1.12.11: All growd up

Rex has grown 6.5 inches in the last year (I know the wall says 12/09 to 1/11 but I marked his height on New Year's Eve one year and then New Years day the next, so it sounds like it's farther apart than it really is). That's a lot of growing. If I grew that much in a year, I'd be over 6 feet tall. If I grew that much proportionally in a year, well, I'm too lazy to figure the math out, but I'd be really tall.

Aside from grow up (literally a lot), Rex has grown up figuratively too. He's learned how to walk, run, clean the toilet, drink from a cup, say several words, identify all his important body parts (although he still confuses belly button with peepee [I'm not teaching him penis because I think it's weird when little kids run around the store yelling, "Mommy, my penis hurts"--and you know at some point Rex will hurt himself in a store]). He can "read", fold his arms, follow directions, take his diaper to the trash, do simple puzzles, roll his arms wheels-on-the-bus style, throw a ball, swing on big-kid swings, pick out his own clothes.

That's a lot to learn in a year. If I learned that much in a year...it's no wonder he takes such long naps.

But the weird thing is, I don't remember him growing up or being little. When I look at him, it's like he's always been 22 months. That kid that was in the NICU 22 months ago, that was another baby, not my Rex. Rex has always been 22 months, and before that he was always 21 months, and before that 20 months.

I remember my mom saying that the one thing she thought she did right as a mother was to not wish a phase of childhood would pass. She enjoyed every phase. I've tried, not always succeeded--I was really glad to be done with the whole nursing thing--but I've tried. So why do I not remember my Rex being younger than 22 months? I guess he's just growing up so fast, my brain can't handle it.