19 Months

November 29, 2011

Dear Riggins,

This is the last time your age will be referred to in the teens until you hit 13!  (Which I just really can't even think about right now!)  It goes without saying that month 19 was another month of fun and growth that made us fall even more in love with you.  Here's what you've been up to:

The big news this month was that you're going to have a baby brother!  I had really hoped for another little boy, simply so that you could have a brother.  Watching your daddy with his brother and the close relationship that they share made me long for you to have that kind of lifelong friendship.  I know that you two will have your fair share of differences and arguments, and that I will probably have to break up a fist fight or two, but I am already praying that the Lord will place a bond between you two boys that will hold you close throughout your lives.

The other big event of the month was your second Thanksgiving!  Your Mama Anne, Papa Tom, and Uncle Todd made the trip from Oklahoma City and you had so much fun soaking up all of their attention.  You love singing Old MacDonald with your grandparents, so much so that we worried you might start calling them "EIEIO" instead of by their names!  Your favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal was the rolls.  You also spent a weekend with your Grammy and Grampy in Fort Smith while we went on a trip with your Aunt Merdi and Uncle Mike!

New developments this month: you can now do lots of big boy things on the playground, like climb the ladder and go down the big slide by yourself.  You can climb the kitchen chairs and on top of the table (which is not allowed, young man! ;)  You can blow kisses, wash and dry your hands, throw things away in the trash, and do all the motions to "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."  You added several words to your vocabulary, including cookie, "Oh Man!", nine, puppy, no, Weber, amen, meow, "Roar!", Emmy, and Asher (your friend from MOPS).  Your only negative development has been the advent of hitting, which we're working on.  Hands are not for hitting, buddy!  

You love Elmo, helping me cook, being outside (whether on a walk or at the playground), tractors, dogs, BSF, going on runs with Daddy and Weber, Starfall, dragging my cooling rack through the house, your orange "nigh nigh" blanket, and your Mister Rogers trolley.  You love to read, and your favorites are Prayers and Promises for My Little Boy (which you simply call, "Boy!"), Goodnight Moon, DOG, Roly Poly Pangolin, Goodnight Gorilla, Just Like Daddy, and anything by Eric Carle.  You dislike going to the nursery at church or at our women's Bible study, getting your diaper changed (a new development), and potatoes (crazy man!).

Daylight Savings Time threw you for a loop, and you spent most of this month waking up way too early.  You have finally evened back out to 7 or 7:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.  The morning nap is officially gone now (unless you're having a real off day and I decide to give you a cat nap before a morning outing), and you usually sleep from 12:30-3:00.  You are a typical toddler with your eating habits: shoveling everything down one day and barely eating a bite the next.  You consistently love fruit, cheese, crackers, sweet potatoes, and breads of any kind.

You have such a sweet heart and friendly personality.  You say "Hi!" and "Bye Bye!" to everyone you meet, and have never met a stranger.  We are seeing more and more of your stubborn streak coming out, but I happen to think that's a good combination for the godly leader I pray you'll become: a love for people, and firm convictions.  May God give me the wisdom to parent you in a way that cultivates these characteristics and refines them for His use and for your good!  

You're just too much fun, little boy, and your blue eyes and huge smile slay me each and every day.  I love you to pieces.

Love,
Mommy