Monthly Archives - Jasper Month 20

dear jasper,

you are 4 months away from being two. do you have any idea how crazy that is to me? unbelievable. and though you are still a baby in so many ways, you are starting to show signs of being a big boy, too. the other day at yoga the babysitter said "he asked to go potty?" like "this tiny little infant said he needed to potty?!" and it's true. most of the time you just want to sit there and read, but you do know what the point is i just think you finally discovered that i was starting to expect something from you every time we sat on said potty, and you decided maybe you weren't ready to produce every time. with people watching. that's that stubborn thing you have.

yesterday we went over to play with your cousins and you guys actually all played together and got along. you only got ditched once, otherwise you were right there, up on the bed with the big kids, hanging out like you own the joint. and still, every once in a while, annie or cody or presley will remember that you can walk like you just figured it out that day and they'll say "jasper's WALKING!!!" and it's very exciting. and you just sit there like, "dudes. catch up."

you are understanding so much more these days. when i ask if you are ready to eat you say "i hungry" and you march on over to your highchair to eat. when i say it's time for nap or night-night you walk into your room and grab your favorite night-time book and walk over to the crib. so far you haven't even tried to climb out of the crib and to that i say yippee! i will keep you in the crib until you're 7 if you'll stay. wink, wink.

you are also talking a lot more these days. much of it is still garbled baby-babbling, but there are an awful lot of words and some small phrases coming out of that mouth of yours. "i hungry", "i tired", "please cracker" or "please snack" or "i love you" or "byebye daddy" or "there's ferris", etc. you also speak full sentences but so far i have only been able to decipher one or two words of those crazy sentences. you're very serious though. you'll look at me with your eyes all wide and say "aglheioy jhabh aks doop alob car" and i'm like "oh yeah, the car, good!" and you'll be like "abps astyea ctgoy this car" and i'm like "uh huh, yep!" it's so cute.

you know your bad, bad eating habits? yeah, you still have those. there are still about 5 things you eat on any given day. i actually took you to the doctor last week to either have him tell me you were normal or you had a major problem and send you away to food boot-camp or something - (which i was secretly hoping for). but alas, you are normal. you know what the doctor said? he said you are a "strong-willed child". grrrrrrreat. he said it was totally normal that you act this way because there is approximately one thing in your life that you have complete control over and that is what goes in your mouth. it has to all be your idea, you get to pick and that's that. so, i just keep on keepin' on. you're on the low end of the weight chart thingy, but you always have been so we're not even concerned about your weight. we are trying to get you to drink some instant breakfast to get some more calories, but even that you won't do. not chocolate. not strawberry. not even banana flavor. you are a stubborn, stubborn lad. it's fruit for days for you. cottage cheese, green beans, cheese slices, carrots, yogurt all day, graham crackers and nilla wafers. oh, and fruit snacks. i think you'd eat fruit snacks until you threw up you love them so much.

anyway, i will always try to give you a hot dog, or some mac and cheese or some ham. i won't stop trying. one day you will think it was your idea and you'll eat it and love it and i will know i've won. so there.

buddy, you are so sweet, so funny, so goofy, so stubborn, so lovable, so wonderful. i love you with all my heart. how did your daddy and i get so lucky?

love you muffin,

mommy