Shoe Fetish

Dear Lila,

This month, you learned how to walk more confidently, cheer when you're happy or excited about something, feed yourself with a spoon and pat a spot with your hand when you want me to sit there. You love looking at books and still eat a lot, which is why you're in the 90th percentile for height and weight. Also, you have developed an early love of shoes! When I showed you your new flip flops today, you started panting and immediately held your feet up so that I could put them on for you!

Love,
Mom

15-Month Mark

Dear Lila,

In terms of baby milestones, the 15th-month stage is one of my favorites. The first year is full of sleep deprivation, breast pumps and poop explosions and the two-year-old phase brings on tantrums, whining and straight-up crazy but the 15-month mark is the sweet spot in between those two difficult parenting chapters. At 15 months, you're becoming more independent, starting to understand so much and becoming a really fun, social person. (You're also still growing at an amazing speed and already wearing size 3T clothing!)

This month, you learned how to do so many new things: give me your first kiss, blow kisses, point to your head or nose or stick out your tongue when asked to, wipe your mouth with a napkin, blow your nose, tap your crotch when you pee or poop, hold up your feet when I pick up your shoes and identify objects, such as dinosaurs, in books. You give me a big stretch when I go to you in the morning and say, "Morning stretch!" and are still not walking much on your own but get around by scooting around on your knees. I actually decided to stop breastfeeding you this month, which gives me some freedom back but makes me a little sad, so I love the other ways we can bond, like when you sit in my lap, rest your head on me and call me mama and when you hug me tightly and give me your sweet, wet, little kisses :)

Love,

Mom

Attention Hog

Dear Lila,

Connor hurt his leg while playing tonight and started crying, so I held him and comforted him to make him feel better. You saw this and started pretending to cry so that I would soothe you, too. Geez, attention hog much?

Love,
Mom

Chair Climber

Dear Lila,

Lila, so timid when it comes to walking on her own yet so brave when it comes to climbing on chairs.

Love,
Mom

First Steps!

Dear Lila,

You recently learned how to drink from a cup on your own, to rest your head on my shoulder when I ask you for a hug and to tap me when I ask you, "Where's Mama?" And today, you learned how to walk!!! 

Around 7pm, I put you down on our living room floor. You stood on your own and I backed away, squatted and held my arms out toward you. I encouraged you to come to me and you were hesitant but had a big smile on your face when you reached for me, as if you knew how momentous this occasion was. And then you did it! You took seven steps on your own until you fell into my arms! You had such a big grin on your face and looked so proud of yourself. Go, Lila! 

Love,

Mom

Here Comes Trouble

Dear Lila,

It's no secret that Daddy and I consider you "the good one" because you are usually quiet and well-behaved and that we consider GuhGaw "the bad one" because he is, well, usually not quiet and not well-behaved. But you've exhibited a few "bad one" behavioral traits recently:

-When Connor wouldn't share a toy with you, you slapped his head
-When you didn't get what you wanted, you threw yourself down on the floor and cried
-You learned how to climb onto the couch by yourself
-You learned how to crawl under the safety gate on the stairs

Uh-oh.

Love,
Mom

Second Word!

Dear Lila,

You said "mama"!! You were sitting in your high chair eating cottage cheese. I was putting things away in the pantry and you just called out to me, "Mama"! Then after your bath, Daddy was drying you and when I walked into the room, you reached for me and said, "Mama!" Awesome day :)

Love,

Mom