20 months, 18 days

Ryder,

Today you are 20 months and 18 days. Today you are the exact age Quincy was when she left. After today you pass her in age. This is one of the milestones I have been looking forward to / dreading the most. It's hard to think you, Quincy's little brother, are going to be older than her. A difficult concept to accept.

Ryder you are taking us to all sorts of new levels. You are acting so grown up, its hard for me to remember that you are only one. We are experiencing things with you already that we never got to experience with Q. Right now we are potty training. I bought a pack of undies for Q three days before the accident, we never got to use them. We have been working with you for about a month now. You are doing alright. You still have at least one accident a day, but overall you are doing great. I am proud of you.

You are a determined, strong willed little boy. You are smart and right now you are kind of naughty. You are testing your boundaries and giving your dad and I a good run. You won't win, but your determination is admirable (kind of) As well as being bull headed you are a lil sweetheart. You love to cuddle and give kisses and you give the best hugs. You are usually very pleasant and always excited about new things. You love to be outside and play in the dirt. You like balls, especially basket balls, books, puzzles, cars, daddy's blue jeep, shovels, buses, hats and all things boy. Like Q, you love the Iphone and Ipad and you can run them just as well as anyone. Smarty pants. You love to climb and jump and run. You are fully grasping the life of a one year old boy, keeping me on my toes and my nerves at their peak! I am such a worrier now and have to watch you like a hawk. You never stop!

You are talking like crazy now. We can't understand most of what you say, but you are a chatter box! Some of my favorite words you say are: Outside. You say it "eye ice". Trip (your dog). You say "bit". Elephant. You say "lala" So funny, they sound nothing like the word, but I love them.

You are still a good eater and a good sleeper. You love most foods and rarely turn anything away. You wont drink any kind of juice though which I think is so funny. Just water and milk, but only milk in the morning. You nap well and sleep 10-12 hours a night, usually without a peep. I really couldn't ask for more in these areas. I feel lucky.

Ryder, you are such a special little boy. I know I've said this over and over, but you are here at a very vulnerable time for me and your dad. There are lots of milestones and challenges that we are overcoming as we are still learning how to live without your sister. You are so very different from Quincy and we love you dearly. From this day on you are going to continue teaching your dad and I new things as we grow with you. Ryder, you are my world. I know I said this in my last letter I wrote to Quincy, but I honestly don't know what I would do without you.

Please stay forever little boy.


Love you lots.