Dear Jack,

Today you are 23 months old. You're sleeping now, after a long day with lots of fun and a few tears. I joined the YMCA, and you screamed the entire time I was exercising. The nice ladies in the Child Watch area were kind enough to give me 40 minutes before calling me back in. I don't know why separating from me continues to be so difficult for you. As I dropped you off, the tears were flowing, but I could see that you really wanted to play with a big dump truck. You weren't able to accept what you ought to know is true: Mommy always comes back. The women were so nice and encouraged us both to keep coming back. We will. I hope you'll let the part of you that saw the trucks lead you into what can be a fun time for you.

The last month, you've gained more vocabulary and started putting together longer and longer sentences. Most notably, though, is your imagination. Your independent play has been come so entertaining for us both. Early last month, I overheard you as you "drove" your ride-on car. As you turned the wheel, you said "How 'bout dis way? No! How 'bout dat way?" I caught you in front of the mirror one day singing a lovely song, "I NOT gonna sing! I NOT gonna sing!" One morning you popped awake and said with a very serious face "I drumming! I'm gonna drum!I wanna drum!" I wonder if you were dreaming about pounding some skins. You took kitchen tongs, held them up to your ears and said "I doctor!" This last one made me smile. You've been to the doctor so few times, but you associate a stethoscope with that job.

You've started growling and shrieking, and using some interesting voices. When you read to yourself, you often growl or grumble or giggle. I'm amazed by you! These growls and frowns, though, pop up in our daily interactions, too. You've started making a grumpy face. It seems to be your favorite face these days, and you say "I'm MAD!" while you stick out your bottom lip and furrow your brow. I admit it's cute, but I much prefer the toothy grin of your happy face.

Luckily, there is some sweetness emerging, too. As we snuggled one night after reading, you touched my cheek and said "I happy." Flutter, heart. You have started to thank us when we give you things. It sounds more like "Kee-Q, Mommy," and it warms my heart. I think it may be a diversion tactic, but when I'm changing your diaper, you reach up and say "I wanna hug. I wanna Mommy hug!" Of course I oblige. At dinner tonight, you held out a piece of pizza and said "Take a bite, Mommy." Thank you for sharing with me. At every age, new challenges come along with new blessings.

We weaned you this month, too. I should say, that I weaned myself. You handled it amazingly well and with Daddy's help, we accomplished this task quickly. The tears were mostly mine. I do miss nursing you, a little. It was the bond we alone shared for almost two years. Every mom experiences this feeling in some way as her child grows up. I'm sure these feelings will resurface often, and I pray that you continue to gracefully move into new seasons. I will try my best to do the same.

Once again I find myself having written so much, yet barely scratched the surface of capturing my complicated, wonderful boy.

I love you,

Mama.