Dear our almost 1-year old almost toddler,

Time. Is. Flying. I know this because I went to go look in the drawer for your milestone blanket so we could take some pictures this morning. And I couldn’t find it because it was still laying out on the couch from the ten-month photoshoot. (Which, to me, feels like YESTERDAY).

It’s usually so easy to keep track of the skills you’ve developed over a month’s time. But this month you’ve done SO MANY THINGS that I know I’m bound to forget something.

You starting standing on your own without the support of anything or anyone.

And, in less than two weeks after that, you started walking. You were so thoughtful and waited until your papa’s day off to take your first steps. And then we quickly Portaled the grandparents so they could watch you stumble around the living room too!

You are so determined to move move move.

And you are so curious about everything. Even when you know it’s off limits. You say “nahin, nahin” when you know you’re into something you’re not supposed to be (e.g. outlet, phone charger, any wires, etc.). But then you carry on and put it all in your mouth anyway.

You’re still a teething machine. You’ve got 7 right now, but we’re pretty sure more are coming in because you are chomping down on everything left and right.

We’re pretty sure you’re going to wean off your mama’s milk soon. You don’t have the patience for it. There are too many more things to be doing and sitting around drinking milk is not one of those things. We jokingly call mama the drive-thru or the water fountain because it’s like you drive by, take a quick sip, and then crawl away and continue to play.

You’re understanding more and more words as time goes on. “Ball” being a favorite. And “birds.” And blueberries. Pretty much anything that starts with the sound /b/ because you can say it.

You’ve gotten so much better at throwing/rolling the ball. And you always grab two – one in each hand – because you try to copy Papa’s juggling.

You copy everything we do. Everything. When we’re crunching down on chips, your mouth moves up and down like you’re chewing on something equally as crunchy.

When we say something, you attempt to say it right back. (Which means mama’s gotta start watching what she says around you. Especially when she trips on your toys!).

You are never still. Your body constantly wants to move and climb and explore.

Most importantly, I think you’ve taught your mama a lot this month.

Your mama used to be so stressed out about sleep. Trying to make you so independent from the minute you got home from the hospital. She thought that that was what was supposed to happen. That it was GOOD if you could sleep on your own and BAD if you needed mama to fall asleep.

But, over time, she started recognizing that you loved your independence! You loved getting to explore and you did NOT want to cling to mama during the day. But you needed mama at night.

And your mama started realizing that one of the few times you’d snuggle and cuddle and be still is when you were lying next to mama at night.

So she stopped trying to push you toward independence. She gave in and embraced that need you had.

Ishu – some day you will be too old for this. And you’ll want your space. And there will, undoubtedly, come a time when you shut the door in my face.

But, for now, you are my baby.

And I will lie next to you for however long you need me to.

Because, turns out, I need it too.

Thanks for being our greatest blessing. Our life is harder, messier, and crazier with you in it. But it’s also filled with an endless amount of love.