Dear Daven {October 30, 2017}

Dear Daven-

Over the past month you have transitioned from the infant room to the toddler room at your place of child care.  You are not too happy about this change.

Today you asked me for toast.  I made the toast you gave your enthusiastic reply of "Oh ho ho" and promptly bit into the toast.  Then promptly gave it back to me and requested "mama orange juice".  I tried to convince you that there wasn't orange juice as I wasn't sure you really wanted it; however, you went over to the fridge opened the door and repeated "mama orange juice".  You drank down what was left in an open cup, not a drop was spilled.  I asked you if you wanted the rest of your toast to which you replied, "no toast mama".

After playing for a few more minute you stated from your play, "Mama potty" to which we went upstairs and you went.

You've been using the toilet successfully for your morning business for the past 5-6 weeks.  There has only been two incidences of not making it to the toilet quick enough after you wake up.  There have been multiple occasions on the weekends or evenings when you have stated your need to use the toilet and much to my surprise you have gone!

You've taken to yelling out, "Robert" when you want attention.  Robert is your dad, so this request for attention from him is usually followed up by "that is your dad you can say 'dada'"!

Every morning after using the toilet you get a fresh diaper on and we go downstairs to get dressed for the day.  This process of going down the steps involves you yelling for "Nadia, Nadia" to get her to come downstairs with you so you can let her outside to go potty.  The two of you have developed a fun routine of teasing each other which usually results with you giving the most genuine belly laugh, unless you've pulled her tail or hair too hard.  This certainly is a wonderful way to start my day.  One way of teasing Nadia is to take her tail and wave it back and forth while saying "wag wag" then laughing.  She isn't a huge fan of it but is starting to tolerate it as you've quit pulled her tail as often as you once did.

One evening after our usual routine of evening prayers and forgiveness I was rocking you and you were having a hard time calming your body down.  In my frustration I stated, "Daven you need to calm your body down", to which you demanded "WHAT!?"

You have a very strong and independent mind.  You prefer not to be interrupted when you are enjoying yourself playing.  If you decide you are going to do something even if it is not appropriate you will often still do it quicker than I can stop you and you usually follow it up by telling yourself "no-no".

You've tasted dog food a handful of times.

You still ask for your Papa Walter every day.  I can only imagine you have conversations in your head with him as one evening in the past month as I was rocking you to sleep you were saying "Papa  octopus, Kiki, Papa, octopus, Kiki"  Kiki being the over sized stuffed gorilla in your classroom named Kenny.  I can only imagine what the three of you were up to.  When we facetime Papa often you want to see him, won't say much, but the moment we hang up we have a hundred things to say to Papa.  The other day you sat in your car seat as I was driving and repeatedly say "Thank you Papa, Thank you Papa" I can only imagine what was going through your head.

You often say "thank you dada" to your dad when he gives you something you've asked for.  You name your Nana Alice's dog's "my-no" for Milo, and "daw dee" for Harley.  You have gotten more assertive with telling your dog Snowey to "move" out of your way.

You love to eat oatmeal for breakfast almost every morning.  You are labeling some shapes such as circle, oval, heart, and octagon.  You find the number two easy to use.  You have between 200-300 words- I quit counting as they were coming so quickly.

All of this and you are 3 days shy of being 18 months old.  I love you little dude,  I love you!

~Mama, Mommy, Mom