Month 13

Dear Leif,

Your are now 13 months old. This has been a month of tremendous, unprecedented fun.

Signing.
One day you woke up signing "More! More! More! Waffles! Now!" and we died from excitement. I've been signing "More" at you since you were 6 months old, and it has finally paid off. The funny thing is, the sign for "More" only means "More food please". When you would like me to continue singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Knees and Toes" you bob back and forth and pat your knees.

Pottying.
Many breakthroughs! You are signing potty regularly, and even have starting signing when you ARE going. I'm eager for the transition to telling us BEFORE you go, but all in due time. We can still just sit you on the potty and you pee and poop to your heart's delight, as long as I continue to pull treasures out of the bathroom cupboards. You love to watch me flush the poop bye-bye, and you wave heartily to your long lost friends.

Mobility.
You can walk. I've seen you do it. But you have some confidence issues. If you happen to notice that you are walking your knees crumble and you dramatically fall to the floor. Instead, you prefer for me to hold your hand and walk you all over the house and yard while you point at everything saying "Broojyk!". You love to climb like a little silly billy mountain goat. I took you to the "Sea of Disease" (as called by your dear Granddude and Baba) at the mall where they have a large foam ferry to skitter over. You promptly vaulted up to the top to push over the three year olds. All the other pre-walkers stayed at the bottom wondering just how you did that!

Sleep.
We'll continue to skip this section until you are only waking 2 or 3 times a night.

"School".
In the mornings we put you in your wagon and walk a couple of blocks to your "school". This is where you spend the next 2 or 3 hours exploring pouring, eating, music, and "sharing" with 5 other toddlers. You have come home with 3 black eyes in two weeks, but clearly you love it. From the moment I set you down you speed off to start your "work" and you don't look back. By the time I come get you at 11:30 you collapse from exhaustion and happiness.

And speaking of happiness, we are at code ORANGE for happiness. We simply adore our new house, our new yard, our new neighbors, and everything in general. You are filling our cranky old hearts with glistening sunshine and rainbows, and we love you very very much.

Love,

Mama + Dada