Seth 23 Months

Dear Seth,

In just one month you will be 2 years old. I can hardly believe how fast these 23 months have flown by. You have really grown up, it seems every other day someone mentions how you're turning into such a little boy. Or a big boy, as the case may be. Big milestone in that arena, you quit pacifiers cold turkey. I warned you a couple of days ahead of time that it would happen. You were turning into such a little junkie, I swear (is it inappropriate to use that metaphor??). Anyway, you have never really adopted any other comfort item so I guess we shouldn't have been surprised, but it seemed like overnight you became completely obsessed with them. You knew where we kept them and would go on a hunt. At daycare they had to put your diaper bag up on the top shelf or else you'd go digging them out of the front pocket. And you couldn't just have one, you had to have as many as you could hold in your clutches. If there was another one in the room and you didn't have it you would throw an absolute fit! It was really hilarious and also not, all at the same time. So daddy and I decided the pacifier era was over. Saturday morning we gathered them all up and said goodbye to them and threw them all in the garbage. Of course you acted like we'd burned you with a hot poker, but got over it pretty quick with some snuggles with mama and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer special on TV. You're on day 3 now without them and I am seriously proud of how well you've done. As I anticipated, naps have been the toughest and there's been a lot of screaming and crying. But as a result, by the time bedtime rolls around you are so exhausted that you usually go to sleep without putting up much of a fuss. Now you ask for a book or a monkey or some other item to cling to as you drift off but overall you've been a real trooper about the whole thing.

You're turning into a real jabber monster. You have a few more words but I've given up on trying to keep track of which ones are new and what I've already recorded. Sometimes now you'll string them together though which is fun. "Daddy home" and "What is that?" and "More please" (mo peesh) are the phrases that come immediately to mind. You have words for things that don't sound at all like what the real word is, and we're having trouble translating. But there are definitely things that you say over and over again that are meaningful to you and no one else.

You are certainly a typical toddler in that you are constantly pushing the envelope, testing to see just how much you can get away with. But you also listen pretty well a lot of the time which is a relief (I thought you might never) and you learn quickly when it comes to cause and effect. When we say "if you do 'x' then 'y' will happen" for the most part you get the picture. That doesn't always mean you won't do x but once in awhile it's effective. This is also starting to work with bribery, e.g. if you eat one more bite of soup then you can have a banana.

You're getting to be very affectionate and hand out the kisses right and left. To me, to daddy, to auntie, your monkey, pages in your books, and today it was your own reflection in the mirror. And when you hurt me and I ask you to kiss it better, you will.

All in all I can honestly say it is an adventure being your mom. I love almost every minute of it. I'd be lying if I said it was all fun and games and cuteness but even in the toughest, most frustrating times, suddenly you'll do something amazing and make it all worthwhile.

Love you Monkey,
Mama