My Dearest Mae

My dearest Mae,

Happy 18 month birthday or happy year and half old day!

I guess the thing that has most been happening this month is your speech. It seems that everyday you learn a new word or repeat a word that I have said. Your mom and dad are in full on "watch what we say mode," because who knows what word you will decide to repeat next. You still continue to continually ask, "what is that?" when we are reading. You point to a picture and say, "what is that?" You have done this for some time but now I turn the game back around on you when I know you know what it is. You have also started to play the game, "who is that?" when we are out with people or looking at a picture. It is pretty cute when you point to someone and say "who is that?"

A good thing has happened this month and you have become pretty interested in babies. You acknowledge and exclaim when you see a baby in a carrier, car seat, or stroller. I am hoping that this bodes well when we bring home your new brother or sister. You also sleep with your baby doll every night and at naps. You give her kisses, feed her, and give her a paci. You are already a natural nurturer. Again, hope this continues when a REAL baby enters the house.

I also was struck the other day that essentially whatever you say or do is because I (or your dad) have taught it to you. It is a little scary and a little exciting. For instance, I think that I must clean the house constantly because you now enjoy making a mess (dumping your milk everywhere). ) One day I told you, YOU had to clean it up and handed you a towel. You did just that! Now, I believe you make a mess just so you can clean it up.

I joke with your dad that you are either going to be a truck driver, a bus driver, or marry a truck or bus driver because you are fascinated with both of them. If you see one, you exclaim, "bus!" or "truck!" like you haven't seen one before. Your dad has fueled your love for buses even more by starting a little outing for you two. He takes you on the bus! You ride it to the water where you go look for boats and birdies (also two of your favorite things). Your dad has also taught you this funny trick, where if we ask you "what do you do when you look for birdies?" You reply in a whisper, "shhhhh, birdies." Since your dad was so successful with the whisper part I expanded it to, "what do we do when the baby is sleeping?" You whisper, "shhhhh, birdies." Pretty funny.

Your love for songs and nursery rhymes is insatiable. You could have me sing or say a nursery rhyme for most of the day. You also demand, "more" quite a lot when it comes to this department. I both love and loath it. I mean really how many more times can one person say, "hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon..."? You think countless.

As for physical development, you are still Mighty Mae. You love to go to the park where you go down the slide (totally on your own) - even the big one. Another thing that totally surprises me is that you STILL only have six teeth. All the kids we know, pretty much have a full set by now but you only have six. You haven't even had any new ones come in, in months. I just am waiting for them to come in with a vengeance.

I guess that is all for now my curious, independent, confident, lovable one and half year old. Cheers to the second half of your second year. I am sure it will be as great as the first.

Love Always, Mom