Letters to Aden: 23 Months

Aden Boy,

You're 23 months old now!

I read a study recently describing the attention span and typical play of a two-year-old child. The chart showed zig-zag lines in every direction as the observed toddler in the study bounced from one place to the next. "Yes! This!" I thought to myself, because this is SO YOU right now. You're a walking, talking toddler tornado. Our living room is almost always littered with toys and fingerprints smeared along the walls and appliances show you've passed through.

You weigh 28 pounds (according to the home scale) and are so heavy to carry around in my arms these days. I'd love to let you walk, but the second I put you down you run away from me as fast as your little legs will carry you ... laughing all the way, of course. When I catch you and pick you up, you throw yourself backwards in my arms and scream to high heavens. We're quite the scene, I tell you. You've also started climbing out of the grocery cart, so now I wear you in the Beco Carrier most places we go.

In typical toddler fashion, you've started to physically display frustration when you don't get your way. You'll say, "No! Hit!" and slap your hand my way when I ask you to do something you don't like. We're working on this, little buddy, as hitting is definitely not an acceptable way to communicate. Though, I also realize it's completely normal behavior as you learn to interact with others.

You're quite verbal for your age, I'd say. You speak in two and three-word sentences saying things like, "Where'd Daddy go?" in the mornings when you wake up, or "Bye! See you later. Coming?" as we're getting ready to go somewhere. You're very polite and almost always say "please," "thank you" and "welcome" in the appropriate situations.

You love to sing songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Wheels on the Bus. We're enrolled in music class right now and you'll often be walking around the house singing "Hello ... to Mommy!" (the song we sing at the beginning of the class)

The first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is give Tory a great big hug, and overall you're very affectionate to those you love -- Mommy, Daddy, Tory, Grandma and Grandpa specifically.

You're growing increasingly picky at meal times, which I suppose is another toddler trait. You refuse most meats (namely, chicken, one of your past favorites). You won't eat ground beef, anything with a sauce (like beef stew, for example) or breads. Like, don't even try it; you'll throw it on the floor in two seconds flat. Current favorite foods: buttered noodles, strawberries, mangoes, oranges, applesauce, smoothies, green beans, corn, frozen waffles, Cheerios cereal, and breakfast sausages.

Other favorites this month: bouncy balls, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Elmo, riding your push-trike outdoors, going for walks in the neighborhood or in the woods at the cabin, playing alongside Tory, dogs and brushing your teeth. You are obsessed with your blue blanket and pacifier and have to have them with you at all times - or else!

Next month, you'll be two years old! I can hardly believe it. Life with you is messy and fun, Aden Boy, and I cherish every minute.

XOXO,
Mom