15 months

Sweet Toddler James turned 15 months with a big boy bang.  We were walking on the sidewalk of our church’s drop-in nursery.  James prefers to walk on the grass, pick up every passing pebble, and point to each and every car saying, “ca. ca. ca.”  All of sudden, he spotted one of the ladies that work in his room.  He squirmed his little hand from mine, ran to her, and put up his arms to be picked up.  By her.  To be picked up by her - not me.  My Sweet Toddler James is such a big and independent boy!  And he is now one and a quarter years old.  {Gulp the lump in my throat.)

Practicing wearing his preschool backpack.

For the last couple of months, James has been battling a recurrent ear infection.  Mommy is anxiously awaiting his surgery next week to get tubes in his ears.  He has spent most of his second year with doctors, antibiotics, crying, and the need for lots of TLC.  This breaks my heart.  We are ready for a fresh start.  We look forward to, and we dread, next Wednesday.  Until then, we try real hard to find our happiness.

Some of James’ most often used words are: car “ca”, ball, Dada, Lynyrd “yeh-yed”, Come on! “Go-um”, juice “ju”, hot, ice “iceth”, cheese “ch”, G-G, Yo Gabba Gabba “yaba”, banana “ya-ya”, cracker and all kinds of automobile and animal sounds.  I often think that I want this noted for down the road, when it’s a blur.  I think there is nothing sweeter than the sound of his voice and wish we could stay in this toddler stage forever.

Although not all days are sunshine and rainbows.  (Especially with a festering ear infection that seems to be taking over our whole house.)  James now gets his feelings hurt when told “no” (which I think is a good thing, as opposed to his former laughing response).

Or he turns “no” into a game refusing to do as told (like playing in the bushes).

Or he melts down, stomps his feet, collapses to the ground, or throws things.  Yes, James has learned how to use his feet.  Whether he’s running through the yard,  dancing his little jig, or stomping a fit, these little piggies don’t get much rest.

Either way, he reacts and tests his boundaries.  Pretty normal for a strong-willed toddler.  Whoever coined the phrase “terrible twos” must have had an angel of a one year old.  We’re trying to find a balance between James’ growing independence and need for constant care.  I try to think about how frustrating it would be to not know how to communicate my thoughts.  So we make little compromises to help get through each day.  Like holding his own spoon.  Or eating dinner out of a Cheetos can.

Everybody wins.  James get to practice something new and exciting all by himself. 

Mommy has a compliant toddler eat his dinner.

And even Lynyrd benefits from this one.

Although Lynyrd seems to always “benefit” these days.

James’ favorite time of day is when “Dada” comes home from work.  He gives Justin a warm welcome of running to the door while saying “Dada” over and over again.

But he almost always keeps an eye on Mommy, and is not happy if she dare leave the room.  Something that I often find exhausting, but something I will most likely miss one day.

Our sweet little James,

is growing up so fast.

We love you Baby James.  Happy one and a quarter year!