HAPPY 19 MONTHS

My Sweet Austin,
You bring so much joy to me in so many ways! You have been such a blessing to your daddy and me. We are so thankful that we have been blessed with a sweet, loving, smart and cute little guy like you! It breaks my heart to say you are no longer a baby, but instead you are a toddler that keeps me extremely busy! You definitely keep me on my toes to say the least! You amaze me everyday how much you can do and say that it's hard for me to list them all, but I am going to try.
In the mornings you wake me up calling my name, "Mama! MAMA!" or you will talk and giggle at yourself in your crib before you start to call me to come get you. When I walk in your room you reach for me, love on me with your head on my shoulder, and pat my back with your hand. You like for me to hold you for a minute or two before I change your diaper which melts my heart! After I change your diaper you tell me "stink stink" and you put your diaper in the trash. You say "E" for TV and want me to turn on The Wiggles. Most of the time you like to sit in your Elmo chair and drink your milk before we eat breakfast. The Wiggles, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Imagination Movers are your favorite shows. Your favorite characters are Mickey Mouse as you say, "Micmic" and Elmo as you say, "Melmo"...so cute!
You are becoming very independent and love to do things yourself. I love how you are starting to understand what I am saying and follow instructions a lot easier. During meal times you like to feed yourself with a fork or spoon. You are still messy with feeding yourself, but you are doing great! Before we eat you always remember to say your blessing. You say, "God" and then, mumble some words, and then say, "Ahmen!" Mommy is so proud of you! You eat every good during breakfast, lunch and dinner. You especially love snack time, but you insist on having your snacks in a bowl and sometimes you think you need a spoon ("poon! poon!") even if you don't.
You love to play with other children and starting to share more and more. I love to watch you interact with other children. You are sweet, energetic, bubbly and always smiling when you play. You love to chase your buddies outside, play hide-n-seek with Emily and chase her, too. Your personality is coming out more each day. You love to laugh and always wear a smile on your face. You like to wave to everyone no matter where we are and say, "hello." You give about a million high fives per a day (I wipe your hands a million times, too!) and blow a ton of kisses to everyone that we see! I think it is awesome how friendly you are to others. You love for me to take you picture as you say, "CHEESE"! If someone else is taking a picture you say cheese and give a silly smile. A few weeks ago when we were at MUSC for your checkup another mother had her Blackberry like your daddy's and you walked up to her and screamed CHEESE! You wanted her to take your picture! I think you scared her at first and of course your daddy and I thought it was hilarious and precious!
You are a great listener! I'm not saying you don't try me because you do, but if I ask you to do something you usually listen. The times you don't listen we put you in time out. You do great as you sit in your spot and don't move. Usually you cry and call for me, but when your time is up you say, "luv you, mama" and rest your head on my shoulder. Yes, it breaks my heart, but I keep telling myself you must learn that no means NO!
Bath time is so much fun with you! You like to splash, throw toys in the tub to make a bigger splash and you say "crash." You are starting to try to bathe yourself and wash your hair after I have done it. You like to wipe your face with the washcloth and blow bubbles in the water. After your bath, you brush your teeth sometimes twice because you love to brush your teeth. You will scream "teeth mama!" I fix you a sippy cup of milk and you bring me your favorite books for me to read. You still like "Brown Bear Brown Bear", "It's time for Bed", "Goodnight Gorilla", and "Five little Monkeys." Oh, you can count to two! Yeah! It's so cute because you will say one, two and hold up one finger with both numbers. :o) Too cute! After daddy or I read your books we say it's time for bed and you give us a night night kiss. Daddy and I will say a prayer with you, and then, you say your own prayer. I think it is adorable!
You are a favorite in preschool! Everyone tells me how cute and sweet you are in class. They also inform me that you are a ladies man. You like to play with your friend, Brooke, and try to dance with her during dance time. I love it! I wish I could be a fly on the wall to see that! You are learning your colors and already know the color blue. Mommy is so proud of you!
You are my smart little fellow! You can say more than 50 words! We are happy that you are putting two words together and starting to say phrases! You are a smart little guy! You are still taking Kindermusik and lovin' it!
You are the light of my life and I thank the Lord for you every single day. I love you more then any words could ever describe and I love being able to spend every day with you. Watching you grow up is my greatest joy.
With all my Love,
Mama