September 4, 2008

Dear Jack, Month 15

Dear Jack,

You are 15 months old, right? Because sometimes I lose track of time and can't remember how old you really are. This is partly because you are growing so fast, and partly because I turned 30 this month and my memory is going. Other people have a hard time knowing how old you are, too. Recently, there were several people who have asked you what your name is and how old you are and really expected you to answer. When I responded for you, one women asked if you were shy. I responded by saying, no, you aren't shy. You're 14 months old.

But that's not to say you can't communicate with us. You know quite a few words, and have begun taking our hand and leading us to whatever it is that you want. It's actually a little bit of a game for all of us. You guide us to the appropriate location and utter syllables that we then piece together to form something resembling a word from the English language. Your dad and I keep guessing until we finally discover what it is you desire. When we guess correctly, you bounce up and down, clap your hands and offer a guteral chuckle to let us know that you are so pleased with our powers of deduction.

Jack, over the last two weeks you have given your dad and I something new and magnificent that we had done without for the last 14 months. SLEEP! Glorious sleep! You go to bed around 8:00 and sleep for 12 - 13 hours. It's amazing. I still wake up at 6, but I am able to get so much done so that I can just spend time enjoying you after you wake up! Last Friday morning, you slept until 10:00 AM before I finally went in and woke you up. And naps? You will sleep 1 1/2 - 2 hours in the afternoon.

The best part of all the sleep is that you are SO HAPPY! You're in a good mood almost all the time. I don't know where all of this sleep is coming from, or if maybe you're trying to catch up on sleep from the first 13 months of your life when you slept 8 hours a night, but I'm enjoying it. I know that the mere fact that I'm telling you all of this means that the Era of Slumber, as I like to call it, will probably end soon. But I thought it was worth mentioning.

You don't give me kisses on demand like you used to, and that kills me. However, I will say that when I do get a kiss, it's of your own volition and it does mean so much more to me. You love giving eskimo kisses . . . but again, they are given at your discretion. You do still get excited to see your dad and I, but I know that a day is coming that you won't bounce up and down and squeal in delight when we walk into the room. Which is ok, because once you hit high school, that might embarrass both of us.

But you should know, Jack, that your dad and I get just as excited to see you. We don't squeal and jump up and down, but our hearts melt when you smile at us and we miss you when we haven't seen you in a while. I know that things will change as you get older - they already are changing a little - but we will always like having you around.



Simply Me... said...

first off loving the pic's of Jack and also loving your new look of your blog! hope all is well.

Lanny :o)

Maria Wilson said...

Love the letter, love the pics, love the new blog look!