October 14, 2009 Dear Alex,

Dear Alex,
Tonight during your bath you performed a couple of tricks that reminded me it's time to do give you an update on who you are.

The big new is that you are almost walking. For the past week or so, you take a few steps on your own before crashing into the couch, reaching out for one of us or simply sitting on the floor. Your record is about 10 steps. You also continuously stand up by yourself and stand in place.

For a few months you've been doing this Donald Duck impersonation. Hard to explain on the written page. Perhaps it's enough to say you make these quaking sounds. Tonight during your bath you were doing your impersonation on demand. I'd say, "Alex, do Donald Duck." And you would comply with your quaking. Mama came with video camera in hand when it was time to take you out. Unfortunately, by then you were quaked out. I thought I had my youtube viral video!

You also did a new trick tonight. You held onto the side of the tub and crouched all the way down to where just your neck and head were above water. Then you'd pop up smiling. You did this over and over and then suddenly stopped. This is when it became a trick rather than just a new move. I'd say "down" and point down and you'd go down. I'd say "up" and point up and up you'd go. We both laughed. (Again, where was that darn camera).

A favorite activity lately is to put things in and out. It could be a car into a box or a block into a can. You even marveled last night in the tub when I put your arm in and out of a long bucket. You've also become so animated. You've always been a happy boy: smiling, laughing and simply content.

Lately you've reached a new stage of marveling at the world and showing excitement about things. Perhaps perfectly explained by our visit to the zoo today. This seemed to be the first time you were excited about seeing all the animals and creatures. You held my finger and ran to the fish tanks. You stared at the monkeys in the tree. You pointed to the meerkats.

Your interaction with your brother has changed too as the two of you grow. Max is fiercely trying to discover his place in the world while you are still patiently waiting for things to come. Thus, he's more aggressive and you don't quite understand. One minute he'll pull toys out of your hands and insist everything his "mine." The next he'll say "I love Alex" and give you a hug -- sometimes too strong of a hug for your liking, but a definite hug. You patiently take it all.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into it. But I think the older/younger brother relationship is starting to form: Max is trying to learn to be the leader brother and you're trying to find something that interests you.

I so love you both!