growing up—18 months

Dear Gideon,

Last Wednesday you turned 18 months old. A full year and a half. It's crazy to think that you've now been outside of my body twice as long as you were inside. Wow. So now you're 18 months old and I'm trying to get away from telling people your age in such a small measurement of time. I'm not sure what the official cut of date is (2 years? 3 years?)—but you're getting to be a big boy now. If I don't change my ways soon, I'll be celebrating your 396th month birthday with you—and that's just an asinine number of candles to try to fit on a cake.

18 months—September 24, 2008

your molars are coming in so you like to chew your binkie on one side

Your 18 month milestone (hey, I'll change when I'm ready) came smack-dab in the middle of a HUGE week for you. That Monday your started your first day at daycare. For an entire year and a half we were able to avoid having to utilize formal daycare, instead depending on the kindness and availability of our family. But G-Gi moved away, Daddy's family all work full-time jobs, and you have way too much energy for the long days needed with Gam. Much to the dismay of our wallets that only left one option—formal daycare. I wanted you to go to a center with other kids as opposed to daycare in a private home. Not only for the freak pedophile fears, but also for the opportunity for you to interact with children and get a new perspective on life. We don't have many friends with kids your age right now so you don't get much interaction with the wee folk. Now, I know Daddy and I are awesome, but it's nice for you to get a chance to play with some people your own size.

first day of school

this is what you wore—not the jammies

Anyway…Monday was your first day of school (what we've decided to call daycare since all 3 of us go to school now) and Daddy ended up taking you alone. I have to leave for work (my school) an hour before he has to leave for class and we decided to keep you home that much longer rather than drop you off together. It also made it easier on my heart. I don't know that I wouldn't have cried dropping you off that day—hell, I cried just TOURING a daycare when we first started looking. Daddy may or may not have cried after the drop off—but that's up to him to tell you. It was reported, however, that YOU WERE A CHAMP! You ran right in with the group with barely a glance back and only teared up twice during the day (once around 10 and again at the end of the day when the other kids were being picked up). As a matter of fact, the teacher told Daddy that you had one of the best first days of any toddler. Way to go buddy!

you love picking up rocks

making a pb&j with Daddy

You are going to school just two days a week but they are long days. It's a big adjustment to days alone with Mommy, but I know you'll be okay. Daddy had to leave you crying and pointing down the hall after him this morning and it took all he had not to scoop you up and run back home with you. It's going to be a big adjustment for all of us.


I've also started taking you to story time at the library. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time but the sessions always seemed to fall on the days I worked or during your nap time. Not this time around! The story time at the branch near our house didn't work with our schedule, but the Maumee branch had a Thursday morning that was perfect for us—not too early and not too close to nap time. It runs for ten weeks and we will go to our third one tomorrow. After a half an hour of singing songs, saying rhymes, and—of course—listening to stories we'll pick out 5 to 10 books to take home with us and read until the next week. We read before nap time and again before bed time (and anytime in between when you grab a book). Laying in our bed with you to read has become one of my favorites nightly rituals.


The other big event this past week was your very first HAIRCUT! The haircut that your Daddy thought I'd never get done. I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever cut your hair. I wasn't in a hurry. I liked your hair just the way it was. Your beautiful red hair that curled up at the ends. The little mop top that had gotten a tad out of control. Eighteen months without single snip. But it was time. So last Thursday the three of us went to my stylist Dawn, and after I had my hair cut, you had yours cut.



Of course I took pictures and saved snippets of those sweet baby curls. I can't help it. That's who I am. I'm your Mom-mom and I love you more than you'll ever know.

You might as well get used to it.

Love,

Mom-mom