18 Months

Roman turned 18 months yesterday. A full-out running, tempter-tantrum throwing, book-loving, big kid-following, dinosaur-roaring year and a half year-old. I still call him my baby, and have to stop and correct myself (because if he could formulate the words, he'd correct me himself!). It's almost shocking to remember bringing home newborn Reni home at this age, to an 18 month-old Anika, because I still honestly have no idea how I did it. Just one toddler keeps me running an obstacle course most of the day.

Of course, this Roman toddler thinks of himself as much, MUCH older than he really is.  He's always running after his two older siblings, and when he does interact with kids his own age, he is almost incredulous, and keeps touching them to make sure they aren't going to disappear in a cloud of fairy dust. We had a play date at a friend's house yesterday, and he set right to work playing alongside the 20-something-month-olds that were there. Every once in awhile, one of them would point at the other and start laughing.

He learned how to say NO while visiting the Grandparents, and uses this new power liberally. Often drawn out into a "Nooooooooooooooooo!" Sometimes it's hard not to laugh at his newly-expressed obstinance.

He laughs when you understand him, and will flash a proud a look of accomplishment mixed with delight when you get him the juice he's asked for, or when you sit down to read one of his favorite Thomas the Train Engine books. He has so much excitement about life that he just can't contain himself - he's always jumping, and dancing, and will laugh a big, bubbling laugh even at something as simple as pulling apart two Duplos.

Thanks for making life more joyful, little-big one. Just when I think we could not love or adore you any more than we do, you wake up the next day bringing even more laughter into our lives. I know you're going to do great things. You already are.