23 months

Dear Milo,

You are 23 months old today. Sometimes the past almost two years seems like they've flown by, other times it feels like a lifetime.

You seem to change and grow every single day. You are getting to be such a big boy, and it's often hard to remember how little you were not so very long ago. Because, really 23 months isn't such a long time (even though for you, it's been a lifetime). Thank goodness for all the pictures we've taken.

You, just a few hours old

You took your first plane ride this month -- and your first vacation that didn't involve staying at a relative's house. It was all pretty exciting.

As you can plainly see.

I was pretty nervous at the prospect of flying with a toddler, but you were a champ. You were well-behaved, then just took a nice long nap.

We went to San Diego to enjoy some sun and surf. We took you to the zoo and some museums -- and, of course, the beach. You and Daddy ended up with colds so we didn't do as much as we might have, but we had a really great time.

You got to meet one of Daddy's cousins, and I think she was quite taken with you, even though you slept through a lot of our outing with her.

You're kind of obsessed with trains at the moment. I don't expect that to go away any time soon. You also really like hippos (or as you call them "meebos") right now which really makes me smile. Because I have a bit of an obsession with them.

You've started calling me "Mom" sometimes. I'm not sure if you're switching to that or if you just get lazy and don't want to pronounce the second part of "Mama." Either way, I don't think I like it. It's too grown up. You are trying out new words all the time. But when you don't know a word, you just kind of babble something. At the zoo, "Bye bye, turblabla" to the tortoises. It's really cute though.

You do so many cute things that you know are cute. You lay down, pretend to snore, then pop up and say, "Oh. Hi." It's just too cute. You are also requesting certain songs to be sung, including "ABDD" and "Up Above," as well as "Itsy Bitsy Spider."

I think you are the cutest thing in the world. When someone else tells me you're handsome or cute or adorable, I can feel my chest swell with pride. At the airport, you were reading letters out loud and a lady heard you -- a retired teacher, no less -- and commented on how impressive it was for your age. I just about burst from the pride I felt.

It's actually kind of surprising that I don't just explode from all the pride and love and joy I feel just having you in my life. The fact that you're smart and beautiful is just icing on the cake. Which you're also kind of obsessed with right now.

I love you, my smart, beautiful, wonderful son.

Love,
Mama

11 More Things I've Learned

When Milo was just slightly more than 1 year old, I wrote 11 Things I've Learned As a Mom.  Milo is now nearly 2, so I give you 11 more things I've learned as a mom.

1. I can endure one more viewing of a movie or TV show if it makes my boy happy.
2. I can -- and readily do -- share food with my child, even if it's the last cookie in the package.
3. Hearing my son say, "Mama" for the first time was one of the most thrilling moments in my life.
4. Watching my son hit milestones is bittersweet. I am so happy with his progress and so sad that time is flying.
5. Even when I'm impatient, I'm way more patient with my kid than I would have believed 10 years ago.
6. I haven't found -- or made -- any additional time to blog. Despite my best intentions.
7. Boogers are way more gross than poop, pee or even vomit.
8. Even though boogers are gross, I am capable of wiping my son's nose with my bare hand. If I really have to.

9. As much fun as it is to talk to a toddler, talking to other grown-ups on a regular basis is the only way I will stay sane.
10. Dinosaurs are totally awesome ... as are fire trucks, trains and helicopters.
11.  Love for this kid continues to grow beyond what I believed was my heart's capacity.

That's what friends are for

I count myself lucky to be able to say I have had many true friends in my life. I have had more than my share of good friends -- the kinds of friends who are always there for you; the kind that you can go months (even years) without talking and see them and pick up right where you left off; friends who don't judge me; friends who laugh at my bad jokes, hold my hand through bad times and help me celebrate the good times.

I have friends I have known for longer than I'd care to admit and love like family. I have newer friends who have been through some rough times with me (and I also love like family). And I have a few brand new friends who have quickly become very near and dear to my heart.

I have a tendency to be protective of my friends. It doesn't matter if they're younger or older than I am, I turn into a mother hen. I often end up trying to take care of my friends. I'm not always good at it, but I want to -- even if that protection isn't always welcome. Funny how some people don't want me to mother hen them. Go figure.

I hope I can teach by example and show Milo what it means to be a friend. I hope he is blessed with the quality of friends I have been blessed with, if not the quantity. I count myself lucky to have had even one true friend.

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."
--  Ralph Waldo Emerson

11 Things I've Learned As a Mom

1. I'd rather have eight hours of uninterrupted sleep than a million dollars.
2. A happy, healthy baby is more important than nice hair and a flat stomach.
3. Everything in my life -- good and bad -- has led me to this point. And I wouldn't change a thing.
4. A book can be read every single day and still entertain a 1-year-old.
5. I can walk miles and miles in my own living room, chasing a toy truck while being pulled along by my boy -- and enjoy every step.

6. I'm capable of feeling more love than I even knew existed.
7. Toddler hugs are the absolute best.
8. Toddler giggles can make me laugh no matter what else is happening.
9. I have wonderful, loving, supportive friends and family.
10. The smallest acts can amaze me when performed by a child.
11. Actually making time to blog as a mommy is way harder than I thought it would be.