December 2011: 15 months

Dear Patrick, during this month of December...

• You pronounce “spoon” as “poon” and you said “bowl” and something that sounded like “truck” and “okey-dokey” to me the evening of 12/8.  The most common word you say is “more” and you grunt for things you want.  There is a lot of grunting this month.
• We put the Christmas tree up the first weekend of the month and you love the ornaments and lights.  “Careful,” we say when you get too close.  And you always back away very politely.
• You do not believe me when I tell you that Baker is not always a nice kitty and will scratch the $%&*@ out of you.
• You scoot and slide backwards on your belly, pushing with your hands.  Sometimes all the way down the hall.  Why can’t I get this on film.  Its awesome.
• On 12/16 we asked you your name and you said “Pat-Pat,” which is what Virginia Whitaker calls you.  It actually sounds more like “Bat-Bat” but we know what you mean.
• You are getting another tooth!  I put my finger in your mouth to feel it the other day and you bit down so hard that I will never do that again.  Seriously, it was like you were a wild animal and I was stuck in the jaws of life.
• I’ve never seen a child love the mail man as much as you do.  You will say “mouw-mouw” for entire hours at a time.  Mr Johnny the mail man is very nice to you.  He even delivered you a post card addressed to you to thank you for our Christmas gift to him.
• You passed out candy-canes at my office and your father’s office this month (with some help from Grammy and Biggie).  Once you figured out that you could eat the candy however, you stopped giving it away.
• Cousin Marie came Saturday 12/17 and we all went to dinner together at “Trap Door,” which was entertaining because sitting at a table is not really what you want to do any longer now that you’ve learned to walk.  Cousin Ree-Ree let your father and I sleep in Sunday morning and you two played together.
• Uncky brought you a stuffed animal bear (which you pronounce “baar”).  Its really a foot-stool and very solid.  You can’t quite climb on his back alone, but with a little help you like to ride your new pet.  He is just your size.
• For Christmas, your Uncle Jono and Aunt Jen brought you many construction and truck books, so now the whole family knows the difference between a Front-Loader and a Digger.  Your other big surprise this holiday was "Pockets the horse."