Two Revolutions

Mimi,

Happy 2nd Birthday. Two times around the sun? Over 700 days? I cant believe it. I dont even know where to begin on this letter to you as there are so many things I hope to remember about you, and share with you, about this time in your life. Most of all, you are smart and cunning, compassionate and resilient, and laser focused. These are incredible qualities I hope you retain as you get older and the world throws challenges at you more regularly. However, right now, these same qualities can be incredibly frustrating when the challenge youre facing is trying to get a second treat or stay up way beyond your bedtime!

While the "terrible twos" have brought some trying times, seeing your personality develop has surely outweighed the challenges. I love that you are finally at an age where you understand what hugs and kisses and love is all about, sort of. You are so excited to share your joy with others, whether its insisting that I too wash my hands with you, daddy gets up and dances or does the "rosy" with you, Aunt Carly sings with you, or Monkey has puffies too. You also kiss your dolls and stuffed animals liberally and love to give hugs with a running jump. While you give kisses freely, you save your "I love you"s for more special occasions, and it certainly does make me feel like I have done something right somewhere along the way when I hear that from you. As you grow older, I hope I get to hear that phrase more often, and I know I will try to earn it every day.

It also seems that you may end up being a perfect blend of a tom boy and a princess. You love watching beeball and hockey with your dad and enjoy playing sports too, complete with the athlete toughness. However, I always know if Ive lost sight of you, the first place to look for you is in my closet because you are a lover of high heels, jewelery, and purses....and of course dresses to twirl in. I love that you follow your interests and have no clue what this world says is for "boys" and whats for "girls". You point out semi trucks and trains during our outings, are genuinely elated to play with toy cars and make dinosaur noises, and really dont care that your winter hat is a blue and grey dog rather than something pink and frilly. Although Im sure your preferences will change over the coming years, I hope you always stay true to what you desire, not what society tells you you should like or should be.

As I wrap up this letter to you, a little after your second birthday, Id like to remind you of a few of the things that make your heart melt these days.

Most frequently requested food: chocolate milk (chalky nilk), marshmallows (samas), cereal with milk and dodirt (yogurt)
Most exciting bathtime activity: rinsing suds off your hands or throwing balls in the tub from across the bathroom
Favorite character: STILL Elmo
Favorite activities: Hide Seek, coloring, sliding, tickle mimi, rosy
Favorite songs: Rock a bye baby ("baby on treetop"), twinkle twinkle little star, Ive been working on the railroad

Love you lots,

Mommy

17 Months Gone By

To my love bug,

This month I'm marveling at your astounding comprehension and language. Since moving up to the next age group at daycare you have learned scores of words, songs, and meanings that I never realized would come so quickly. You are now a pro at several animal sounds with your favorites seeming to be dog ( wooffwoooff), lion (rawrrrr), and duck (tattat with hand motions for a mouth opening and closing). You can also point out a variety of everyday items from bottles, bananas, and cheese to telephones, babies, and keys. Possibly most adorable and frustrating simultaneously is your understanding and use of the word "no" accompanied by a staccato head shake. Usually it's cute and helpful to know what you'd like, but other times its a foreshadowing of the difficult battles ahead--- like today when we were at the mall and I asked you "can you leave that monkey here with his friends." and you quickly said "no" and held on to your new stuffed friend as if your life depended on it. You have also become even more fond of music, if that's even possible, with sing a longs being a staple on all car trips whether one mile or one hour. Sorry for both you and your father that I have the kind of singing voice that would make it on the outtakes of American Idol, but you asked for it!! Currently your favorite is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, complete with hand gestures. With grandma volunteering at daycare we've also learned a few more songs that are a part of your daily repertoire. The most recent gem is a version of Row Row Row Your Boat featuring screaming due to fining alligators......you love that part and wait patiently for your cue to yell and wave your hands theatrically.

Now that I've recapped the major desires of your little heart for today I'd like to thank you for letting me be a part of your silly songs and daily revelations. Watching you navigate the world and learn all the little things I've taken for granted for decades is humbling, eye opening, and endearing. At the end of the day, nothing makes me more proud than to hear you Moo or correctly point out a tree while on a walk, or see you do the sign language for "More" when you want additional bath water or marshmallows (a current favorite sweet treat). It's funny how life changes and mundane accomplishments become extraordinary.

Love you to the moon and back,

Momma

The First Third

16 months my little love bug. Oh how time flies. The first third of your second year has been filled with many new behaviors and habits---most of them good, a few of them bad, all of them part of your journey from infancy to toddlerhood. Here's some of the highlights that have made me smile, laugh, beam with pride, and let's face it, get frustrated too.

You are still only saying a couple words--hi, mommamommamomma, and dadda-- but you seem to understand a lot more. You can point out body parts (tongue is one of your favorites) and you really like to tug on other noses. You can point out animals in books or on your high chair or fish on your bathtub and can spot anything Elmo from 300 feet away. However, these skills do not translate so easily to face recognition as you consistently point out President Obama as your father.

Your understanding also transcends to decisions as well as you make clear choices daily with the shake of your head (no) or a pointing finger or wave of your hand (yes). Everything from what food you eat to who's phone you steal is determined with those gestures and motions and oddly your father and I seem to have figured them out right with you so it's our new form of communication I suppose. Your favorite things to summon your way are: phones, remotes, sunglasses, car keys (you hit the panic button every morning around 715am, our neighbors love you I'm sure), your video monitor and pretty much anything you shouldn't have.

You're also getting to be much more advanced at all kinds of physical activity. You love brushing your own teeth--however that involved a lot of chewing and only a little horizontal brushing action. Youre also very into climbing onto and into anything from chairs and benches to laundry baskets and your radio flyer wagon (thank you mcclains) and of course your daddy. Whatever you can possibly get on top of or throw yourself into headfirst, you're there with a fierce determination and a fearless adventurous attitude.

Which brings me to the final element of your first third....the attitude. Most recently you have begun exhibiting your displeasure by very quickly shuffling your feet much like an Irish jig. It's frankly quite hilarious and I can't take your complaint seriously because you look like a little leprechaun. Still, it's a side effect of the much less cute stage we find ourselves in where you dont know how to give us the finger just yet, so instead, when you don't get what you want or you are met with any level of resistance, you let us know about your annoyance with full body whines, stiffening, grunting and growling, and occasionally an Irish jig.

Love to you my toddler girl,

MommaMommaMomma

365 Days that Changed My Life

M,

Looking back on your first year with us, I am automatically reminded of how we first met. I'm reminded of how different I was before you arrived and how one day can change so many lives.

And that one day, the day you arrived in our arms, was the start of an entire year of changes and learning......learning how to care for you, how to communicate with you, how to juggle parenthood with other life roles, how to put someone else first in each and every decision I make, and generally just how to be a mom. I made a lot of mistakes along the way and am eternally thankful for your guardian angel, who saved us both from many potentially embarrassing or dangerous situations as I learned from my blunders.

Along the way I learned a lot about you, about myself, and about the type of mom I am becoming. I Anticipated that i would learn a lot about babies during this voyage, but I never realized how much I would learn about myself. And first and foremost, I've learned that this mom gig is even harder than it looks and I may be insane because I'd do it again in a minute if given the opportunity.

Thank you for making the last year the best of my life (and I know your daddy agrees). Were both looking forward to all the interesting moments you will bring to our life next year.

365 days of love,
Momma