Lakshman | 18 months

Lakshman, you are awesome.  You are supremely confident. I watch you running around, with that wild abandon and complete lack of stability that only toddlers have.  You have no core strength, yet you charge forward at top speed to get to wherever you are going.  You smile and charm people as often as you give them the side eye.

You are so well loved by so many people, and you are completely aware of it.  If you are like your brother when you grow up, you will hold on to this feeling always.  I'm sure this has more than a little to do with your over flowing self-assurance.

You got diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis after your scope and biopsy, which you handled so bravely.  The doctor said you didn't even cry in the operating room.  So, now we are treating you for a possible dairy allergy.  Ever so briefly I saw the number on the scale go up to 18 pounds, but I haven't been able to replicate it.  You are eating a little better and doing so well at your new therapy.

You are drinking the new formula so well now.  I still don't think you will really start to gain weight until solid foods are easier for you and you learn to, you know, actually chew.

Your favorite thing to do right now is read.  Either you are bringing us a book to read to you, or you sit down with a very unsteady plop and start reading to yourself.  It's basically the cutest thing ever. You love to climb and you are old hat at getting your picture taken.  You basically climbed into the butterfly and started posing for pictures right away.  You love animals and I can't wait to take you to a real zoo!  So far you love the nature center's prairie dogs and petting zoos. You respond to the name Bear as well as Lakshman.  You also still love playing ball and racing cars.  You can stack blocks at least five or six high, but you prefer to smash.  Haha.

You say a lot of words.  Here is a very incomplete list: Dada, baba, Gudya, Nan'ini, Mama, Bappi, dog, woof, rea' book, ow, dow', serry, ya, no, mime (mine), dere, Nana, Nini, Nuj mama, Addie, ball, bubble.

Lakshman, we are so lucky to have you.  It is a joy to watch you grow up and we know that you have big things to come! Love you Baby Bear.