Dear Wildman,

You are getting so very big. My little baby is gone and you are turning into quite the little boy. Your 15 month check-up went very well. You were all smiles and razzies as the doctor looked you over. You even tried to eat the little light scope-thingy as he was looking in your throat.

You are now 21.4 pounds (9th percentile in weight) and 31.5 inches tall (5oth percentile height?) and growing like a weed. You are going to be just like your sister and be tall and thin. You gained almost 2 pounds in 3 months. I know you are not malnourished since you eat like a little piggy!

Speaking of eating. You are eating all by yourself now! I thought that day would never come. Daddy decided it was time for you to do it, since you have shown us that you could. You were very upset for about 10 minutes, but then decided it was worth a try. And there has been no stopping you since. I sometimes miss that fact that you need me to feed you. It is just another example of how much you are growing and no longer needing you mama as much. You take those little fists and grab as much food as you can hold and shove it in your mouth like someone is going to take it away from you. Everyday you get a little better at it. You really love your food. I think I will have to get a second job by the time you are a teenager if you keep this up!

You have started doing other things too. It's almost like a floodgate has opened and you are in such a hurry to grow up now. Although you still are not talking much, I can see that little brain of your soaking in all the information. In just over a few weeks you have started walking, waving bye-bye (often with 2 hands), and blowing kisses. The only thing left that keeps you my baby is the crib. Other than that there is little evidence that you are still my baby.

I can't wait for you to experience the world and all the joys in it. Learning for you is so much fun and everyday I see you and your sister growing closer. It fills my heart with more love than I can hold to see the two of your playing together. When your sister hugs and kisses you, your face lights up with so much adoration. I pray every night that the two of you will always be close and realize what great a gift you are to me and each other. Words can't describe what a gift I have been given. I look forward to a lifetime of you.

Happy 15 months Wildman! Mommy loves you!