Happy Birthday Daddy and 19 months to PJ!

Today is 12-12-12, the last repeated date we will ever see in this century.  People are celebrating in all sorts of silly ways just because its 12-12-12.  Well we are celebrating because its Ry's 32nd birthday, he is coming home after being away for 8 days, and PJ has made another month fly by with the joy of having a toddler in the house.
The top 5 highlights of the last month, in order of things I am most proud of:

• PJ is now saying Dada, he says it a lot.  He knows who Dada is, he loves his Dada, and he loves to talk about him.  With Ry traveling a lot lately, its nice to tell him that his son woke up today saying his name so excitedly, that I was a little worried I wouldn't be enough.  In the car on the way to school we list out all the people that love PJ and then we go for a round of "name repeat". PJ loves to say "Momma" in a low voice, or super slow, or super fast, etc., you get the idea.  Then I am suppposed to say "Porter" back at the same tone/rate.  Its pretty cute and now he adds Dada.  So first he will say my name then I will say his, then he says Dada at the same tone/rate.  When Ry is in the car Ry wil say "Porter" and then PJ will say "Momma" and it will repeat until his little toddler mind is on to the next thing.  Sometimes this will last a good ten -15 minutes other times its just to make sure I am listening to him.  I love that Dada has been added to the game. 
• PJ figured out his Melissa & Doug puzzle, it has 8 pieces of different kinds of transportation. Up until this month he has taken off the all the pieces and then tries to get one or two pieces back on, before asking for help. He loves to do it with you, but this month is is all about doing it by himself and will keep trying until he gets it right. Last night PJ got a little frusturated once or twice and asked for help. Right after I showed him how the piece fit he took it out and did it himself. After several attempts last night I saw with my own eyes PJ put all the pieces in the correct spot. Not only did I see him get it right but it was so fun to see him try out each piece before he got teh correct angle. (For the record Ry witnessed this last week right before he left on his trip.)
• We sing a lot to PJ.  We often have music playing in the background and we sing along to the songs or make up our own songs.   This month PJ has been picking certain songs that he wants to sing.  His favorite being Old McDonald Had a Farm, If You are Happy and you Know It and You Are My Sunshine.  If I stop before he wants me to stop he says "Mo, Mo" so sweetly that I can't help but go another round.  PJ has also started to sing along with me.  He sings "EIEIO" during Old McDonald, and loves to shout out "Hooray" during If you are Happy and You Know It.  In the past few days PJ has even started to sing along with his own words.  Our trips to and from school have really improved this last month!
• PJ is becoming a little helper.  He loves to watch as I chop up things for dinner.  He stands right next to me and helps by holding the next thing that needs to be chopped up.  He goes and picks up things that are dropped on the floor.  Obviously I have been grunting a lot when I bend over because PJ also grunts as he picks things up for me.  PJ loves to fedd the dog.  I put the food in the bowl and then he has to touch the bowl, sometimes carries it but at least helps me carry it to Chey.  When I say "Its time to feed the dog, do you want to help?"  He excitedly says "Yeah!" 
• PJ is starting to notice my belly!  He loves to lift up my shirt and pat my belly, then pat his belly.  Whenever PJ pats my belly I tell him his brother is growing in there and we are going to meet the baby soon.  I doubt its registering but at least I can say I warned him, haha.