Dear Beckett, you're 2 years old...

Dear Beckett,

My baby is growing up! It's surreal for me to think about these last 3+ years. It's been all baby, baby, baby for me. From your sister as a baby to having two under two to you still being under two, that's been my life for three full years. And now you went and turned two on me, and I had a realization that we are quickly moving beyond the baby years. I've been looking forward to that for quite some time, but now that it's happening, I'm not so sure I'm ready to move on.

But, you are two now. And you are acting every bit of it. Whiny, temper tantrums, crying over every little thing, whining, whiny, whining. Did I mention the whining? There are days where I swear I am going to lose it with the whining. Why was I so anxious to move beyond the baby years? You didn't whine when you were still an infant.



Beyond the whining, however, you have gotten much better behaved. You sit and listen in storytime instead of screeching constantly. You hold my hand in the parking lot and don't try to bolt. You obey simple instructions. You play nicely (sometimes) with your sister. In fact, one of my favorite things to do is listen to you two play together. It often goes like this:

Elise: blah blah blah blah...Right, Beckett?
You: Riiiiiight.

Elise: blah blah blah blah...Right, Beckett?

You: Riiiiiight.

Elise: blah blah blah blah...Right, Beckett?

You: Riiiiiight.

Elise: blah blah blah blah...Right, Beckett?

You: Riiiiiight.

Elise: blah blah blah blah...Right, Beckett?

You: Riiiiiight.

It's music to my ears. I seriously could listen to you two play together (nicely) all day.

You continue to be my sweet boy. You'll often lay your head on my shoulder and want me to rub your back. You love to give kisses and hugs. You tell me "awt you" when I tell you I love you. And the other day, you told me you loved me unprompted. Kid, that would have been a good time to ask for your first car.

Meal time continues to be a bit of a struggle. You like eating, and you're actually a pretty good eater. However, if your sister is done eating, you are suddenly "All DONE!" and ripping your bib off and trying to get down as quickly as possible. And then you're still hungry. And then it's a battle to get you to eat at the table.

Now, remember how we talked about what a good sleeper you were and how I loved you for it? I thought you'd taken that conversation to heart, but apparently not, because YOU'VE GIVEN UP YOUR NAP. For all that is holy and good, why? Why? You still sleep like a champ at night, but I cherished your nap time. I've tried to get you to nap, but all you do is scream of 45 min, so I've given up. Sigh. I am not happy about that.

Your vocab is fantastic. You speak in five and six word sentences. One of your favorite things to say is "I no wanna xyz" or "I really wanna xyz." It's so funny when you say it, because you are very emphatic, too. In fact, I think you've been talking in sentences much longer than we gave you credit for. Sorry about that!

Your biggest success these past few months is probably learning to swim underwater. You are so cute about it. You just step right off the step and go under. You do kick your feet, but not really hard enough to accomplish anything, so while you're down there, you kinda look around and chill out. It cracks me up. You also LOVE to go "uppa, uppa" which means to throw you into the air and let you go under. You will do it repeatedly. You beg for uppa, uppa, uppa constantly when we are in the pool. File that under annoying as well.

While it may seem that I've talked about your lesser qualities here, you should know that you are my sweet boy. You have a mischievous, sweet grin that gets you out of trouble quite frequently. You ask me "You okay, Mommy>?" every time I cough. You cuddle with me throughout the day. You are the perfect mix of wild and sweet, and that's exactly what I love about you. The mix of who you are. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 21 months old...

Dear Beckett,

I have to admit, this is not my favorite age. It's not really you, I don't think as I didn't really care for this age when your sister hit it either, so it's nothing personal. I love you, but man oh man, you certainly try my patience daily. While your language skills continue to grow, you want to be able to tell me things that you just can't tell me. And that frustrates you, so you throw a tantrum. And that frustrates me. And then we're both frustrated, and that's just not a good combination. Thank goodness, I know this is short-lived.



But while we're talking about frustrations, let me tell you about my absolute least-favorite I've ever faced as a parent. Your fits upon waking from a nap. Two or three times per week, you wake up in a snit. You scream and throw yourself around, and nothing, I mean nothing, makes you happy. I've tried snacks, juice, rocking, singing (yeah, I know, that doesn't make anyone happy), tv shows, books, leaving you alone, trying to engage you, leaving you in your crib, taking you out of your crib. I just don't know what it is. I've talked to numerous friends and family about it, I checked with the pediatrician, and the conclusion is I just have to wait until you outgrow it. Let me tell you, if you weren't so darn adorable, it'd be even more infuriating. Those long lashes and blonde curls are going to save you time and time again, I believe.



You love Mickey Mouse and going to Disney. You remember exactly where to go to get on each ride, although you have negative patience when it comes to waiting in line. I'd think it was your age, but your dad is just like that, so I assume it's genetic. Or maleness. Either way, keeping you occupied in line is a bit of a struggle, but it's worth it to see your sheer joy on Dumbo or "The Baby Ride (It's a Small World)."

You are still obsessed with shoes, and it drives me bonkers. You want them on and off and on and off and on and off. One night, I was picking up the family room after you'd gone to bed, and there were SEVENTEEN shoes in the family room, courtesy of you. Seriously.

You continue to sleep well. It's so wonderful to have a good sleeper. You lay right down for your nap and do the same at nighttime. You sleep with a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal under one arm, a Detroit Tigers monkey under the other, and your butt hiked up in the air. Other than that whole waking up as a terror bit, you are a great sleeper, and I thank you for that. In fact, I love you dearly for that. Sleep is not overrated, especially as a tired parent.



Your favorite toy is probably books. You love looking at them, having them read to you, carrying them around, 'reading' them aloud, and occasionally chewing on them. I love that you love books, as reading is one of my favorite things to do. I can think of very few things I'd cherish more than if you became a voracious reader like me.

As you speed towards your second birthday, it amazes me how much you pick up just by being around other kids and your sister. You'll blurt out a word I didn't even know you knew, or you'll point to something in a book that I didn't know you could identify, and I am amazed. You are an amazing little boy with an amazing personality. I am so blessed to be your mom, and I love you so much, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 18 months old...

Dear Beckett,

Let me tell you about one of life's little lessons - sometimes you really want something, but once you get it, you wonder why you really wanted it in the first place. That's how I feel about your mobility. Granted, you've been walking for about 8 months now, but in the past few months, you've also become extremely fast. And determined. Which is a dangerous combo. I call you the "bolter" - the second you are set down or see an open door or a way out, you are off. Off to the races. You might have a future as a race horse.

One of your other not-so-charming traits is this noise you make when you are concentrating. It's a cross between a hum and a whine; it's one-note with no inflections and can go on for 30 min at a time. To say it's infuriating would be an understatement. And while we're talking about infuriating, I find it highly amusing that you like to walk around with one shoe on. Your father, however, does not; it annoys him to no end. So, I often put one shoe on you right before he gets home. Of course, I do it just because it makes you happy, and for no other reason.

Now, one of the things we must talk about is your destructive ways. Boy, you are a one-man wrecking crew. If there is a remote or a phone within 20 feet of you, you will find it. And maybe lose it or permanently disable it. You can climb anything to get what you want, a lesson I learned the hard way when I put a glass full of grape juice up on the counter where you couldn't reach it while I helped Elise go to the bathroom. Apparently, you can reach that counter. Luckily, the grape juice came out of the carpet. You are welcome. You've dropped remotes in the toilet, had dimes in your mouth (repeatedly), eaten things I probably don't even want to know about, fallen off your changing table, broken toys, pulled out HUGE chunks of Elise's hair, and other things probably best not remembered. I'm often glad when 8 pm hits, because I can turn off the constant vigilance of keeping you (and all my stuff) safe.

You continue to sleep well, both for nap and at night. People are always amazed at how easily you go down. You have a great appetite, especially if french fries are involved. You love playing with cars and wrestling with your sister. You say Mommy, Daddy, baby, all done, and a few other things. You also can sing Itsy Bitsy Spider, Ring Around the Rosey, and the Yo Gabba Gabba theme song. However, even though you can speak fairly well, you love to point and grunt if you want something. Have I mentioned if your sister has something, you must also have it? And you let me know you want it while pointing and grunting. Add that to the list of infuriating things you do.

The list of the sweet things you do, however, is much longer than the infuriating one. You love to cuddle on me. You lay right on my shoulder and pat my back. If you are sitting on my lap, you grab my hand to make me pat your belly. Often times while you're playing, you'll run over and give me a quick hug before heading back to play. Repeatedly. You light up when your daddy comes home or when Elise opens your door after nap time. You cuddle the dolls Elise shares with you and often give them kisses.

You were the ring bearer in Uncle Kyle and Aunt Ingrid's wedding earlier this month. I know I'm biased, but you were about the cutest thing ever in your little pin-striped suit. Traveling to Toledo from Orlando with you wasn't fun, but the memories of how cute you were and how you almost stole the show with your antics was worth it.

In fact, a lot of things right now with you aren't fun right now - storytime, meal time, changing diapers - but it is all worth it. Watching your little personality come ramming right through is amazing. Every day, you become more assertive, more confident, more Beckett. You are absolutely perfect just the way you are, the perfect combination of sweet and frustrating, cute and annoying. It makes you you. And I love you, my little boy, exactly as you are. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 15 months old...

Dear Beckett,

Boy oh boy, the changes in your life over the last three months are crazy! Of course, the biggest is that we moved from Ohio to Florida. I was worried about how you'd do with the move, but I shouldn't have spent one second worrying about that. You've done fabulously! No disruption in your sleeping, your eating, or even in your happy personality. It's like you wanted to live in Florida all along.

The move itself wasn't quite so problem-free, though. You are no longer a fan of being held or confined to a stroller. You were AWFUL in the airport while waiting for our flight. Screaming, writhing, throwing yourself around. Grandma Jo tried to take you for a walk with your leash on, and that didn't make you much happier. Fortunately, it was getting close to flight time, so I ran to the bathroom to change you, you screaming the whole time. You fought me so much, we missed pre-boarding on our flight. Sigh.

But the best was yet to come. As I said, you are no longer a fan of being held. Which includes on airplanes. The only way I could get you to sit still was to give you a bottle. And another. And another. About 1.5 hours into the flight (and only 2 hours after your last diaper change), I felt something running down my leg. I knew I hadn't wet myself, so I look down. You'd peed so much from all those bottles that it was leaking out of your diaper, pooling in my skirt, and then running down my leg. On a booked flight. During the prep for landing when you are not allowed to get out of your seat. Fun times, I tell ya! I will pay you back for that one someday.

However, once we got to Florida, you've been a joy (for the most part). I went from working full-time to being home with you full-time, and while it's been an adjustment, being with you all day, every day makes me very happy.

You quickly learned how to stay afloat with your swim floaties on. You just hang on in the water, floating with your ankles crossed and chilling out. It's hilarious to watch you do that! You really are a natural swimmer. You kick your feet and paddle your arms and manage to get all around the pool on your own.

These past few months have been full of milestones as well. You've popped through two molars. You said your first word, and Aunt Ingrid was there to witness it. You held your spoon over the side of your tray, looked me straight in the eye, grinned as big as you could, and sweetly said, javascript:void(0)"Uh oh" as you purposely dropped your spoon. Quite charming, my dear son. Quite charming. You definitely do things for reactions!

You got your first hair cut and went from shaggy infant to little boy. Sigh...

You are also consistently saying, "Mama" and "Dada", and while we can't say for sure, it certainly sounds like you repeat a lot of things we say. Daddy swore you said "swimming" the other day. You definitely say "no" and shake your head when you say it. And you shake that head with some oomph. Speaking of, you also speak a little Russian, because "nyet" seems to be your favorite word. Bilingual already...

You are eating really well with a fork and a spoon, and you prefer that I not cut your food into little bites. You are slowly giving up your dependence on the bottle, but you still definitely find it very soothing. We're down to 1 or 2 bottles per day. I'm slowly working towards zero, but honestly, they make you so happy that I'm not pushing too hard. I love seeing how content you are while playing with your hair and drinking your bottle. Babying you isn't the end of the world, right? You are, in fact, my little boy.

One of the funniest things these past few months has been your new love of your yellow bucket. It's just this plain yellow bucket, but you sure love it! You want to hold it while you play, eat, sleep, have your bottle. You take it everywhere with you. And if you can't find your yellow bucket, you'll find some other yellow toy - a block, a teacup, anything that is yellow. I think it's safe to say you've already got a favorite color! Elise loves to find your yellow bucket for you, and she always makes sure you have it before you go to bed. She is such a good big sister to you.

Your happy grin and sweet personality make us all smile every day. I hope that I can bring you the same amount of joy that you bring into my life every day. You are certainly a light in our lives, and I hope it shines brighter and brighter every day of your life. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 1 year old!

Dear Beckett,

Your first year has come and gone so quickly. What a bittersweet feeling. With you being our second and last, the remnants of infancy are quickly leaving the house. No more swing, no more infant carrier, no more little blankets, and no more highchair. In the thick of it all, through sleepless nights, it seems like infancy will go on forever. But then you wake up one morning, and your littlest one is turning into a toddler, and you wonder how that happened. I'm really not sure, and while I will definitely miss all that came with you being a baby, your little personality is just exploding, making me miss the time gone by just a little less.

One of my favorite parts of your personality is how you learn to do things. You study them and study them, and once you've got it all figured out, you just do it. And do it right on the first try. You can climb the stairs, you can run, you can practically skip across the room, and you just learned to walk two months ago. I know I've said it before, you you certainly did not get that trait from me. Study something? Ha! Who has time for that? I know I'll definitely learn from you as you learn the world around you.

The other part of your personality that is just shining through is your charm. Oh, boy, are you a charmer! If you are going to do something you shouldn't be doing, like climbing the stairs, you head for the stairs and make sure someone is watching before you head up them. As soon as you catch someone's eye, you flash this huge grin and take off. It's like it's no fun to do it unless someone is watching you do it. I have a feeling this might spell trouble as you get older!

You've also turned into a flirt. You will go up to just about anyone and hold your arms up, asking to be picked up. You love to cuddle, and when you lay your head on my shoulder, you'll slyly turn your face towards mine and flash this little grin, just to let me know you can. And since you have one of the world's most adorable grins, it just melts my heart. I am going to have to be careful - you'll be able to get away with way more than you should with that grin!

Your last front bottom tooth finally came through, so now you have eight cute little teeth in front. No molars yet, but it doesn't slow you down on the food front. You love to eat, and unfortunately, you still love your bottles. I was hoping you'd be off them by the time you were one, but it just ain't happening. Your absolute favorite thing to do is to lay with your bottle in one hand and play with your hair with the other. It's definitely your way of relaxing and self-soothing. Just be thankful you are the second child, because the bottle doesn't bother me nearly as badly as it did with your sister. Despite what you might think as you grow up the little sibling, there are certain benefits to coming second.

Little boy, putting into words how much I love you is nearly impossible. My heart does a little jump for joy every time you grin at me. It also jumps for joy every time you cuddle me, or ask to be picked up, or even when you settle in on my lap for a bottle. Your first year was a joy to behold, and I am excited to see the world through your eyes as you grow from baby to toddler and beyond. My heart leaps for joy every time I think about it. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 11 months old...

Dear Beckett,

Simply put, you’re one month from your first birthday, and I am flabbergasted. Maybe it’s because you are the second child, or because you’ve been such an easy child, but these past eleven months have absolutely just flown by.

The biggest news this month is that you officially started walking. And you did it in typical Beckett style. You were taking a step here and a step there for a few weeks. And then suddenly one day, you took four steps in a row. Then seven. Then ten. And then it was on. You still crawl sometimes, but for the most part, you are walking and trying to keep up with your sister.



One of your favorite things to do is climb the stairs. We have to block it off with four different things, or you figure out how to break through to what you consider the holy grail of fun. If we forget to block it off, you can sense it from a mile away. You take off for it as fast as you can, crawling like a mad man with your butt swaying back and forth. Up the first two stairs you go to the landing when you suddenly turn around to see who’s watching with the biggest grin on your face. Then you quickly turn back to face the obstacle in front of you, often laughing so hard and trying to go so fast that you can barely get up the first step or two. It amuses me so much that I let you get four or five steps up before snagging you off.

You still have the same seven teeth you had last month, but the bottom left is threatening to come through any day now. You’ve earned an A+ in sleeping – going to bed without a peep at 8 pm, sleeping until 7-8 am, and napping for a solid 2+ hours every day. You know how to clap and how to wave, and you love doing both of those. You still do your pterodactyl scream, which still cracks me up every time. You also babble lots of ‘dadadada’ and ‘mamamama’ but I wouldn’t consider either of them your first word yet. I’m rooting for Mama, of course.



Eating has become interesting, as you hate to be fed. You want the food so badly, yet you turn your head away the moment the spoon comes near your face. This means we’re left with things you can manage on your own – bananas, cheese, toast/crackers, and so on. You also tend to be a squirrel when you eat, shoving as much as you can into your cheeks and then attempting to chew it or swallow it whole. You gag and choke so often, which scares me to no end. Watching you struggle to catch your breath for even a split second sends my adrenaline into overdrive. I’m thinking purees until you are six sounds good to me.



Watching you play with your sister is one of the highlights of every day for me. You absolutely light up when she comes in the room. If we walk into your room together in the morning, you start squealing and jumping up and down the second you see her. I’m almost jealous! OK, not really, because watching the two of you together makes me happier than I could possibly describe in words. And just so you know, she loves you as much as you love her. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

As we spend the next few weeks prepping for your first birthday party, I am feeling reflective. I feel as though I’ve spent so much of my life waiting for the next big thing, and now that it’s all happened – college, career, marriage, kids – I often find myself wondering what’s next. But I don’t need or want anything more than to watch you grow into a little boy and beyond. Your arrival marked the end of an era for me – the end of always waiting for the next big thing. You are teaching me to sit back and enjoy the journey. And it’s not just because you are the second child, it’s because of your sweet soul and laid-back personality, which I completely adore. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 10 months old...

Dear Beckett,

My sweet son – a few days ago, I was composing my letter to you in my head and thinking how it was amazing that you were about to be nine months old and how quickly it had gone. And then BAM! I realized you were about to be TEN months old, and I almost cried. Two months until you turn one. This time last year, I was patting my belly, waddling around, and envisioning life with a cuddly newborn and as a mother of two. Then I blinked and it was a year later. Sniff, sniff…

You recently had your 9-month check up (yes, almost a month late) and they said you were 24 lbs, which would indicate that you’ve lost a little. This is not true. I know their scales were wrong, because your thighs have gotten even chunkier, which could definitely not be any cuter. Either way, you are in about the 85% for weight and only 25% for height (28”), but your noggin is keeping up with your weight at 85%. I’m thinking both the scale and the tape measure were wrong, but either way, you are starting to bust out of 12 month clothing. Which reminds me that you are going to be one soon! Sniff, sniff, yet again…

You’ve had a great month. Let’s see – you officially have seven teeth through (four on the bottom, three on top). You can crawl anywhere especially if it means you can get to a tissue your sister has left on the floor and rip it into a million pieces while you devour them one by one. You recently started crawling up the stairs. And you’ve even taken a few steps. I’m really not ready for you to walk!

I love watching you figure out how to do something. You study and study and study it. And then study it a bit more for good measure. And then you do it. And do it right the first time. Like climbing the stairs. You never really tried to climb them and then BAM, you were almost to the top on your first try. I see that little personality just shining through – not cautious per se, but you will study it and perfect your method until you can get it right on the first try. That’s so completely the opposite of me that I am in awe when I watch you.

You have finally started napping in your crib, which is lovely for your parents’ sanity on the weekends. You continue to go to bed without a fight. Indeed, I think you like the serene calm and darkness of your bedroom, for when it hits 8 pm, you start getting squirmy and cranky, and I know it’s time to lay you down. You stare up at me as I kiss you goodnight, you sigh, and then turn on your side and sweetly go to sleep. After dealing with your sister’s bedtime antics, I can’t tell you how much I love this.

And how much I love you. You have an infectious giggle, a smile that takes over your face, and a sweet personality that charms everyone. Whether you are giggling at your sister or squealing as I tickle you, you make me smile and laugh right along with you. I wish for nothing more than for us to make each other laugh and smile for countless years to come. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 9 months old...

Dear Beckett,

How can another month have passed so quickly? You are barrelling towards your first birthday, whether I like it or not. And barrelling isn't even a joke - you are kind of shaped like a barrel. A 25 lb barrel who's only about 28" tall. That has to mean that you are nearly as wide around as you are tall. Or something like that.

You are still only sporting one tooth. It's really a good look. I mean it - you have the most adorable smile with that lonely little tooth peeking out from your bottom gums. I absolutely love a gummy smile, so I'm in no hurry for you to break any other teeth through, although there are several that are threatening to come through any day now.

Your biggest milestone this month has got to be that you finally mastered crawling. No more rolling, scootching on your butt, or dragging yourself soldier style across the floor. No buddy - you get up on all four and start motoring right along. So much for parenting alone - both kids are now mobile, meaning life just got a little more difficult, as if that was really possible. Or necessary.

I can't really point fingers at you for the difficulty factor, though. You continue to be such a sweet-natured, even-tempered child. You do get upset when Elise pushes you over (I would, too!), and you do get a touch cranky if you are tired and/or hungry (I do, too!), but other than that, you spend 95% of the day laughing and smiling. It's such a delight!

One of the things that makes your smile as big as it can get is Steve from "Blue's Clues." Why? Why oh why? First Elise subjected us to Barney, and now you love Steve. You especially love when he comes closer and closer to the camera, and you instinctively lean towards the tv, waiting to hear what he has to say. With the biggest grin on your face. I'm not sure what this says about you, but I am not so sure it's a good thing. Kiddo, that guy is kinda goofy.

Everyone who meets you is not only smitten by your sweet soul, but they are also impressed by how studious you are. Your attention span is quite incredible for a 9-month old, and you love to inspect new things by turning them over and over again in your chubby little hands. You'll watch a show for 20 min, and I swear, it really seems like you know exactly what's going on. I'm putting down $20 that you end up an engineer like Grandpa Bob and Uncle Ben.

We've had lots of changes in our lives the last few months, and some more are hopefully headed our way. One of the big changes is that your dad has reconnected with his dad. Your dad looks exactly like his dad, and based on how much they look alike, I don't think you are escaping those genes! Most importantly, though, I am thrilled that you will get to know this side of your family, especially since having more family to love and dote on you is a good thing.

Speaking of loving and doting on, I love you more and more every day. Your laugh and smile make my heart burst with joy every day, and I am so blessed to be your mom. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 8 months old...

Dear Beckett,

My sweet boy - you are eight months old. Eight. As in 2/3 of a year. I want to laugh and cry when I think about how fast you are growing up. Laugh because two young kids is no walk in the park. But cry because you are my last baby, and even though the going gets tough sometimes, I want to savor it until I'm ready for you to grow up. But it seems you are going to keep on getting older whether I like it or not. I'm pretty sure this won't be the last time you do something whether I like it or not. Indeed, ask Grandma Jo and Grandpa Bob about my tattoos.

So, what happened this month? You learned how to pull to a stand on your own. And you can stand unassisted for indefinite amounts of time. Or until Elise knocks you over. Or you decide that you can stand without holding onto anything and go crashing to the ground. This happened repeatedly a few weeks ago, and your face was a roadmap of bumps, scratches, and bruises. I promise, it hurt your father and I much more than it hurt you!

You also popped your first tooth through! You've got a few more threatening to come through any day, and while it bothered you a bit, you were a pretty good sport throughout the whole thing. This has led to you tolerating different foods a bit more, but you still tend to prefer a bottle. I don't know why - the smell of that stuff is gagerrific! Speaking of, you have a heck of a gag reflex, kiddo. Something hits you wrong or a toy gets a little too far towards the back of your throat, and you are launching your stomach contents out with hurdling speed. It's not amusing. At all. I won't be sad when that part of you is grown up. I promise.

You really are such a happy baby. I know I say it every month, but you laugh and smile and babble constantly. Your smile practically takes over your entire face, and your eyes dance with joy. I'm convinced you are going to do great things with that smile.

Thank you for making me smile. Thank you for being so happy. Thank you for being so cuddly (did I mention how scrumptious your chubby thighs are?) And thank you for being my son. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 7 months old...

Dear Beckett,

My little man seems so grown up! You know why? You are sitting on your own. You went from pretty wobbily to darn steady overnight. The only time you fall over now is when Elise pushes you over. Fortunately, you find it amusing, even though I do not. I'm just waiting for the day when you push her back. I'm already reserving my ring-side seat.

You were baptized earlier this month, and it went perfectly. You didn't even make a peep when the priest poured water on your head. You even slept through most of mass. Such a little angel!

You had your 6 month check up a bit late, as it was really closer to 7 months. Late or not, you have chunked up. You are already over 20 lbs! That puts you in the 80th percentile for weight. And you aren't slacking in the height department either - you're 27.5" (70th percentile). If you recall, your sister is on the smaller side for her age, so remember that ring-side seat I reserved? I think I'm gonna need it sooner than later.

So, back to milestones. It's been quite the month for you. In addition to mastering sitting up on your own, you are also consistently rolling both ways, standing while hanging onto something for minutes at a time, and the best one? You are sleeping in your crib! WOOHOO! No more batteries! The swing died one night, and your dad and I decided that meant it was time to transition to your crib. It was so simple. You went right along with it with only the slightest of peeps.

Which leads me right into my next thought. You are such a mellow baby. Granted, you 'talk' a lot, and you can whine with the best of them. But in general, you are so laid-back and easy going. You are perfectly happy to stuff something in your mouth, sit on someone's (anyone's!) lap, and watch the action. However, I don't think this means you aren't going to get in the middle of the action, as you have perfected the art of scooting across the floor on your butt to get to whatever your sister is playing with. Once you are crawling (which you are trying really hard to do), Elise might not think you are so much fun, but for the moment, she loves to play with you. And you love her as well.

The other night, she was showing you how to use her little kiddie laptop. She kept taking your hand and helping you push the buttons, and you were both just giggling away. I can think of nothing better than listening to my children laugh and learn together, as they figure out the world together. I absolutely adore those moments.

And I adore you. You have brought such joy and happiness to our lives. Your smile is so huge and contagious - it's impossible to not smile right along with you. Keep on smiling, my dear son, and I will smile right along with you. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 6 months old...

Dear Beckett,

It’s simply not true that you are six months old already, is it? As your mom, it’s been an interesting journey raising my second child. With your sister, I was so anxious for the 15^th of every month to hit so I could say she was yet another month older. But with you, the 15^th of the month sneaks up on me with a mixture of joy and disbelief. Joy over another month of watching you grow and learn. But disbelief over how quickly it goes. It’s almost surreal.

What I will remember most about this past month of your life is the chewing. And the drooling. And the slobber. And the spit. And the gnawing. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, you love to chew on anything you can get your hands on. Elise’s dirty bib? Mmm, tasty. Your socks? Oh, especially yummy. Your toes? Darn delicious. Daddy’s shirt? Delectable. Random fingers and hands? One of your favorites! Any time I hold you, I guarantee that you leave no less than three spit spots all over my shirt. I wear them proudly, however, like badges of motherhood survival.

You are now consistently rolling from your back to your belly, but you still haven’t mastered belly to back. Mostly because Elise rolls you back over without any effort on your part, so why would you even try? You are also nearly sitting up on your own, but see above. You do okay until you see your toes and then you topple over as you try to wrangle one or eight of them into your mouth. As far as standing up, you’ll stand on our laps, but you have no interest in doing any more than that. When I was thinking about you being six months, it struck me that your sister was standing at six months and you aren’t there yet.

And I say this not to compare you, but as a realization that smacked me upside the head – my kids are two totally different kids. Thankfully, as two of either of you would make your father and I crazy. You are constantly chattering away. If you are awake, you are babbling. Even as you are falling asleep, you babble. Non-stop. You are definitely vocally advanced. Your sister talks enough, but has always been more physically active and advanced. Two physically advanced children = crazy parents. Two vocally advanced children = crazy parents. One of each = parents hanging onto their sanity by a thread, but hanging on nonetheless.

As you move right into the second half of your first year, I feel you inching every day from infant to toddler. I know it won’t be long until you are running and talking and moving out to go to college. So I’ll hang on to each night as you fall asleep on me, your little body nestled into my arms and breathing so sweetly, and tuck these memories into my heart, for I know they go oh-so-quickly. And I’ll thank the heavens every night for blessing me with my little boy. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 6 months old...

Dear Beckett,

It’s simply not true that you are six months old already, is it? As your mom, it’s been an interesting journey raising my second child. With your sister, I was so anxious for the 15^th of every month to hit so I could say she was yet another month older. But with you, the 15^th of the month sneaks up on me with a mixture of joy and disbelief. Joy over another month of watching you grow and learn. But disbelief over how quickly it goes. It’s almost surreal.

What I will remember most about this past month of your life is the chewing. And the drooling. And the slobber. And the spit. And the gnawing. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, you love to chew on anything you can get your hands on. Elise’s dirty bib? Mmm, tasty. Your socks? Oh, especially yummy. Your toes? Darn delicious. Daddy’s shirt? Delectable. Random fingers and hands? One of your favorites! Any time I hold you, I guarantee that you leave no less than three spit spots all over my shirt. I wear them proudly, however, like badges of motherhood survival.

You are now consistently rolling from your back to your belly, but you still haven’t mastered belly to back. Mostly because Elise rolls you back over without any effort on your part, so why would you even try? You are also nearly sitting up on your own, but see above. You do okay until you see your toes and then you topple over as you try to wrangle one or eight of them into your mouth. As far as standing up, you’ll stand on our laps, but you have no interest in doing any more than that. When I was thinking about you being six months, it struck me that your sister was standing at six months and you aren’t there yet.

And I say this not to compare you, but as a realization that smacked me upside the head – my kids are two totally different kids. Thankfully, as two of either of you would make your father and I crazy. You are constantly chattering away. If you are awake, you are babbling. Even as you are falling asleep, you babble. Non-stop. You are definitely vocally advanced. Your sister talks enough, but has always been more physically active and advanced. Two physically advanced children = crazy parents. Two vocally advanced children = crazy parents. One of each = parents hanging onto their sanity by a thread, but hanging on nonetheless.

As you move right into the second half of your first year, I feel you inching every day from infant to toddler. I know it won’t be long until you are running and talking and moving out to go to college. So I’ll hang on to each night as you fall asleep on me, your little body nestled into my arms and breathing so sweetly, and tuck these memories into my heart, for I know they go oh-so-quickly. And I’ll thank the heavens every night for blessing me with my little boy. I love you, Mommy

Dear Beckett, you're 5 months old...

Dear Beckett,

I know, I know. I’m two weeks behind on this letter. Does it count that I’ve had it composed in my head for the last few weeks? The last two weeks have been monumental for you, but since they technically happened after you turned five months old, I’ll have to reserve those braggings for next month’s letter. Yep, I like being mysterious!

You aren’t quite rolling over still, but I’m sure it’s coming soon. You do love to chew on your toes, and let me tell you, you absolutely love to chew on your hand. It’s constantly in your mouth. Which means that you are constantly drooling. I never understood the point of those little cloth bibs when Elise was a baby. I do now. Well, kind of. They keep you dry for about seven minutes, and then your drool overwhelms even a perfectly dry bib and you’re soaked once again. But they do actually have a purpose. Huh. Anyhow, I honestly don’t know where all that drool comes from!

You are still taking after your sister by sleeping in your swing. We’ve tried to have you sleep in your crib, and you’ll sleep for a few hours, but as soon as you realize you aren’t moving, you start screaming instantaneously. I don’t know why or how I got kids like this, but the batteries are getting expensive! And you have a really, really nice crib. How about you start using it soon, okay?

Your laugh keeps getting better and better, and louder and louder. You absolutely love being tickled. You love when we make goofy faces at you. You really love being tossed in the air, and your absolute favorite thing – when I blow air in your face. It cracks me up every. single. time. You jerk back with this startled look on your face and look so perplexed for a split second – and as soon as it came, that look disappears and a huge smile and a belly laugh replace it. I can’t help myself from doing it over and over again. The startled look cracks me up and the giant grin makes me incredibly happy. Yes, I am easily amused.

It’s been a rough month for your parents, as your dad hasn’t had much work, but the upside of all this is that he is home with you most days. You drive him crazy occasionally, okay really you drive him crazy a lot, as you really don’t like napping all that much, but I think it’s safe to say that he cherishes every moment with you. I know I do, and while I’m not with you every minute of every day, that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about you constantly.

I really can’t believe you are already five months old. By the time Elise was five months old, I felt like I’d been a mother for five years. Now that you are five months old, it feels like I’ve only been a mother of two for five weeks. Can you slow down, please? I am enjoying your infancy, and while I look forward to your milestones, I am hanging on tightly to every sweet baby moment. You’re my youngest, my baby, and it’s going way too quickly. Whether it goes fast or slow, though, the blessing remains the same, and I am truly blessed by you. I love you, Mommy