Housekeeping at Twenty Months

Dear Milo,

Hi. What's up? If I were having an actual conversation with you you'd probably point and say "sky!" or maybe "airplane!" So ... um ... you're doing great. But, one little thing. The separation anxiety is killing me. Seriously killing me, as in causing me great stress and probably shortening my lifespan.

This weekend Dad and I made the egregious mistake of going out to dinner and leaving you at home with someone you have known since you were 2 months old. How could we! As you saw us getting ready to leave you let out howls of despair and nearly choked on your dinner. I walked over to you and said, "See you later alligator" which is what all the books say you're supposed to say to show the levity of the situation, and that leaving isn't a big deal, blah blah blah.

You didn't buy it for a second. You pointed an angry finger at the chair where I usually sit while you eat dinner and yelled "MAMA SIT DOWN!" It wasn't a plea, more like a dictatorial edict. I kissed you on the top of your head and Dad and I left. You were not amused.

In other news, you and I took a trip just the two of us this month, and you had a great time on the plane. Your favorite part? Reading the emergency instructions pamphlet. I tried to get you to read it yourself, but no.

"Mama read it."

End of story.

I must have read that pamphlet about 43 times each way. Did you know that remote controlled cars are not allowed on planes? Well I do. I also know that when one is crash landing you're supposed to put your head between your knees, and that high heels and briefcases are not allowed on the life rafts.

The other thing you keep talking about from the plane ride was the animal crackers. And the chips. You don't get to eat those things at home, so that was pretty exciting to you. Although in general you tend to remember food. Yesterday we had a playdate with a little girl who brought her own pretzels. When I asked you later in the day what we'd done that morning you said, without hesitation: "pretzel".

Other than that, this month has been so much fun because you talk up a storm. You constantly narrate, and you also like to sing songs to yourself and dance. You're dancing is freakin' hilarious. I'm trying to capture it on video, but every time I turn on the video camera you insist on stopping whatever you're doing to watch yourself on video. Your favorite songs right now are "Twinkle Twinkle" and "Row, Row Row Your Boat" - both of which you can sing to yourself (although you only manage to get out every third word or so) - and you like it when I sing pretty much anything with a quick beat. Slow songs, not so much.

Also, this month you've started trying to add pronouns, but you don't yet understand the difference between "me" and "you". Frankly, I'm not sure that you understand that Milo and Mama are two different people, since sometimes you refer to me as "Mi-yo" and yourself as "Mama", but that aside, you are constantly saying things like "help you" or "ride your bike" or "come with you," where "you"=Milo. I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually.

Another thing you really enjoy doing is arguing. Did I mention this before? I can't say I'm shocked. Sometimes you'll point to a piece of cantaloupe and say "Mango."

"Cantaloupe," I'll correct.

"Mango!" you'll yell back, giggling.

"Cantaloupe! Cantaloupe!" I yell.

"Mango! Mango!"

It goes on like that for a while. Oh, good times.

Keep on arguing, little chicken. Some day maybe you'll be right.

Love,
Mama