23 Months

Dear Elliott,

You are almost two years old. How the heck did that happen?

We've had a really fun summer. And our adventures aren't likely to end anytime soon.

I love taking you new places and exposing you to different sights, sounds and smells. You are, however, still my child, so you don't hesitate to tell me, "I don't like it."

I could write a novel about being your Mommy, but I don't have the time right now. Instead, just know that I miss you. I can't wait until Grandma and Grandpa bring you home tonight on their way south. I'm so excited about showing you more of the world. And I love you more than I ever thought possible.

Always,

Mommy

With Grandma and Grandpa at the Michigan 4-H Children's Garden and the MSU Horitculture Demonstration Gardens.

At the Airshow with Gram and Pap. You like "quiet airplanes" and scream inconsolably in response to "loud airplanes."

Water fun. It didn't matter how cold the water was... you wanted to play in it.

Driving big trucks and seeing a helicopter at Touch a Truck Day in Lansing. Each truck you sat in you asked me "Keys?" Yeah, right Buddy.

Riding the "big bus" with Auntie M in Chicago. It might have been the highlight of our weekend trip for you.

I can't wait to see where we go next.

Elliott's Kitty

I think our cat, Runa, would beg to differ, but here are a couple of videos of Elliott trying to convince Runa to let him pet her.

He's taken to asking me to "get her" and I have been known to wrangle her out from under the table to let him pet her. He does an excellent job of being gentle, she just refuses to trust the small creature that continues to turn her quiet kitty world on its head. The funny part is that he isn't sure how to get her loose fur off of his hands after he pets her, so I'll spend 10 minutes convincing Runa to let me hold her only to have Elliott get two small swipes of petting in before wandering off saying, "Hair."

I love these video because it shows a few of the things that amaze me about Elliott.

• He picks up EVERYTHING these days. From his calling her "goo" [what I do when I call her] to wiggling his fingers and clicking his tongue, that is exactly what I do when I beckon Runa. It is amazing to watch him pick up these nuances of communication.
• "Calling" her. This started during our bedtime routine when we would "call Daddy" when it was time to give goodnight hugs and kisses. Now Elliott is known to "call" anything he can't find. I'll say, "Where's your ball, Buddy?" and He'll call out "Baaaaaaaalllll." It never fails to crack David and I up.
• Overall, he's a talker. His vocabulary has absolutely exploded over the last couple of months. There isn't a word that he won't at least TRY to say, and he usually does pretty well.