Eleven Days From Today

Joe Joe will be 18 months in 11 days: June 28, 2009.

He is such a joy--an ornery, grinning while he gets into mischief, climbing on things I didn't know he could--JOY.

These are some of my favorite (shall we say 18?) Joe Joe things:

1. When he says, "ah-k!" After I have asked him to be nice or not to climb on the table. Sometimes he looks at me and smiles while he is in mischief, I correct him, then he says, "ah-k!" It is a game for him.

2. Walking around the house with my cell phone pressed to his neck chatting.

3. He signs and says, "peese" at the same time.

4. When Joe walks in the door, Joe Joe yells, "DAAAA!" and smiles from ear to ear.

5. He loves to give five, and follows it us with a smooth fist to fist move.

6. He loves ketchup, and will scoop it with his spoon and eat it.

7. If I ask him for a kiss, he does one of two things: A: open his mouth and lay a big one on me, or, B: shakes his head vigorously and says, "nononononono" then smiles and gives me one anyway.

8. One of his funniest words is "movie" which he pronounces, "MOOO-E!"

9. He has also started saying, "uh-huh" in a little high-pitched voice.

10. If he gets what he wants, he has a very specific giggle rooted in satisfaction.

11. His favorite activity is to push his sister's pink dolly stroller down the sidewalk in the opposite direction of where I want him to go.

12. He can say, "tandy" which is: CANDY.

13. Love those green eyes.

14. Though it shouldn't be funny, when he hits, it is HILARIOUS! That little open palm and noodlie arm that has no strength behind it--well, it is just funny.

15. He loves to play in water, but does not like to swim.

16. He calls, "SISSY!" when he wants Sadie. He could be saying, Sarah, Sadie or Sissy, I don't know for sure which, though I think it is Sissy.

17. I love, "uh-oh" (see previous post).

18. I love how much he needs to snuggle his momma still. To feel safe and secure in the world, he needs to be held by me, close, until he decides we are done, then he can get down to play.

18 months. We love you.