Dear Jack, my little helper,

Today you are 16 months and two days old. My good intentions just didn't quite cut it this month, but here I am, and here is your letter.

The past month has been one of those long months, not because of fatigue (though that is there) or boredom (not a chance), but because you have changed SO much in the past thirty days. Everyday, it seems, brings a new skill, or habit, or word, or expression. I can almost see the connections your brain is making. It's exciting!Communication has been at the forefront this month. A few weeks ago you started really forceful communication in your own dialect. "Wee-doo-wee-doo-wee" is one of my favorites. You look at me with earnest determination and repeat a bit of jibberish several times. But it's not jibberish, is it? You seem to know exactly what you are saying. Sometimes I know, too, but more often I nod and look concerned. You ramped up the sign language in the last few weeks two. Your rare "please" has become perfunctory, and over the last week you started signing "more" and "please" in succession. How polite of you! You have thrown me a "thank you" a couple of times. You also started saying "NO!", but it's more like "noooooooowww." It's cute and it's you. We'll see how long that lasts.

You like to mimic what we say, but you aren't quite a parrot. Water is "Wa-wer" and apple is "Aah! Oh!" Your receptive language is amazing. In a Sesame Street book we have, you point to each character when asked. You get Bert and Big Bird mixed up, but I'll cut you some slack. You can follow directions (if you want to) and seem eager to please. I've become more and more aware that your listening ears are collecting all of my words. What a responsibility (and privilege)!

All day long you are pulling things out of drawers and cabinets, folded clothes from baskets, warm clothes from the dryer, dirty clothes from your hamper. You're quick to put things back when I ask you to. More helping! You bring me things throughout the day, too. Sometimes toys. Especially books you want me to read. You play in the kitchen, stirring a spoon in a bowl, or reaching up with a spatula to "cook" on the stove top. You feed me imaginary spoonfuls!

You're still a flirt, but you've developed this coy response to returned affections. You hang your head and glance up through your long lashes as if to say, "Who me? Cute?" Heartbreaker! You blow kisses with gusto and you spontaneously give hugs and kisses now. These, my son, are the balm for my soul. We were visiting our friend Whitt at her dance studio last week and you had your eyes trained on a ballerina. She was about four years old and nearly twice your height, but you had to have your hug and kiss. We may have to help tone down your amorous advances. I've found myself calling you "Bruiser" more than a few times this month. You've gotten scrapes, cuts, blackeyes, bruises, and bites. You are taking full advantage of your growing agility. You can climb onto our (high) bed now, and you can fall off. You climb onto the couch and scoot yourself onto the coffee table. You take advantage of a chair left pulled out from the table in the kitchen and you've climbed all the way up to the tabletop. I'm glad we have heavy metal chairs that you haven't (yet) figured out how to move on your own. You climb out of the bath now when you are ready (even if we're not). You crash and bang all day long. You've started bring your boo-boos to me for a kiss. All better! If only my kisses could protect and heal you forever.

You don't seem to have grown much over the last month. You may be a little heavier and your feet a little bigger. Most of the change is happening in your mouth! You had a particularly rough night last week then slept hard. In the morning, the tips of two top molars had broken through. It's just the beginning for those big teeth. I hope they come in quickly. You seem to be extra drooly now. Overall, though, you are a pretty easy teether, molar man.We took a family trip up to Jones Gap on Saturday. You didn't last long on the trail, but I can't blame you. There were so many rocks to try and eat! Sticks galore! Leaves! It is a toddler's wonderland.Days like that one leave me so excited for what's in store. Hiking, swimming, camping. Long days of doing nothing but enjoying God's creation. I admit that I need to see the world through your eyes sometimes, son. Fresh and full of possibility. Wonder. Gratitude. I may not always be ready for every adventure, but I will do my best to keep up with you.

I love you so very much,

Mama