23 Months Olds - The deets

Eli Bear,

So much has happened in your life the last month! You received your first stamp on your passport by going to Mexico. You had the time of your life! You loved being the star of the show and getting so much undivided attention. I loved getting to spend 10 entire days with you.

Your favorite things in Mexico were the open fields and roads to run on, the horses, the trucks, the bags and bags of Cheetos, the cows and dogs, and all the friends you made.

My favorite part of Mexico was having my grandpa meet you. Of course you won him over immediately and it made my heart so happy. The first day we were there, you saw an old hat he had hanging in the corral as a decoration, well of course you insisted on wearing it all day long. It was too big for you though and it kept falling off. That afternoon, when we went back to grandpa's house, he had a surprise waiting for you...your very own, Eli-sized hat! You wore that thing every single day there, and you loved taking it off and saying "Yee-Haw!"




We've decided we need to try and make it a yearly trip for you, I don't want you to ever forget Florencia.

Last month your list of words was at 87, here are some new words you've learned and have been using:

• Otro
• Gross
• Down
• Sopita
• Mio
• Vaso
• Tu
• Sorry
• Let go
• Grandma
• Grandpa
• Monkey
• All done
• Heavy
• Thank you
• Gracias
• Boy
• Baby
• Besito

106 words! You are such an amazing kid! You and I have got our communication down, little guy. last week we had an entire conversation with the words you knew and with your hand signals. You asked me to get a chair and move it to a specific spot then to get a second one for you, and a third for dad. Then you had me sit, and you asked for help to sit in yours. Then you wanted to put on your hoodie and zip it up and put the hood up, then you made mom do the same to hers. Then you started drinking your milk cup when you realized mom didn't have her coffee cup anymore and you told me to go get it. It was so simple, but it left me speechless that we spent a few minutes communicating with each other. Each day brings more words and more understanding. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to not be understood.


Your favorite toys and activities haven't changed much this month, you still love trucks and cars, horses, balls, pushing things, books, music. Your favorite TV show is Yo Gabba Gabba and that will be the theme of your 2nd birthday party.

We love you so much Eli. Keep growing!

Love,
Momma

A Love Letter to 23 Month Old Eli

My littlest love,

I want to know how it is possible that next month you will be 2 years old? You have been in our lives for such a short amount of time, yet I find it impossible to remember what my life was like before you. What did I do? What filled my time? What made my heart happy? Surely nothing was better than the pure joy I get from just watching you.

Nothing is more fulfilling than to merely watch you be. To look at your face and take in every eyelash, every mouth movement, your milky skin, the little freckle below your right eye, the little dimple you get when you chew food, the wispy locks of your hair trying to grow out. You are beautiful my boy, I cannot begin to describe what a miracle you are to me.

As you grow older you've become better at playing by yourself. By yourself yes, but never alone. You request the presence of either mom or dad, or best of all both! You don't need us to play with you, but you ask us to sit on the couch and just watch you play. You are a social creature my love, you enjoy the company of others. So, dad and I fulfill your requests and watch you play every night. We watch you dig through your box of cars until you find just the right one that feels good for today, then you run it up and down on the couch, on the floor, sometimes over your arms or your head like you've seen mommy do to you.

Those are the moments that always make me catch my breath. I want to scream to your dad, "Did you see that? I did that to him the other day, he remembered!" You have a way of surprising me by doing things dad and I do, or saying things we do. I need to remember that you are taking it all in little boy, the good and the bad. But, the good, oh that feels good to see you do. When you say "thank you" and "gracias" when you give hugs and kisses all on your own without prodding, when you try and share and feed your toys food, when you pretend to laugh, it's all so magical.

This is my favorite age little guy, you are such a joy to be around. You are so smart and funny and opinionated and bossy and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Next month you turn 2 years old and I am excited to see what new challenges and happiness that stage will bring us.

I love you Eli, to the moon and back.

Love,
Momma