16 Months

Dear Nolan,

Hello my little toddler! You are 16 months old and full of spunk. You are still a petite little thing, weighing around 22 pounds and measuring 32.5 inches. You wear mostly 18 month clothes, though some of the pants are too big around the waist. It's quite a problem, seeing as 12 month stuff is way too small! We just bought your first box of size 4 diapers and when you wear cloth (not often these days) you are still on the middle setting. You wear a size 5.5 shoe but are nearing size 6! Your noggin is big and any hats we buy have to be 2T or bigger. It's that huge brain in there! You are SO smart, and are saying SO much these days. It's so fun to listen to you tell us about your world.

Last month was so much fun. We eagerly awaited Christmas, knowing it would be an amazing experience with you around. You did not disappoint! On Christmas Eve, we spent time with both sets of grandparents then came home and left cookies out for Santa (that you stole a couple of!), read The Night Before Christmas. and tucked you in after whispering what the next day would bring. I could not sleep at all because I was so excited for you! We spent lots of time picking out the perfect gifts and I was so excited to see your face when you walked into the living room that previously held no gifts. The tree and surrounding area was filled to the brim. When you woke up, we brought you in our room for a few minutes then I went out to get the video camera and camera ready. I yelled to "send him out!" and you took off running. When you got to the living room, you stopped in your tracks and just looked around at everything. Then you sat down in the middle of the floor, looking back and forth at all of the gifts. It was the cutest thing ever! We decided not to "rush it" and let you open gifts and play at your own leisure. When it seemed like you were getting tired of something, we directed you to open something else. Because of this (and the visitors we had!), you didn't finish opening gifts until the next day. I have a feeling it'll be the last year that ever happens! ;) All in all, Christmas was amazing. Seeing the wonder through your eyes really warmed my heart.

A few days later, we decided that we'd let you have your first overnighter with "wow" (grandma). In preparation for our upcoming stay at the hospital when your sisters are born, we really wanted to make sure you did okay while we were able to come pick you up if needed. I knew in my heart that you would be fine, but that didn't make it easier to not think about you constantly. When you've never been apart for more than a couple of hours, and never overnight... it's hard! Grandma and Grandpa had a great time, and you (of course) were fine. No tears, you slept all night, and didn't seem to miss us too much at all. The next morning they took you to Bob Evans for breakfast, then brought you home. I missed you very much but it makes me feel better knowing that you were just fine without me overnight. I'll still be crazy with missing you when I'm at the hospital, but I know you'll be in good loving arms. :)

Like I said earlier, you are SO smart! You understand so much (probably even more than I know) and are very routined. In the morning, you come out and immediately look for the remote. You ask to watch Mickey while eating your breakfast (I know this isn't a great habit, but I figure so long as it's not an all day thing, it's okay while you're eating). We can tell you to do just about anything (go to your chair, get the phone, find your shoes, go to your room to get a diaper, etc.) and you follow directions. You try to put on your own shoes and coat, but aren't successful quite yet. You can take off your coat though! At night we have a very specific routine that is mostly "run" by you. When we tell you it's getting close to bedtime, you go to the kitchen and get out the box of oatmeal. We open the fridge and you find your fruit that we mix in it. Then you wait while we make it, and as soon as the microwave dings you take off for the living room, where your dad feeds you. Then we tell you it's time to brush your teeth and you head for the bathroom, get your step-stool, take it to the sink, open the drawer where we keep your toothpaste and point at your toothbrush. You "spit" when you're finished (so cute) and then toddle off to your room. Daddy changes you into a nighttime diaper and pj's, then you head for your bookshelf to choose a book. You bring it to me, climb on my lap and we read it together. Then dad reads you the "sleep book" and you give the baby a kiss. Then you come back to me for nighttime prayers, reach for dad afterwards and give us kisses. I tell you goodnight and daddy lays you down. It's like you always know what's coming up and you "tell us" what to do. Such a smarty! Something else that amazes me is your ability to look at something and know what you want to do with it. For example, grandma has a bag of blocks that contains two different brands of blocks. You can look at it and dig through, finding only the kind that you want to build with. They're very similar in size and shape... you are just that observant!

You know 4 animal noises now (dog, sheep, bear, cow) and can identify your head, hair, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, hands, feet, belly and toes.

Little man, your world is about to change drastically when your sisters are born. I hope you *always* know how much you are loved and how very important you are to us. Even if we had a hundred kids, you will always be our very special firstborn. You are our pride and joy and we love you more than you can imagine.

Keep smiling, dimples. We love you!
Momma