22 Months

The most amazing thing so far about being a parent is observing how quickly your child can change. Over the summer I watched and marveled at how every day, as we walked up the stairs into our home, Matthew became more and more skillfull at making his way up the stairs, with less and less help from me. He went from crawling up the stairs to standing while holding both my hands, to using the rail and holding only one of my hands, and so on. Today he is almost worthy of handling it without supervision, much less needing to hold my hand, but I still try to help anyway. The same goes for eating cereal every morning for breakfast. He still opens wide like a hungry little bird, but he is gaining confidence over the spoon and asking for less help. I have to make a concerted effort to back away from the table and offer less help, so that he gains the right amount of confidence.  He is falling asleep at much more reliable intervals, looking sleepy the moment his head hits the Thomas the Train pillow, and calling "ni-nite" as we walk out of the room.  We found our window of opportunity and finally ditched the pacifier without much drama right around 20 months (hooray!!)

Matthew's love of all things cuddly and sweet is perhaps the most endearing thing about him at this particular age. He still has Teddy, whom he adores, but he doesn't have a particular preference for him so much as an overall need to give love to cute things. He has a little Alvin chipmunk doll from his weekend with Aunt Amy, a "Gary Bear" who saved the day at Aunt Sue's, a Pooh Bear from Mommy's guilt trip to Disneyland without him, and now he has Mommy's childhood Puppy, and they all make him squeal delightfully! He gives them kisses right on the mouth and then passes them along for kisses from anyone else within reach. He loves to play hide-and-seek with them, and bursts into a squeaky, celebratory laugh whenever he discovers them cuddling together on his Elmo chair in front of the TV. He also has generously imparted this affection on all family and even new friends, giving kisses right on the lips when it's time to say goodnight or bye-bye, and his hugs are squeezably snug, as he wraps his arms right around the neck with all the strength in his soul.

I'm not sure I can believe it could get any better than this.