Learning And Growing

Dear Byron, 

You already started to walk over a week ago, but boy-oh-boy are you getting with it now. You have discovered this new way of getting around and day by day you are becoming more sure of how to do it. Yesterday, as you kept saying "Duck, duck, duck!" you paraded around the living and dining room on your sturdy little legs. Once in awhile you went plop down on your bottom, but then up you came and on you went. Meanwhile your Mommy, Daddy, GGMa and I all kept shouting, "Hurray! You're doing it. Good job." It won't be long now before you're even running. Congratulations on this next important step in your life journey.

And we see that you are learning to use your hands. You're getting quite good at picking up bits of food, holding your spoon, sippy-cup and bottle. That coordination thing, like throwing a ball, is coming along quite well too. And you've learned how to climb up on the couches and chairs. We have to watch as you do that, because a few times you have fallen and almost hurt yourself.

Everything is new and interesting. It's fun to eat food, to use a spoon and bring it to your mouth. And my, but those strawberries, blackberries and raspberries are really good. I notice that once you've learned a new skill you want to do it again and again and again. That's great. It creates the coordination I mentioned above.

You're also learning now to manage your feelings. Basically I see that you are a very cheerful little guy. You wake up happy most of the time, but when you are tired or want something you will let us know loud and clear. Of course there are also those moments when you very much want to be held and comforted. Its complicated, isn't it? Lots of us adults still struggle with our feelings. And I believe you will continue to do so as well. 

We hear you learning to talk. Lots of nonsense mumbles yet, but your vocabulary is growing. You still do lots of pointing and using one-syllable words, but little by little you are trying to combine words. We're trying to teach you what nose, ear, mouth and eyes are. And you're quite good at doing patty-cake, patty-cake, baker's man. We also see you responding to simple directions like, "Get your ball" or "throw it to me."

What was fun last week was to see you bring home your first painting from school—day care, that is. They gave you some water-paint and a brush. Suddenly, there it was. Or shall I say, What was it? In any event, we put it up on the frig. Besides that, you're pointing to the animals and machines in your picture books. You don't know yet about writing, but that too will come in time. 

We see that you love to put things in holes or boxes. When I gave you a bath last night, I was rather amazed to see that you know all about filling up a cup and pouring it out. You love water and you love your soft "blankie". When you hold it, in goes your thumb into your mouth.

And you are discovering music. Mommy and Daddy were plunking away on the piano a couple nights ago. Suddenly there you were pounding the keys yourself as you stood beside them. We notice that you have a growing sense of as rhythm as we sing little songs or keep beat with our hands. All quite amazing. 

So many things to learn. Such great fun, for you and for the rest of us. Keep it up, kid. There's a whole, big, wonderful world out there. 

We love you. 

GGPa