Month fifteen: Everyday I write the book

Dear Madeus,

You are so interesting and dynamic right now that it is overwhelming for me to write.

Right when you hit a year, your comprehension went through the roof. You answer questions all the time. If I ask for a book, you will go get it. The other day I asked if you wanted to brush your teeth and you went into the bathroom. You will carry the dog's leash around attempting to hook it to Mahna. You will communicate with the sign for "help" which you use both when you want help and when you want more. When you can't get me to understand what you want you will often take my hand and lead me. I am amazed at the things you understand and know that I did not teach you.

You prefer to walk alongside your stroller now. You love walking over different textures, particularly sewage and subway grates and tree stumps. You go to the door when you want to go out and break everyones hearts when you cry at the door when they leave.

You are always on a mission. You push, pull, kick, and throw things all over the apartment. You love carrying oversize loads and put your mouth in a whistle pout and blow (like lamaze) when you are working hard. You clap for yourself when you do a good job.

You love books but rarely sit for a whole story and strongly prefer to turn the pages yourself. You can pick out your favorite animal, the kitten, in your animal book. You will sometimes even help me point to pictures by putting you hand over mine.

You still take incredibly long naps, 2 hours in the morning and at least 2 hours in the afternoon.
Some times you will even wave goodnight and attempt to put yourself to bed.

You love percussion. It is your favorite instruments on the video. You slam pots and pans all over the house. And you love the noise your cymbals make.

Balls are still the winner of your heart but you have puppets you know by name (Jordy and Rebecca) that you insist alway perform together, your favorite hound dog you sleep with, and a stuffed bull dog named Queenie that you pat against your chest.

You are quirky. You have a neck pillow in the shape of a dog that you like to have on your neck as you walk around the house. You walk very slow and straight so that the dog will not fall off. You like your sleeves rolled a bit and do not like when food gets stuck on your hands. And you have recently taken to touching your guardian angel statue every time you go to bed or wake up.

You are in a cuddly stage which I absolutely love. You will sit on my lap to read, give (open mouth) kisses if I ask really nice and a lot of times, you will even let me rock you back to sleep (for the first time since you were really little).

While these are just a few of the everyday moments of your toddler life, they are moments that might be forgotten and yet are so rich with your growing personality.