23 months

Today my baby is 23 months old. I only have one more month until he's 2. In an effort to ease the tugging on my heart as that day grows near I've been referring to Little M as a two year old for a few weeks now. Pretty much since he learned how to throw a temper tantrum. :) Who teaches them that by the way?!?! I sure didn't teach him! And when do I stop counting his age in months? "Your boy is so cute! How old is he?" "Oh he's 196 months old." :D

Here's what my little monkey is up to these days:

• Walking RUNNING everywhere



• Laughing at everything



• New dance moves (I HAVE to record this. He really knows how to wiggle his hips!)



• Feeding himself



• He has all his teeth. Including his one year molars



• Constantly babbling. But does know Dog, Daddy, Mom, Kitty and Keegy



• Recognized our new car when I pulled into the driveway the other night and said "Mom"


• Screeching and screaming just to hear his own voice



• Kicks a soccer ball



• Starting to mimic. If I let out a deep sigh, so will he. :)



• Initiates a game of peek-a-boo



• Whispers



• Understands basic commands and questions. i.e. "come here", "hand me that", "do you want to walk", "are you hungry/thirsty", "No!" (although he ignores this last one.)



• Stacking objects



• Give hugs/snuggles to the dogs and sometimes mom and dad



• Goes to sleep on his own (most of the time)



• Sleeps through the night almost every night



• IS CURRENTLY NOT NEEDING O2 AT BEDTIME!!!!!!!

I still remember the day he was born and getting the phone call that flipped our world completely, like it was yesterday. I remember holding him for the first time when he weighed only 2 pounds and fit in the palm of my hands. I remember his vitals stabilizing while I held him and the nurse "just happening" to get busy while I held him so I got an extra 20 minutes of snuggle time. I remember being on top of the world after meeting him and then sinking so low when we had to leave him behind. I remember sitting in the tiny little closet room the night before he was discharged to us. Not able to sleep because I was so excited. I sat there and just watched him. Listened to him. Memorized him.

In the 21 months since he's been home and the nearly two years he's been alive so much has happened. We've had far too many health scares, a diagnosis we're still in a little denial about but making peace with, and many, many other challenges. I've spent countless hours worrying he won't catch up or meet his developmental milestones. And every.single.time he's just gotten it one day. And every single time I cry. Because I know how special that really is. I don't take one second for granted with this kid. :)