I've Achieved It.

Well ok, they can't all be winners. But 700 times, I've felt the need to blab my personal biznass to the whole world and that's something to be celebrated. Or to be worried about. Whatevs, I'll celebrate. Wine? Ok. Meanwhile, I don't have anything crazy lined up for this here 700th post. I just thought I'd let you know about it. What I do have lined up today is my boy's 17th month. Feel free to celebrate just the same.

Dear Gabe,

If there's one thing you've mastered this month, it's being self-sufficient. As your dear mother lies around with a herniated disc (yep, verified, more on that later), wishing that she could take the muscle relaxers and pain killers during the day, you make me believe you're doing just fine on your own. Although towards the end of the month, you came down with a case of the clingies, for the most part, you've just continued being an awesome little independent player. You are content to pull 25 pieces of wooden play food out of a basket, squeeze your butt into said basket, then pile the food on top of you. Then bust out of said basket. Rinse, repeat. Hours of entertainment. Thank you for being a clever little thing, you make me smile all day long.  In the past month, you've also...

- Gone back to bibs. For awhile there, you were strictly anti-bib. We just dealt with lots of costume changes as you wore all of your food. But once your strawberry obsession started, the giant Elmo towel bib entered the scene and it's been smooth sailing.

- Required a real adult-sized fork at every meal. Should I sit down without giving you one, you make it known that you will not be partaking in dinner without the proper utensil.

- Added a few more words to your vocabulary. Your favorite? Your favorite fruit, the bapple. Side note, I'm trying hard not to be one of those moms that says, "oh my kid knows how to say apple, she says it 'ehhhblurrghh'. Right? Totally apple!!"  Your favorite letter is B. You say it constantly. You run around the house, yelling "Beeeeeeeee!"

- Decided that haircuts are akin to papercuts between toes. I made the mistake of taking you to the hairdresser for a quick trim. After you cleared the place with your screams, she was only able to cut the front of your hair. I've been perfecting my ninja cutting skills while you're in the tub to get the rest of it, but you're on to me. There's no such thing as distraction.

I really do love spending my days with you kiddo and I'm so happy you're mine.

Love,
Mama