My dear Rhino,

This month has been very busy! You’re running around even more, playing cute games, and babbling to us in your own language. You keep growing, of course. You’re now 30.5 inches tall and weigh 22 pounds. We’re not worried about your low weight anymore, it seems you’re just a smaller guy right now. I think it’s because you’re always burning off so much energy keeping active! You still love dancing and have a whole bunch of cute and hilarious moves. You will dance to songs in movies we’re watching, music on the radio, the sound of the dishwasher or washing machine, or songs I sing or whistle. We have been attending church early on Sundays and are around for choir practice, which is my favorite time to watch you dance! You run into the auditorium as soon as you hear the piano and dance in the aisle, either squatting, sumo-stepping, or rocking back and forth, then clap for the choir at the end of every song. You’re so amusing! You’ve always been pretty interested in music. You love the little toy piano Aunt Jen gave you for Christmas. I’ve also set up a keyboard so I can practice the piano and you are very excited about that! You like to listen, but you really enjoy playing, too. Every day we get about 30 minutes in front of the keys together where you play little musical patterns, alternate between the highest and lowest keys, or bang excitedly! You also like playing the guitar and more than once have unzipped the guitar case and struggled to pull it out of the bag so you can sit on the floor and pick away. I do hope that this interest sticks with you and you will pick up some instrument later on!

You are also such a big sweetheart. I am still pregnant and awaiting your baby brother and Daddy gives me a massage every day to help me relax or ease some of the pregnancy aches. You always want to be involved and will help rub my legs or back alongside Daddy. Usually your massages tickle or you just rock me, but it makes me so happy! You’re copying us more and more each day and always seem to want to do what we’re doing. It’s so much fun having you around!

Part of our month was a little stressful. You had been sick in the past, but recently you were even more sick. Your temperature rose to 104 degrees, which had me really scared. You tried to do the things you usually do and seemed to want to be in a good mood, but we could tell how drained you were. You spent about four days really tired and calm. You weren’t sleeping well and didn’t have much interest in food. We took you to the doctor and he determined you had an upper respiratory infection and all we could do was let you get over it. We kept trying to keep your fever down with Motrin. Daddy and I got sick at the same time and our whole household was pretty pathetic. We got through it though, and you were such a trooper! I’m so glad you’re better now!

We had one more big change this month: we moved to a new house! Because we’re adding another member to our family, the military has let us have a larger home. It was a lot of work to pack everything up, move all our stuff, and clean the old place, but the new house is so nice that it was definitely worth it! You started to get a little stressed out at the old house with all the mess and boxes. As soon as we were given our new home, you loved running around the big, open rooms! We had to go back and forth between the old and new houses and your mood would sour so much when we arrived at the old place, but whenever we showed up in the new home you would get so happy! I’m glad you like our new house! You were very helpful in the moving, though. When Daddy would carry boxes to the car, he’d give you something small to carry (a small box or your baby wipes or a little bag) and you would carry alongside him. You’d also want to help clean with any rag or paper towel you found. Mrs. Kiser came over to help clean up the old house and when she took down all the long, vertical blinds in the living room to wipe them down, you sat on the other end with your own paper towel wiping away, too! Now we’re mostly settled down into the new house and you seem to be right at home.

Maybe next month when I write your 17 Month letter, you’ll be a big brother! I can’t wait to see how you react to a little baby around the house. I know it will be a big adjustment, but I won’t forget about my sweet, first born boy! You’ll get a lot of time with Daddy at first, but I know I’ll miss you (I’ll have to be in the hospital for a couple of days) and want to spend time with you, too! I love you so much, Rhino!

Love,
Mommy