eighteen months

i can't really believe it.  cliche, i know.  and i say this every month but 18 months feels pretty big...

and i know i say this almost every month too, but this might be my favorite. i guess it really is true... it just keeps getting better.

you are still my baby in so many ways, but so quickly becoming a little big boy too.  its pretty much heaven.  the best of both worlds. 

you have realized that you are own little person who has thoughts and ideas all of his own.  you point to your chest, and say "me" and then you point to me and say "you".  and sometimes you mix it up and grab your chest and say, "you".  it kills me every time.

 

mostly, you are perfect (of course ;), but you have a bit of a mean streak too.  which we are really hoping is a phase.  when you see someone you don't know, you often contort your face into quite the scowl.  your facial expressions are pretty wild.  it isn't the greatest first impression.  you also are into hitting people in the face.  and you don't share very well yet.

 

 we are working on it. 

 

we are happy you seem to have stopped biting people :)

 

aside from those little battles, you are pretty much a dream.  our days are so easy now and we get along just fine.  swimmingly, really.  i couldn't imagine a better pal to hang with all day. 

we like all the same things:   park visits, slow, long meals, exercise, quiet afternoons, books. if i could freeze this time in our life, i would truly consider it. i know it won't be like this for long, those terrible two's are surely around the corner, and soon your baby cheeks will fade away, so i am really treasuring these days.

(i can't believe how much finn looks likes his daddy's baby pictures here.  its almost unnerving.)

you are a real chatty cathy too.  you say so many words, and repeat even more.  and you are so proud of yourself.  you love just walking around the house, pointing out all the things you see, waiting for me to say, "that's right, finn, COUCH!"  it is hilarious to us. 

 

you are working on your manners, occasionally saying "please" and "thank you" when prompted.

 

you like to help me around the house, handing me the pillows when i make the bed, and helping me bring clothes to the laundry room.  you work so hard and are so quick to help.  i can tell you feel proud but you try to hide it.  and then you run off to make epic messes in your play room :)

 

and still, you are absolutely obsessed with any type of motor vehicle.  big trucks, little trucks, cars, motorcycles, airplanes, helicopters, fire trucks, bikes, tractors.... i could go on. 

 

 

you love looking at pictures of all of our friends and family on the fridge and naming each person.

 

every time i ask you if you are hungry, you say, "mmmmmmmmmm."  and then when i ask you what you would like to eat, you say "cereal".  and every time i say, "cereal?! that's a breakfast food, silly!"  we get a kick out of it.

 

you love to give kisses.  of course, i eat this up.

 

 

when you push the button to close the garage, you shake with excitement and exclaim, "I DID IT!" as if you just completed a marathon. 

 

my favorite thing that you say is when i ask you a question, and you pause for a moment thinking it over, and then emphatically nod your head, and say, "yyyyyyyyessssss."

 

 

you have started to tell me when you go to the bathroom.  but have little desire to sit on the toilet.  despite my attempts to bribe you with a sweet treat.

 

when you see an elderly woman with white or grey hair, you yell, "GRAMMA!!" 

we are so amazed by you every day, finnigan. 

 

and you make us ever so grateful that you are you. 

and because i started with a cliche, i will end with one:

you light up our world, little boy. and we love you so.




p.s.  as i took these pictures of you, your daddy was dancing around like a monkey behind me.  he would do anything to make you laugh.  and clearly, you smile biggest for him.  i have never seen anything so tender.