22 Months

My sweet, sweet Will...

Today you are 22 months old.  Soon we'll begin planning your second birthday and I must admit that makes me pretty sad.  It's no secret that I'd keep you small forever if I could and watching you grow up so fast is certainly bittersweet.  I love watching you learn and experience new things, but at the same time, your growing independence means you're one step closer to being a big boy.  And big boys don't quite need their Mamas as much as before, even though Mamas always need their boys, no matter how old they are.  Always. Yes, Will, as you grow taller and learn new things, you'll need me a little less and a little less.  But my need for you will remain and if my experience with your brothers is any gauge for how I'll feel, I'm afraid I'll need you even more.  It's ironic, isn't it, sweetie?  I raise you with the hope that you'll grow to be all God intends you to be, knowing full well that you'll need me less and less with each passing day.  All the while, my heart will surely long for you more and more.  Of this I am sure, Will.  

This month you have changed so much.  You are talking every minute.  You repeat everything we say and are talking in short sentences.  For so long you didn't have much to say, using only a handful of words for months.   Well, your time has come.  You are a little chatterbox and we all love hearing the new things you'll say.  You are saying every one's name now, including all your cousins and aunts and uncles.  And just like your brothers did before you, you say my name at least one thousand times a day.  If I leave the room, it's only a matter of minutes until I hear your voice, loudly calling my name followed by the sound of your sweet footsteps as you look for me. Hearing you call for me never gets old, sweet boy.

You are quite a dare devil and are still a climber.  You love to stand on the arms of chairs and sit on the back of the couch and slide down the cushions on your belly.  You  love to wrestle with your brothers and are not intimidated by them at all.  You still take quite a few tumbles a day but are never deterred from running wild and carefree.  

You are so funny and we watch you do many things just to make us laugh.  You are quite the comedian and you leave us shaking our heads in disbelief on a daily basis now.  You still make the best faces and haven't lost and ounce of your acting ability.  You can pour on the drama just as well as the comedy and you will still use "the lip" anytime your feelings get hurt.  You are spirited and fun and we love your sweet, spunky personality.

You remain a busy bee, leaving messes and flooding the bathroom floor along the way.  You enjoy dumping things out and can empty every toy basket and bin in minutes.  You also think dumping out drinks and food is great fun too.  I remain unamused by this new habit of yours.  And while I think it's wonderful that you want to use the toilet already, I don't enjoy that you have to "pee pee" at least twenty times a day, including anytime one of your brothers goes to the bathroom.  And while constantly putting your diaper and pants back on can be a little redundant, I must admit I find it cute the way you climb onto the toilet seat, balancing backwards, hovering with your knees on the seat as you hold on for dear life.  

You are still a little farm boy and you enjoy nothing more than playing with the chickens at the barn and fussing at the cows in the pasture by our house.  You usually have a bucket in your hand and you love to swipe buckets from Mema's house to add to your collection.  You love Sayler and Spot and you get so excited when its time to feed and water them.  Nothing makes you madder than your Daddy leaving on the gator to run to the barn and not taking you with him.  You love checking the cows and gathering eggs and could spend the entire day doing farm work with him.  

Will, thank you for being such a blessing to me.  You brighten my days and fill my heart with  love and contentment.  I am so thankful that God chose me to be your Mama.  I love you, sweet boy.  More than you'll ever know.

Love,

Mama