Dear Mason,
Today you turn 16 months old. You are getting so big, and this past month has made your Daddy and I fall hopelessly in love with you! You are such the sweetest little thing and we love your enthusiasm for life.
Now for some of the fun milestones from this past month...
-You love to give kisses. You've even started to pucker up your lips and make a smacking noise. It's the cutest thing, and much more rewarding than when you use to just lean in and let us kiss you. You even give kisses to your stuffed animals and other toys.
-You love to cuddle and give hugs. You're especially good at bear hugs and how you reach your arms way out so that you can grip one hand on each arm.
-Uncle Derek taught you how to give "noggins" just like from the movie Finding Nemo. All we have to do is say "noggin'" and you lean in a gently tap your head against ours. I think your Daddy and I enjoy receiving "noggins" more than we enjoy getting hugs and kisses from you sometimes.
-You like to walk around in your Mommy and Daddy's shoes. It's pretty hilarious, especially when you've got on Daddy's shoes.
-You've gotten very communicative with your gestures and glances. Even though you still don't talk much, you are very clear about what you want and that makes things both easier and more difficult.
-You now have a total of 12 teeth- the 4 top and 4 bottom front teeth, and two molars (top and bottom) on both sides. It makes eating so much easier and enjoyable for you, and you are finally back to eating pretty much everything. We still struggle on occasion, but overall your diet is much more balanced.
-You recently discovered gingersnaps, and they make you very happy!
-You are still so easy going. This past month you have gone on 3 photo shoots with Mommy and you have been so well behaved. As long as you have your snacks with you, you are content to sit in your stroller for several hours while Mommy works. Thank you so much!
-Daddy is proud that you have learned how to force burps (mommy's not so happy about this and would appreciate it if we didn't encourage this new "talent"). Anyway, it all happened in church. Our neighbors baby burped and spit up a little, and immediately after, you tried imitating the burp and let out a big belch. Daddy was so proud.
-This past month, much to your mother's dismay, you learned how to open the screen on the front of the fireplace. You enjoy hiding your toys in there and playing in the soot. Mommy hopes this fascination doesn't last for very long.
-You LOVE putting things in the laundry baskets. If Mommy and Daddy are ever missing shoes, or other items, it's wise to look in the laundry baskets...because sure enough, there they will all be!
-You still say Mama, Dada, and hi, but recently we have noticed an excess usage of "uh-oh," "whoa," and "yeah." You use them all at the appropriate time, and sometimes you just say them to say them. I'm not sure if we can really count them as words, but you do say them an awful lot so I thought I would include them.
-You LOVE stuffed animals. You always sleep with at least one of your furry animals under arm, and you can often be seen playing with them around the house. One morning we woke up to you laughing and giggling in your crib, only to realize that you were playing make-believe with your new white teddy bear. Great Grandma Janis even just recently gave you another stuffed teddy bear because you enjoyed playing with it so much while you were over at her house.
To say the least, this month was a refreshing break from the couple of difficult months that we had with you. As you learn to more appropriately communicate your wants and needs, it becomes easier and easier to deal with your growing curiosity. We love you so much Mason, and we are indeed grateful to know that you love us too.
Love,
Mommy and Daddy
