16 Months Old

Dear Antonio,

You are 16 months old now! I know I've said this every month, but you are growing up so fast! The last time I wrote to you, you had just turned one year old. A lot of things have changed since then. Daddy lives in an apartment now. You get to see him on Tuesday and Thursday from after school till 7:30 and every other weekend. Sometimes you cry when Daddy picks you up. You run to me or Grandma and don't want to leave us. I think you are just scared because you have to go to a new house. Mommy usually cries after you leave. Someday, we will both stop crying.

Some other things about you...

-You have been saying lots of new words. You say no, Mama, Papa, dog, and ball really well.
-When you see a picture of you, you try to say, "It's me!" I've been teaching you that.
-You sign more all the time while eating. It helps us to know what food you want more of.
-I'm working on teaching you how to sign all done. You repeat it after I show you, but I need you to learn to say it on your own.
-Daddy taught you to sign help. You are really good about using it. Every day when I get home from work, you go to the couch and sign help so I'll put you up on the couch. Grandma doesn't let you up there, and you know I will.
-You have started to sign thank you but you don't always remember to do it.
-For awhile you didn't sign bath, but you are doing it again. Tonight I sung your bathtime song and you signed bath at me and ran to the bathroom.
-You love to read books and read all the time. When it's bedtime, we read at least three books. Right now we have been reading Baby Hugs, Peekaboo Kisses, All Year Long with Pooh, Pooh Bedtime stories, a pumpkin book, and your Mickey Mouse song book.
-Sometimes you try to avoid going to bed by pointing at other books in your room and trying to get me to read them too.
-You can't say bird, but you make a bird sound anytime you see a bird or a picture of a bird. Yesterday I had on a Friends University shirt with a Falcon on it and you made your bird noise. I asked where you saw a bird and you pointed at my shirt. You are so stinking smart! Then you pointed at the soccer ball on my shirt and said ball!
-You love taking baths. You have started drinking your bath water with one of your toy stacking cups that you have in there to play with. It's so gross!
-You love to pour the water from one cup to the other. You also pour water into the duck on the faucet.
-The other day I pushed a little squeeze ball into one of your cups and the water squirted you in the face. You cracked up like it was the funniest thing you'd ever seen. I wish I could have videotaped it. You wanted me to do it over and over.
-You still love dogs, and you still say no no whenever you see a dog.
-You will sit and watch tv shows now. Sometimes I let you watch an episode of Mickey Mouse clubhouse when I get home from school.
-You love Mickey Mouse clubhouse and dance like crazy when the song comes on.
-You hate your carseat, having your diaper changed, and having your nails clipped. I dread all three of those things. I try to distract you, but it doesn't always work. The worst is the carseat. You arch your back and it's so hard to get you strapped in.
-Whenever I'm getting ready for work you like to open the drawers in my bathroom and pull out everything in there. I feel like I'm in a constant battle with you to keep the house clean!
-You love to hide from me. Lately, you hide in the closet. You go in and shut the door. When I find you, you laugh and laugh.
-We play chase everyday. I chase you down the hall and when I get close, you stop, crouch down and laugh.
-You love to eat cheerios and goldfish. I would like you to eat one at a time, but you eat everything by the handful. You make a huge mess.
-You can feed yourself with a spoon or a fork if I put the food on there for you. You can put your oatmeal on your spoon by yourself, but sometimes you drop the food on the way to your mouth.
-You eat oatmeal with raisins in it every morning for breakfast. You love raisins.
-You also love grapes and would eat 100 at once if I let you.
-You eat salad which is really funny to me. Sometimes you point at my salad bowl after it's all gone sign more.
-If you don't like a food or after you get tired of eating a food, you open your mouth, stick out your tongue and let it all fall out. It's definitely gross.
-You love to climb on things. You stand on the seats of your car toys, stand on the couch, you even climed on top of your activity center. Then you put your hands in the air like a gymnast and look at me like "ta da!"
-You still go to sleep so well at night and I'm so thankful for that. For awhile I let you have your glow seahorse as you went to sleep, but then you would roll over on it in the night and the music would play through the monitor and wake me up. I had to take it away after that.
-You are getting really good at throwing things. Sometimes I flinch if I see you holding something because I'm afraid you will throw it at me.
-You have your first big owie. You tripped in the driveway today and you have a big raw spot on your upper lip. Poor guy.
-You will go to anyone now without crying. You love your Nanny Tourney, Uncle Boy, and cousins.
-You wear size 18 months. I bought you a ton of new winter clothes in 24 months. Whoops. They are all way too big.
-I almost forgot to say that you are trying to say Mickey! It sounds like ii--eeee right now, but you'll get it soon! That's my Disney loving boy!
-You love your mama very much! When Daddy dropped you off today, you had a huge smile on your face and said Mama. Then you gave me a big hug and even laid your little head on my shoulder. You definitely miss me when you are gone. I miss you too son! I love you so much! You are my world and always will be!

Love,
Mommy

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