Being the mother of a sixteen-month-old
(as of today!) means...

...cleaning up a ton of messes.

...trying to keep Josiah's hands out of his diaper and his clothes on.

...starting to think about potty training.

...trying to interpret a huge list of words that are sounding more and more like the real thing.

...hearing new phrases, like "bye-bye mama" when I leave for work. And "bye-bye poop-poop" when he hears the toilet flush (thanks Chris!). I am responsible for "Oh no...dirty."

...trying to teach him how to say "mom." So far, it has been "mem" and "mama."

...building very strong muscles from carrying around a 35 pound kid! (And starting to get a sore back!)

...always planning, organizing, shopping, thinking, praying...

...reading hundreds of stories a week (sometimes the same six repeatedly) with an intense amount of enthusiasm each and every time.

...teaching someone else to eat with a fork (this is not as easy as it sounds like it should be!)

...getting up early (4:30 this morning) and sometimes staying up late.

...being patient and looking for productive ways to discipline.

...responding/not responding to the tantrums.

...having a new helper! Josiah is so thrilled to help clean up his toys (he reminds me when I forget in the bath tub), sweep the floor, put laundry away and unpack new grocery items like toilet paper.

...watching Josiah make connections between stories, and connecting those stories to real life (very exciting as a kindergarten teacher and a mom!).

...frequenting the YMCA, moms groups, and, starting in February, Kindermusik.

...tolerating 'Bob the Builder' because Josiah is infatuated.

...saying good-bye to some of the things that are turning my baby into a little boy.

...allowing and offering him the space for independence.

...running all day long, often feeling tired, and not having even close to enough breaks!

...trying to enjoy the day-to-day, with all of the messes, surprises, mundane tasks, fun, excitement, loneliness, suffocation, and wonder.

...feeling closer to and more proud of Josiah than I ever thought I could.