20 months!

Well, I'm quite late on this post but better late than never.  I figure once MJ hits 2 years old, I will no longer due monthly pictures and updates.  I will still do them, but just not as frequently I imagine.  Just the words "20 months" seems nearly impossible.  I am amazed at what a little person he is turning into rather than a baby.  In the spirit of upcoming Thanksgiving, I decided to focus on some of the things that I am most thankful for at this stage and put a positive twist on even those terrible toddler behaviors:

 

• I am thankful for the kisses MJ is always eager to give.
• I am thankful for the cheerful way MJ waves "bye-bye" to everyone anytime we leave a store, restaurant, or church.
• I am thankful the way MJ pats me on the back as if he's saying "It will be okay, mom." 
• I am thankful for the way MJ wraps his arms around me and gives me a hug when I get him out of bed in the morning.
• I am thankful that MJ has not yet broken the head-scan thermometer that he insists on holding everytime I change his diapers.  Sounds strange, right?  Diaper changes are often a battle and it's the one thing I can seem to let him play with that occupies him long enough for me to change him.  Of course once he throws and breaks our fancy thermometer I am sure I will regret this choice. 
• I am thankful that MJ continues to have a love of books!
• I am thankful for blueberries.  They are the one healthy food that he still adores! 
• I am thankful for the few additioinal words MJ is learning to say.  He's starting to say "thank you" quite well and is working on "I love you."
• I am thankful that he has not yet gotten hurt too badly as he seems to be climbing all over everything.
• I am thankful that he hasn't even begun to try climbing out of his crib though.
• I am thankful for his amazing love of sleep!  He totally gets this from his mama! This child just sits in his crib wide awake after his nap sometimes before we even realize he's ready to get up.  He's still averaging about 12 hours at night and a 3-4 hour nap during the day. 
• I am thankful for the way he sits with his hands folded at the kitchen table while he waits for his plate.  Case in point:



This almost makes up for the many plates of food he has thrown on the floor!


• I am thankful that he seems to be understanding directions more and more.
• I am thankful that he knows right where his time-out spot is and will go there on his own after he's been naughty.  Not that he would ever do that! ha! 
• I am thankful for the little milk splatters his sippy cup leaves all over my furniture and the toys scattered around the living room floor because this means a little one lives in our home. 
• I am thankful that he says "yes" more often than he says "no."  Yes, unfortunately he recently conquered the word no, although he mostly just communicates it by shaking his head. 
• I am thankful that he absolutley adores his babysitter, just gives me a kiss and waves goodbye to me when I have to go to work and never cries a bit. 
• I am thankful that his winter coat he got last year for Xmas still fits him this year.  Although he's getting taller and taller he's remained pretty thin. 
• I am thankful that he's good on-the-go and likes to run errands with us.
• I am thankful that he likes to "help" me do laundry by putting clothes in and out of the dryer. 
• Without a doubt, most importantly I am thankful for the miracle of his life!  The love Mat and I both have for him is just overwhelming at times.