17 months old

Dear Leo,

Today you turn 17 months old. You have more energy than your mama and papa put together, times ten! Especially since some days you don't seem to want to eat very much at all (unless we're talking cheese or crackers--those are your two favorite foods). But, Miss Sandy assures us you eat a lot at daycare-sometimes seconds and thirds!

You have grown lots of hair this month and have at least one new tooth coming in as we speak. You got new shoes this weekend--your feet finally grew and caught up with the rest of you.

You have some new (or more distinct) words this month--apple, cheese, ducky, and Emma (no surprise there!). We haven't gotten you to say your own name yet, but you know that it is your name. We suspect that perhaps you have been saying it and lots of other words at daycare and we just don't know it. Or maybe not. You do pretty well at communicating, between words, signing, and pointing. You rarely say no, but you do shake your head if we ask you a question and you want to say no. For example, when it's time to get out of the bath or leave the park and we ask if it's time to go--you often shake your head firmly no. You've also been working on learning body parts--you love to point at our noses and eyes and name them, or to point to yours when we ask you where they are.

You like to wash your hands and love to climb up onto your stepstool unprompted. You have also discovered how to climb into your highchair. You also like to help get buckled into your carseat--you know how to click the two pieces together and get great satisfaction from doing it.

You are pretty adept at climbing up stairs and kicking and throwing a ball. You love the sandbox at daycare and bring home lots of sand in your shoes on a regular basis.

You think it's hilarious when mama or papa make fish-kisses at you and you try to imitate us, just as you try to do when we blow kisses at you.

You are pretty good at entertaining yourself for short stretches at a time--although we have to keep a close eye on you, since you have a fascination with things around the house that are not good for you (vinegar bottles, lamp cords, table lamps, the stereo...). You love to read books and spend long stretches paging through them on your own and also climb into our laps to have us read to you.

You continue to be a happy, smiley, active, friendly little boy who is usually in a very good mood (unless you are hungry and/or tired). You delight us with your smiles and hugs and kisses, and your babbling.

We love you,

Mama and Papa