Cohen is 20 Months Old

Dear Cohen,

Today you turned 20 months old. That's 4 months away from 2, in case you hadn't realized. And the closer you get to 2, the more and more you change and grow and become such an amazing little boy. This was a huge month for you -- you are doing so many new things and growing more and more into your own person. I'm just holding on and enjoying this ride.

Perhaps the biggest and most noticable change this month is that you've learned 2 small but powerful words: what's that? That little phrase has shattered any barrier to your curiosity and caused you to learn a lot very quickly. This week, we went to the grocery store. Here's is what our conversation sounded like as we walked down one aisle:

Cohen: "What's that?"

Mama: "Fruit."

Cohen: "Fut. What's that?"

Mama: "Fruit."

Cohen: "Fut. What's that?"

Mama: "Those are tacos."

Cohen: "Taaaaacos. What's that?"

Mama: "Those are beans."

Cohen: "Beans. What's that?"

Mama: "Soup."

Cohen: "Sooooop. What's that?"

Mama: "That's pasta."

Cohen: "Paaasta. What's that?"

and on it on it went, up and down each aisle. You want to know what everything is. And the thing that gets me is that you remember all this stuff. This weekend, we were reading out of a book, and you asked me what it was called, so I told you it was a Bible. The next day, you sifted through all your books, and brought the Bible to your daddy, proclaiming "Biiiiiible. Biiiiible."

Your recall ability is getting really good. I can now point to your body parts, ask "What's that?" and you can name it. That's a huge step from me asking where a body part is and having you point to it. You are beginning to memorize songs and patterns. You can count to 8 all on your own, you sing many parts of the alphabet song accurately, you know a few songs by heart and can sing them so people can actually understand what you're singing. Our favorite sings are "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", the bubbles song you learned at the library, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", and "Joy Joy Joy Down In My Heart."

Your tantrums have increased in intensity but have decreased in frequency. They consist of throwing yourself into walls and furniture, throwing objects, pushing toys away, and falling to the ground. And they are ususally a result of you wanting to assert your independence at an inopportune time (or when you're just way too tired). Tantrums now always result in Time Out, and you are not a fan of Time Out. Lately, when I see the beginnings of a tantrum coming on, I'll say, "Oooh, I don't like tantrums. They're ugly. Do you need a Time Out?" You'll stop, look at me, say "No," and will usually move on to something else. I am so proud when you make a good decision.

Conversations like that are pretty much the norm for us now. If you don't understand the things I say, you sure are a good faker. We have so many converstaions throughout the day, many of them pretty complex for someone under 2. You love to sit in my lap, look up into my face, and talk to me. You can tell me when you are hungry or when you hurt or when you are sleepy. You can tell me what you want. That's been huge for us. We all feel so confident right now simply because we can communicate.

You know the rules, and you like to inforce them (even if you don't like to follow them). You love to tell people "No no no" when they do something they shouldn't do (especially your daddy). You don't like messes, and if you see them, you want them cleaned up. You respond to spills by rubbing your hand in the spill, trying to sipe it up. You respond to little pieces of trash by picking them up and giving them to an adult. You don't like when things are "dirrrrrrrrty."

You also love to take baths and brush your hair and brush your teeth. In the mornings when you watch me get dressed, you ask for your brush so that you can brush your hair, and you ask for your "toot brussss" so you can brush your teeth. You like to put on your own shoes (or mine or your daddy's).

Last week, we went to the pediatrician for your 20 month check up. You are 29 pounds (82%ile) and in the 67%ile for height. You are a sturdy little boy with a broad ribcage and a wide stance. You still wear 18-24 month and 2T clothes. You're still wearing size 4 diapers. And you're still wearing your size 6 -6.5 shoes, but I don't know how long that will last -- your feet are getting pretty big.

You still go to bed aroung 8 at night and don't wake up again until 8 or 9 in the morning. You still like long naps in the afternoon. You still spend every waking hour being a very active little boy, running around and getting into trouble (and making me laugh). Life with you is just easy, and I wonder how we ever felt whole without you.

You are the most amazing blessing. Every day with you is the most special gift I've ever received. I cannot get enough of you: your smile, your raspy little voice, your sweet spirit, your big blue eyes. You are everything I always prayed for and everything I didn't even know I needed. I love being your mommy. And I love you. To the moon and back. Forever and ever.

Until next month,
Mama