18

when i got the baby center email that patrick jr was 18 months, i couldn't believe just how quickly time really does go by. sometimes i want to say, "make it slow down!" and other days, i'm counting the minutes until bedtime or when the cavalry - daddy - comes home. but even on the most tiring days, i would never trade anything for that feeling of pure exhaustion. i'm sure that later in life, i'll wish for these days again, so i try to soak up his laughter...his cries...his hugs and kisses...his everything. i know it won't last forever, but i'll always get to be his mommy. and maybe when he's older, he'll still let me 'love on him' and call him 'baby p.'

a few of our favorites about you at this age:

'go, go, go!' is your favorite phrase. it's only fitting given your nature.

you started mother's day out and LOVE IT.

scraped knees are a regular occurrence around here.

you ate an orange marker.

shoes! hands down, your favorite toy.

you move the benches in our den and create little play areas.

breakfast is never-ending. literally. yogurt, mamama, cheerios, dried apples or pears, half an english muffin with cream cheese, MILK, your 'fish' (goldfish) and then it's lunchtime.

you drowned cheerios in mommy and daddy's bathtub. and mommy got to fish out by hand.

i said that it was time to go bye-bye and you disappeared only to reappear with daddy's cowboy boots.

you sprouted 2 new teeth.

you will fall asleep in 1.1 seconds if it's anywhere near noon and you are in the car.

you say, 'outside' but it's newly-pronounced as 'oushide.'

you literally imitate EVERYTHING we do. uh-oh...

you have a voice and you love to use it. all. day. long. like mommy, like son.

you will hold onto my leg or daddy's and won't let go, waiting to go for rides around the house.

as witness in the photos above, you have a tendency to get dirty .5 seconds post dressing for the day. truly amazing and i blame it all on being BOY.

you are amazing.

we love YOU.