Dear Etrain

Dear Etrain,

No. Still no "Yes". Just "No". Alllll the time. Pretty much any question we ask is followed up by No. Unless we ask if you want to go outside - then you run for the door and say "side". We try to get you to say Yes. But, no. I'll even take "Yeah". Every once in a while when eating, I'll ask you if you want a particular thing, and when you do you'll say "dat". Which is super cute. And helpful.





Our communication is getting better every day. On top of your growing work list, you love to babble. You'll speak your own language for minutes at a time, going on and on. It's so awesome. I love hearing all you have to say. When we play with your over-sized lego blocks together, you talk through the whole thing as you decide where to put blocks. We've built some pretty cool creations together. When we're in the car, you'll just carry on long conversations with us. I may grow tired of it later, but right now it's still cute. :)

Outside is where you want to be though. I can't blame you. I hate this dumb apartment. It's dark, there's no fresh air circulating, there may be elephants living above us, and it's very small. You love to take Thomas the Train (choo choo) out and around the buildings here. I sent this video to your dad the first day you discovered Thomas could go outside. We made about 4 complete circles around the whole building before you got tired and wanted to go in.

We haven't really done anything big and exciting this month. Your dad and I have been trying to get the new house figured out, so you've had a couple visits to Nana and Papa Vigil's house, including one sleepover. Nana got you some new clothes and sunglasses. One of the outfits it a tad silly, but it's the perfect outfit to take photos of you, then save them to show your friends when you're older. :) You're not a huge fan of the sunglasses yet, but you've left them on a couple times when it was really sunny. You'll get the hang of it.




I'd say the biggest change for you this month, is that you are truly becoming a little boy. The baby is almost gone (which I have to admit makes me a little sad, not because you're not awesome now, but I miss holding my sweet little baby). You have way more energy and you are getting more aggressive. You love to throw, and hit (= thumbs down, kid), and climb (on everything), and test your limits, and let out a big scream when you're having fun. You'll babble to yourself, and one time I swear I caught you playing pretend - making noises for your toys and pretending they were interacting with each other. You love to practice running up and down the hallway, with a "2, 3, 2, threeeeee" countdown each time. And you love to run with Thomas down the apartment corridor. You sweat and your feet get stinky. You're totally a little boy.





And you're totally almost a two year old. These are getting more frequent, which I can't say are my favorite. Nor is the high pitched screaming. This was only 1 of 5 within 3 minutes. Ugh.

Oh, but my favorite new thing is your dancing. You've danced before, but lately it's a daily thing (which makes the the dancer in me so, so, so happy). You do this little run in place and sometimes you'll shake your head side to side. Other times you'll do a little repeat squat dance. It's so precious. And what I love even more, is that we can be playing with music in the background, and when a song that you like comes on, you'll stop what you're doing, stand up, and start dancing. Yay! I love it.

In the last week or so you've begun to say "Hi" to people. Anyone. Your age, adults or anyone in between. And not just when they're passing by, but we can be on the playground and you'll walk up to other kids and say hi. It's the sweetest thing. Most kids don't know when to do, or are shy, or something so they don't respond, but I hope you keep it up. I was really shy growing up, so I would love you to have more confidence than I had.



We started swim lessons this month. We've only gone to two classes so far. You hated the first class, but did great in the second. I really hope you learn to like it and become a great swimmer. That'll make dad happy, because I'm sure he'll want to teach you to surf as soon as you're old enough. I just want you to be safe because our new house has a pool. And speaking of that pool. We went to the house a few weekend's ago to play in the pool. Dada had me record his first jump in on video. Apparently you wanted to do the same because right after Dada jumped in, you jumped in. Holy moly. Way to scare us kid. Let's keep up those swim lessons, ok?!

Last story from this past month is about our cat, Burger. I took her to get her nails clipped, so she had to go in her cat carrier...which she HATES. Her meows almost turn into cries. It didn't take long for you to notice and imitate her. Now, anytime you see the cat in the house (or any cat for that matter), this is what you say. The only time you can say the "N" word and it sounds cute. You're such a sweet boy.

Love,
Mama