Dear Rhino,

I was lazy/distracted again and didn’t write you a letter last month, so this one covers your 16th and 17th months. It’s been quite a busy two months, too! Your vocabulary has expanded a little bit. You now say Mama, Dada, hi, bye, no, uh-oh, oww, and bark. You imitate us all day long, which is so cute! When Daddy exercises, you try to do what he’s doing. You brush your hair and teeth, wear our shoes, empty the dishwasher, load the clothes dryer, love putting your toys away (or anything in a bag or box, for that matter!) You still dance for us all the time, whenever any song comes on the TV, the choir practices at church, or there’s a beat that you make with a spoon on the bookshelf or that you hear from the dishwasher. You’ll now “perform” for us when we ask and all we have to do is ask you to dance and you will. You’ll also blow kisses, kiss us, bring us things, put things away, and peek-a-boo when we ask you to. It’s so much fun having you around!

The biggest news these past two months is you have now taken on the roll of Big Brother! Your baby brother, “Heron”, was born on July 17th and I stayed in the hospital for a few days while you had a great time at home with Daddy. You came to visit me once or twice a day and check out your little brother. You were immediately curious about him, would wave at him, point to him, give him kisses, and hold out your arms to hold him. Almost a month has gone by and you are still just as affectionate with him. You bring him a diaper when we’re getting ready for a change, his pacifier when he’s crying (or sometimes you’ll just point at him until I pick him up to soothe him), hold his hand when you’re sitting together on the sofa, brush his hair with your soft little hairbrush, snuggle up with him when he’s lying on the bed or the floor, and bring him toys. You are a little bit of a bullying big brother too, though! There are some toys that you love too much to share with him and will snatch away if we give them to him. You also like to take any blanket draped over him and put it on yourself. Occasionally you’ll pluck the pacifier from his mouth and put it in your mouth, which is funny because you’ve never taken to a pacifier and I still don’t think you know what to do with it because it just sits between your lips as you grin. Sometimes you’re a little too rough with him, but you’re learning to be gentle. If you slapped his face, smooshed him, or threw a toy at him, we’ll scold you and then you always give Heron an apologetic, gentle pat on the head. I am so glad that you have a little brother that you will be able to play with. I know you two will have so much fun together. You are all ready a wonderful big brother!

You had your 18-month checkup today at the pediatrician. The base just got a new doctor in and he’ll be your doctor from now on. So today you met Dr. T and seemed to like him! Every doctor’s appointment you’ve ever had, you’ve screamed and put on quite a show. Today was the first appointment that you were calm all the way through; Daddy and I are so proud! For some reason, the scale used to always bother you. You just pointed to all the buttons and let the nurse do her thing. Then, when the doctor came to do his thing, you just watched him curiously (and sometimes looked like you just weren’t to sure, though) and never fussed. You did what he asked (looking towards the door, following the light, lying down) and even gave him a hug! You got two shots today (Hib and combined DTaP-Hep B-Polio), which did bring you to tears, but you got over it quickly. You’re such a big boy! You’ve been growing well in the last six months since your one-year checkup. You’re now 24 pounds, 13 ounces and 32 inches long, which puts you right around the 40th percentile. You’re a healthy eater, but have grown a little picky lately and we have to sneak green veggies into your meals. You love breakfast, but dinner can be kind of an ordeal. I guess you’re a perfectly normal toddler!

You seem to have gotten over a lot of your stranger anxiety and now really enjoy having people over to visit and being left in the church nursery. You’ve stayed at friends’ homes while we had to go on appointments or when Heron was born and have had a great time.

Daddy and I love you so much, sweetie and are loving each day we spend with you.

Love,
Mommy