18 Months

My little boy is 18 months old today. And that pretty much sums it up -- my little boy. He's not really a baby anymore, this walking, talking kid who is very certain about what he wants. So in honor of his 18 months, here are 18 little things about John that make me smile.

18. How when he wants to get up from his chair or go outside, he will more clearly enunciate "up" at an increased volume, in case you missed it the first time.

17. The way he opens his mouth wide when he tries to give Lucy one of her toys, just like we did when we were trying to get him to eat with a spoon for the first time.

16. The way he concentrates on opening up the kitchen cabinets to make a wall, lining up the edges of the doors just so -- they have to be perfectly even and touching.

15. His absolute obsession with doors. Any and all doors. Nothing on hinges is safe from this kid.

14. The way he brings me each and every acorn he finds. And we have three oak trees.

13. His fascination with the vaccuum.

12. The way he calls me when he wants up in the mornings, saying "Ma MA!" with a little accent.

11. His love for his dog and his cat, and their love for him.

10. The way he laughs when we tickle him behind his ears.

9. How he says "No" for everything -- when he wants you to have something, when he wants you to give him something, even if he's just talking to himself.

8. That the first thing he does when he gets out of bed in the morning is to grab his shoes and head for the door.

7. How, after weeks of trying to teach him to say throw his arms up when we say "Touchdown!", he'll now hear it on TV or in random conversation and immediately make the touchdown signal, grinning from ear to ear.

6. The way he carries the hymn book to us and points to the ones he wants us to sing. [Alternate -- the fact that The Black Eyed Peas song "Pump It" is his favorite song to listen to in the car.]

5. The way he snuggles with his lamb when it's time for bed.

4. How, in the midst of a tantrum or burst of tears, he can still manage to say "cookie" because he knows it makes us laugh, thereby increasing his chances of actually getting a cookie.

3. The way he drinks his milk like the guy in the Berries & Cream Dr. Pepper commercial -- doing everything else with one hand while guzzling from his sippy cup.

2. His grin when he sees his daddy come home in the evenings.

1. His hugs. He really does give the best hugs. We love you, Sir Hugs-A-Lot!