Dear Shep,

I have one month left with a baby boy. You decided to do so many new things this month that I’ll be shocked if I have much to write about for your big one year post. One new tooth (your top right – we were so shocked) and two bottom teeth working their way through. We celebrated your very first Christmas, met Santa, celebrated a new year, learned what “no” means, and decided that Peek A Boo is for bed time stalling and laundry days. We spend our days (when it isn’t freezing out) taking out the wagon that Santa bought you and sharing the big boy seat with Raffie. Speaking of, you’ve kicked Buns the bunny to the curb and now can’t get enough of your giraffe love that Daddy bought you during a wagon ride in Mount Laurel. You get the biggest smile on your face when you spot him nearby and give him kisses (not to mention forcing me to kiss his little dirty snout countless times each day). You crawl like it’s your job, and you pull up on anything and everything you can get your hands on. I’m a fan of learning new things, but this new adventure has cost you a few bumps on the noggin as well as an “ouch report” from Mother’s Day Out after a big fall that tore your lip tie. Ouch!

You’ve been sick with a nasty cold ( and your second ear infection ) so we have had a lot of sling naps that reminded me of your going to sleep moan that used to crack me up. You just groan moan until you pass out cold in my arms and I smile so big at the memories of you as a little 6 pound baby who refused to sleep for me. I never thought that those memories would bring so much joy to me at the time, but there I sat grinning from ear to ear with nostalgia of even the difficult times that we’ve had. You’ve been quite the snuggler this month and take time outs during play to come pull up on me and give me big hugs. I get more open mouthed kisses than I ever thought I would take from a snotty nosed little boy, and can’t get enough of your clingy love grabs that you give as you play. Soothers? Well, your leading lady still is and always was your thumb. You have no preference for which, but man do you go at those boogers when you are cranky or sleepy. You are back to loving The Very Hungry Caterpillar if you need some extra TLC and we’ve found that the animal Einstein movie is great at the art of distraction with this cold you’ve caught. You crawl straight to the door when Daddy gets home and grunt and pant until you reach his legs. Nothing on this earth feels better than to be greeted by you at the door with those sounds. Thank you for loving us so hard. You are a huge fan of all fruit with pineapple and watermelon as the front runners this month. You still eat up any veggies pureed, but I can’t get you to eat them whole unless I sneak them in a soup. Soup? Well, soup is your jam! Potato, chicken, chili, you name it. You slurp it up and eat more of anything if I feed you using the big kid spoon or fork. You will refuse to eat your meals at times until I try feeding you with my utensils, then suddenly you’re all about it. If that doesn’t shout something about your personality, I don’t know what does.

Thank you for another month as your Mommy. Keep the hugs coming and work on leaving something to the imagination with your kisses. I kid. But not really.

Xx Mommy