Moth 15 - Recap

Lawsy MERCY this month has been rough on you (and, therefore, yours truly).  You had your 15-month-shots and they really took their toll on you (and, therefore, yours truly).  I forgot, and the nurse didn't remind me to hold your arms down when you got your shots.  So you grabbed at the needle which, I'm sure, made it poke you harder.  So you screamed harder.  And the screaming pretty much lasted for a week.  You were mildly pleasant as long as I was holding you, but as soon as I made a motion to sit or put you down or hand you off to someone else, the screaming ensued.  [Just in case you were curious, it's supremely difficult to pack up a house and try to stage it while only using only one arm.]  After you recovered from your shots, you got this crazy virus that made you keep going with the supremely crabby-and-clingy-ness.  I only know it was a virus because I took you BACK to the doctor because I was certain you were broken.  That there had to be SOME reason why my mellow boy had been a nonstop crab-fest for two weeks.  The doctor did a flu test which, mercifully, was negative.  Then she checked your blood to see if anything strange showed up.  Your white blood cells indicated you had a virus but of course there wasn't a way to tell what it was.  And even if there were a way, it's not like you can do anything for a virus.  Except be the receiving end of constant whining and fussing.  Which I was.  Did I mention you're also teething?  Because you are.  Your poor hands are so red and raw from where you've been gnawing on them for the past month, and your poor gums look so swollen.  I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but if you had just simply grown more teeth when you were younger, you wouldn't be going through the pain of trying to pop through a dozen teeth at once.

You really like to color.  You especially love it when you and Natalie sit at your little table and color together.  Natalie's off in her own little world, coloring and singing.  And you're simultaneously scribbling and babbling right along with her.  Even though you two coloring together doesn't last for long, trust me, I drink it in.  I've been waiting ever so impatiently for the time when you two can play together.  And while you guys have been playing together for a while now, this is one of the first times where you're both doing the same thing at the same time in the same location.  And it's gooooooooood.

Natalie has been showing you some of the 'baby' games on Bob's iPad (yes, kid, you like the iPad.  Your kids will surely make fun of you for EVER playing on something as archaic as the iPad is destined to be.  Your mother played with a Nintendo.  Never heard of it?  Look it up.  Then write me a three-page paper on the awesomeness that is the original Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt.)  Natalie loves showing you how to play with it, and you, being the President and CEO of the Natalie Fan Club, think it's the best thing ever.

You're still a fairly picky - but perfectly pleasant - eater.  You still love all things carbs and cheese.  Everything else is iffy.  Though the other day, I DID get you to eat several bites of a black eyed pea salad (that was delicious, in case you were wondering).  I'm realizing that I have to feed you a bite of anything new.  That you just won't see some new food on your tray and dig right in.  You seem to try new things about 75% of the time if I feed you the first bite.  You lazy bones.

You've got a few tricks up your sleeve now.  You've been doing the Scruncher Bear face on command for a while now, but you've also started doing Growly Bear on command (wherein you growl like a very cute, completely-harmless-but-trying-so-hard-to-sound-fierce bear).  You flap your arms when we ask you what a chicken does.  You point to your head, ear, cheek, and belly button when asked.  You particularly like showing off your impossibly blubber-able belly and its associated button.  I've tried to teach you other body parts, but that's usually met with the Growly Bear noise.  Or showing us your belly button.  I have the same problem with you that I had with Natalie.  That after you show us YOUR belly button, you proceed to lift up MY shirt to see MY belly button.  Listen, kid.  You and your sister taking up residence in my belly for a total of 18 months has permanently destroyed my belly button.  It's not cute anymore.  Nobody needs to see the carnage.

You're still climbing and still not walking.  As much as I want you to walk, I'm actually quite consumed with being impressed by your climbing ability.  Despite your surprisingly nimble moves, Daddy and I have already decided that we'll end up in the ER with you waaaaaaaaay before Natalie.  And we'll probably end up in a Parent-Teacher conference for Natalie waaaaaaaaay before you.  Between your climbing antics and Natalie's know-it-all antics, Daddy and I are gonna be driving all over town.  With big, fat smiles on our faces.  (Except, of course, if you really get hurt.  Then we won't smile.  But I'm sure we'll smile later.  As we show pictures of the aftermath to your future bride.)

Hugs & smooches,
Mommy and Daddy

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