Isaac: 16 Months Old

Dear Isaac,

This month, the toddler tantrums have started. I'm not going to lie though, I kind of love them. You throw your head back, raise your shoulder up, and turn away in disgust. Then you throw yourself on the floor, face down and yell. It's actually pretty adorable. Maybe because I know what a real tantrum is like from your older brothers, yours seem so harmless and funny. I love watching you assert your independence and show your preferences. You've also started yelling “NO!” and "MINE!" (and quite frequently, I might add). Keep up the good work, Isaac! Stay sassy!

You are talking so well these days, I can't even believe it. I swear, you learn a new word every single day. Some of my favorites as of late are the words pizza, nurse, here, and read. You speak so clearly and deliberately. I almost always know what you're trying to say. You're a great communicator and if you don't have the word for something, you can usually make your wishes known through your body language.

Because you learned how to talk right around Halloween, one of your very first words was CANDY, and boy, has it stuck in your vocabulary! You walk around all day requesting it loudly, even if there isn't any in sight. CANDY! CANDY! CANDY! CANDY! CANDY (although it sounds more like (NANDY!)!!!! It cracks me up!

You still love to read and will bring me books all day long. You toddle up to me and yell "READ!" while holding them up desperately. Reading to you is kind of frustrating though because you will never actually let me finish a page or read the book in order. You like to skip around and sometimes you'll slam the book shut right in the middle of it to move to the next one. Holy tiny attention span, dude. I love your love for books though.

I feel like this is the month when you really transitioned from being a baby into being a toddler. I think walking is what did it. You strut around all day, run with the big boys, and have a ton of attitude. The only time when you seem like a baby to me is when you're nursing, and I'm so grateful for that. I love when you get all rosy and fall asleep in my arms. You still love to nurse and so do I. Most days we only nurse before your nap and at bedtime, but occasionally, I'll nurse you when you wake up too.

I discovered the other day that a tiny corner of one of your molars has broken through. It still has a ways to go, but you've been a champ about it. I'm not looking forward to all of the rest of your molars. They've got to be pretty painful!

You are a snuggly guy, but only with four certain people: me, your dad, and your two grandmas. You throw yourself into our arms, lay your head on our shoulders, drool on us, and don't move until we make you. You give us the best hugs and big kisses straight on the mouth, but the funniest thing is that you won't give anyone else the time of day. When your aunts and uncles and grandpas try to get love from you, you refuse. It's pretty funny.

Isaac, life with you keeps getting better and better. I can't believe I'm lucky enough to get to be your mom. I love spending every day with you. I feel like we have a very close relationship and I hope that it can always remain that way. You are a special, special boy and I can't wait to get to know you even better!

Lots of Love,
Mama

16 Month Stats: 
Weight: 24.4 lbs (39th percentile) 
Height: 32 3/4 in (80th percentile) 
Head Circumference: 18 3/4 in (54th percentile)

Oliver: 3 1/2 Years Old

Dear Oliver,

You continue to be a happy, cheerful, joyful little boy. I have so much fun with you! Your dad and I were just laughing last night about how you don't understand the concept of personal space. When your dad reads books to you and Eli before bed, you lie down next to him with your cheek pressed against his as he reads. If he has stubbly hair on his cheeks, you'll gently rub your cheek back and forth against his. And a lot of the time, you drool a little. He says it's the funniest thing ever and it makes his day. Yesterday morning when you woke me up for the day, you did it the same way. You didn't say anything but I felt you climb onto the bed and press your soft little cheek against mine. HEART MELTING, I tell you!!!

I feel like you're finally to the point where you don't NEED a nap. You can make it through the day without getting really crabby in the afternoon/evening and you don't fall asleep in the car the second we start driving somewhere, like you used to. You stopped napping way too early, when you were barely two, and struggled for years because you were so tired all the time and I'm glad you're finally coming out of that stage. It's nice to know that we can take you somewhere in the evenings without you falling apart.

You've been doing a lot better about choosing your clothing until recently, but now I feel like we're back at square one. You refuse to wear anything I pick out for you but won't pick anything yourself. Getting you dressed in the mornings takes well over an hour every morning. I ask, beg, and plead with you to get dressed and you won't do it until we're literally walking out the door to go somewhere and you finally realize that you'll be freezing cold unless you put a shirt on. Only then will you get dressed. You don't approve of 99% of what's in your drawer and want to wear the same ugly hand-me-down graphic tees over and over. It's so frustrating!

You absolutely love preschool and are making good progress there. At the beginning of the school year, you refused to color anything on your own. You wouldn't even pick up a crayon because you said "All I know how to do is scribbles!" And it frustrated you! But over the past few months, you've gained the confidence you need to color on your own and are actually getting pretty good at it. You still can't write your name but I know that will come before too long. I need to work with you on that. But I have been doing letter, shape, and color flashcards with you and you're doing better. I'd say you know about half of your upper case letters, the majority of shapes, and every single color except gray. You have a hard time with that one for some reason.

Socially, you do great. You're very outgoing and don't ever seem worried about what other people think about you. You're friendly. When I came to pick you up after the first day of school, you turned around as we were walking away, waved enthusiastically while hopping up and down, and yelled "Bye, everybody!" It was so sweet and so OLIVER. You'll talk to anyone. I love that about you!

You love to sing and make up songs all day long. You sing these nonsensical songs at the top of your lungs while you're playing or riding in the car.  I try to not draw too much attention to it because I don't want you to feel self-conscious about it and stop.

You're a good eater..... when you want to be. You want what you want and if I don't give it to you, you simply don't eat. I can't tell you how many times I've sent you to school hungry because I wouldn't make you what you want. The funny thing is that you don't seem to care too much though. You rarely tell me you're hungry. You've been on a big hot chocolate kick lately and request it to or three times a day (with marshmallows, whipped cream, and an ice cube). You're definitely a more adventurous eater than Eli. Last night, you tried sushi and liked it! Your dad was so proud! You're still really picky about what color of bowl/spoon/cup I give you and will flat out refuse to eat off of the wrong color of dish/flatware. It drives me nuts but I give you what you want most of the time. I've got to pick my battles, right? :)

Your dad and I have decided that you're emotionally distant. You don't really need us that much. You do your own thing, play by yourself, and are in your own little world a lot of the time. You don't depend on us to entertain you or talk to you constantly (unlike, ahem, a certain older brother of yours). It's kind of awesome but kind of sad too. Sometimes I go hours before realizing that I haven't really connected with you in awhile. I always need to be aware of that and try to connect with you, because you don't reach out to connect with me.

Like any little kid, you still have your moments of stubbornness and tantrums, but you're obedient and sweet most of the time. You have a cheerful disposition and smile all day long. I adore you and can't wait to see you grow and learn even more.

Lots and lots of love,
Mama

3 1/2 Year Stats:
Weight: 35.6 lbs (67th percentile)
Height: 39 3/4 inches (68th percentile)