A more organized mom might have recorded milestones monthly, but it’s never too late to carpe diem, right?!

14 months has brought some fun new milestones.

You’ve given up walking for running, in that full-force way only toddlers can. Edges? Stairs? Toys? Mere obstacles to be run right over.

I caught you yesterday trying to skateboard on your toy truck. You looked at me out of the corner of your eye, face shining with excitement as you planted one foot on the truck’s back and pushed off with the other.

This ended badly, as most toddler experiments tend to — but it’s incredible to watch you learn.

When your daddy turns on the radio, it’s like you’re hearing music for the first time. Your face radiates literal joy.

One of the parenting books I read said that toddlers can only feel one feeling at a time (hence the often inexplicable mood swings… “Cucumber! Cucumber! NO, not THAT cucumber!!”) but that’s part of why adults find them so charming…

When you’re happy, you are DELIGHTED.

When you’re upset, you are MAD.

You’ve added a few new words to your 3-word repertoire this week… “up” and “apple” are the clearest new favorites.

Intriguingly, when we ask for a word you don’t know, you reply with “die!”

“Can you say cucumber, Zephyr?” “Die!”

“Beach?” “Die!”

“Tub?” “Die!”

So maybe we’re pushing the new words thing a little too hard 😉

Despite having spent half of your life out of state, you’re definitely a Mainer.

We walk down to the shore and I can’t keep you from wading out into the water. While my tropical-favoring-toes sting from the chilly Atlantic, you’ll happily stand knee-deep, chasing ever-bigger rocks to pick up and throw until mean-mommy drags you back onto the beach to warm up and dry off.

You helped your daddy stack 4-cords of wood.

Sometimes you helped by not running into the road, but often you actually carried full pieces of wood from the pile, gleefully placing your piece on the top of the stack. You’ll be a great second mate yet.

(And we’re giving your daddy extra points for stacking all that wood while Zephyr-wrangling!)

I know people say having a baby changes everything, but I find it interesting how much stays the same, too.

Yes, the make up of our days are different (they start earlier, for one, and revolve around the needs of a 2-1/2′ tall creature for another) but at the core so much stays the same.

I still love hot coffee with my journal, especially in the peaceful moments when the household is asleep.

We still go on adventures (albeit, slower adventures) and I take too many pictures.

I still love to overshare, in the hopes of remembering these days and connecting with others who maybe relate.

We still enjoy each other’s company and we still dream big dreams for the future.

I still take selfies 😉

And I still wonder what kind of mom I’ll be, and what our family will turn out like…

Thanks for sharing this month with us, little Z.

– LMK