag pieces of chicken wrapping out onto the floor. Also, all of our gym and work bags have to remain zippered shut or we will end up searching for the contents of them in the morning.

Yesterday, your father called me and asked me not to be mad. He then launched into a story on how he changed your diaper and left you in your room for all of 30 seconds so he could get his coat on. When he returned you were holding an open diaper up in the air. Of course, there was the obvious, "My daughter is grasping a dirty diaper", but the real problem with the situation was that the poo that was once in the diaper was no where to be found. He smelled your hands and breath but they both seemed clean. After a minute or two of looking around he finally found it IN MY SHOE. YOU PUT POOP IN MY SHOE. Rest assured that story is getting told on your wedding day.

You are constantly looking for ways to challenge your new found mobility. The other day, when it snowed, we made a slide out of some cardboard and pulled the cushions off the couch. You climbed up the couch and slid down the "slide". When you tired of that you raced (because nothing is slow for you) over to your table with the toy bin in it, pulled the lid off and climbed inside. I generally don't mind you doing it, but you also managed to scoot it across the floor as you were trying to get into it. I was glad when it finally hit the wall as I didn't expect your first experience hopping on one foot was going to turn out too well.

Daycare is going really well. It is always nice to walk in and hear something special about you. "oh peanut says baby all the time" "Oh, peanut, she is the best eater. She eats vegetables." Surprise, a baby who eats vegetables. I guess it is because we give them to you often. I read a LOT about feeding, and I am so glad it worked (for now). It is one of the things that makes me the proudest. On the other hand, you keep trying to bite kids. Hopefully we found a solution by just pumping you full of Motrin. I guess we will see.

This month you also started saying "mom" with vigor. I love it. it makes my heart melt to see you hold out your hands and say mom. I love feeling your sticky little hands around my neck. It gives me the best feeling ever, but I guess that is to be expected from someone as exceptional as you.

I love you,
mum