A Whole New World

Dear Elliot,
The ground has been covered with snow for months and months. Here in Minnesota, we all kind of hibernate indoors from November until March or April, when the temperatures start to make their way into the 40's, all that snow starts to melt, and the you can finally step outside your house without wearing 14 layers of clothing.

Once spring hits, people start to emerge from their homes. You catch up with the neighbors you literally haven't seen in months. You walk around in T-shirts and sandals because it just feels so good to feel the  fresh air on your bare skin. We might have to wait longer than most for it, but here in Minnesota, spring is a wonderful, magical time of year. And this spring is even more exciting than most, because it follows the longest, worst winter of probably ever.

The last time the grass wasn't covered in snow, you were barely old enough to notice it. Now, it's like the coolest thing in the world. And even cooler? Rocks. And the little chunks of asphalt from the cracks in the driveway. And puddles--oh the puddles!

To you, it's like a whole new world has opened up before you.

We spent a lot of time out of the house today, me following you around as you explored this exciting new place we call "outside."You were in heaven, and it was so much fun to watch.

You were especially into picking up rocks and trying to eat them. I probably ran after you saying, "No! Elliot, we don't eat rocks!" 50 times tonight, no joke. 

It is seriously such a joy seeing the world through your eyes. We grow up, turn into adults and almost forget that you know what? Yeah, splashing in puddles in pretty freakin' awesome.

Thanks for letting me into your world, little E. I love you more than you'll ever know!

XOXO,

Mom

The "Dog" I'll Never Forget

Dear Elliot,
Tonight started out like any other night. You were taking a bath after making a mess of yourself during dinner--splashing around, chewing on your toys, the usual. Then you started looking through the new bath book your Auntie Katie got you, got to the Dalmatian page, held it up and said "Dog!"

It actually sounded more like "Doug", but it was very clearly a "D" sound followed by a "G" sound. It was definitely not one of your usual babble words. I started freaking out and said "Andy! He just said dog!" Dad pointed to the Dalmatian and said, "what's this?" You again said "dog!" You said it a few more times. Then I ran downstairs to get my phone to get it on video, but of course, by the time I got back upstairs, you had lost interest and moved on to trying to pull the cap off a bottle of shampoo.

But oh my gosh! You said "dog!" You already say "mama" and "dada" and sort of "book" ("buh") and "this" ("iss") but this is your first no-denying it word besides the standard Mom and Dad. I can't really describe the thrill of this moment! I definitely teared up a bit.

I've said it before (and I'm sure I'll say it again), but this is really the best stage yet. I love watching so many things "click" and come together. I love watching you turn into such a special little person.

I can't wait to see what your next word will be--if you're going in order of things you love, it will probably be some type of food, or maybe "computer cord!"

I love you so much,

Mom

Toddler

Dear Elliot,
I think you have grown and changed more in the last couple of weeks than you have at any other point in your life thus far. It's like you turned a year old and BOOM. You're a toddler.

You've been taking steps on your own for awhile now, but over the last week or so you've gone from walking sometimes with crawling as your main/preferred mode of transportation, to walking I'd say 90% of the time. You've learned how to get yourself up into standing position (from sitting, without pulling up on something), and are moving so fast now! You've still got the adorable drunk zombie walk going on, but you're now a very speedy and efficient drunk little zombie :). It's so much fun taking you out places and following you around. It's something I've imagined and looked forward to doing for so long (like before you were even born); I love it just as much as I thought I would.

You have also become so much better at communicating what you want/need. Your two main gestures are pointing (to whatever you want/wherever you want to go) and waving. The waving is seriously the cutest thing ever. You used to do more of a "salute", where you'd put your hand out to say hello to people, but now you move your wrist up and down and wave at everyone and everything. You are the most friendly little boy in the world. It's so funny to see you get confused (almost upset) when you wave at a stranger and they don't wave back (usually just because they didn't see you). Most of the time I can say "Elliot, can you wave?" and you'll do it instantly. Like this:

You've also gotten quite good at letting us know when you're mad. It used to be that I could take something away and you'd kind of just be like "welp, okay, guess I'll find something else to play with." Yeah, not so much anymore. You've started throwing little fits, where you'll arch your back and throw yourself dramatically on the ground. The fits usually only last a few seconds, but I feel like I've gotten a glimpse into the future and it scares me a little! :) I have to say, you are incredibly hard to say "no" to!

Overall, I just love how happy you are. It's really easy to get insecure and stressed out about whether or not I'm doing a good job at this whole parenting thing. But when it's all said and done, I look at your big, straggle-toothed smile; hear your deliriously happy laugh; watch you clapping to yourself in delight and think I must be doing something right. 

I hope your ridiculously happy nature is something you never outgrow. I hope you keep that huge grin, that squealing laugh, and that you never stop cheering for yourself. Most of all I hope you always know how much you're loved. Seriously kid, I can't even explain how much you mean to me.

I love you, Baby Boy.

XOXO,

Mom