tomorrow we will celebrate your second birthday. how has it already been 365 days since i marveled at the fact that you were turning one? in those days you have learned so much, grown so much, blossomed into truly the most delightful person i have ever known.
you had the basics down at your last birthday: you were walking, and saying a few words, and moving through your world with purpose as you sought out toys and activities that interested you. but oh my, look at you now! you run, march, slither like a snake, swing like a monkey, spin in circles, and jump up and down. you are speaking in full sentences and are able to communicate your needs, desires and feelings to a degree that astounds me. (just last night when you and i were at the playground, you asked me if daddy was coming too. i told you i didn't know, and asked if you'd like him to. "that would make bebe so happy," you replied.) and your play has recently reached a whole new level, as you talk to and for your dolls and cars, and pretend all kinds of things -- you put emma in your doll stroller and take her for a ride on the orange train to go see the ducks, you put your dollhouse family on their potty to go pee and poop, you put gas in blue car at your car garage. you have also recently become interested in story books, and we spend lots of time snuggled up together on the couch while you choose one book after another. your current favorites include spoon, where the wild things are, and in the night kitchen.
you continue to be a very easy-going kid. you are more likely than not to listen to me when i ask you to do (or to stop doing) something, which i try to model for you by agreeing to your requests when they're reasonable. since you're a toddler, they sometimes unfortunately are not -- like when you would prefer to walk to mems and teed's house rather than ride in the car -- and at those times what works best for you is to be given some time and space to feel sad/mad/frustrated, after which you'll usually ask for a snuggle or for "mommy holdu!"
after a long period of shyness and clinginess in new situations or around unfamiliar (or kind of familiar) people, you have very recently become much more independent and comfortable in all kinds of environments and around all kinds of people. you'd still prefer it if people you don't know well would stay out of your personal space and refrain from touching you (and honestly, kid, i can't blame you there), but as long as your boundaries are respected you will engage with whatever is going on around you happily and with great interest.
one of the most fun parts of this past year, for me, has been watching you develop your own relationships with others. you now remember your grandparents and aunts and uncles between visits and are comfortable with them almost immediately. you have a whole crew of playground and playgroup friends -- alma and jakob, aya, riley, ben, oz, vienna, ila, ivan, zaylie -- who you talk about regularly and get excited to see when we're out and about. you continue to love to spend time with euan and ari (and now baby wren, too!). your visits with nora jane, both here and in california, have been really fun and have kept that friendship alive for you -- this morning, you told me you were flying like a bird and when i asked what kind of bird, you answered, "a nora jane bird!"
the four days per week that you and morrie have spent together every week since november have given you two the space to forge what is, by all appearances, a fairly unique relationship for toddlers. you play together -- not parallel play, but true together play, including your own silly nonsense words that make the two of you laugh and laugh, elaborate projects that involve moving all of morrie's toys from one room to another, and crib jumping routines that include the side-to-side twizzle, the flamingo, and the switcheroo. you hold hands, hug and kiss, and offer comfort when the other is sad.
and your relationship with your daddy has blossomed as nursing has become less and less a part of our relationship and as the two of you have spent more time together when i've been working. when you're with your daddy, you love to ride skateboards, read books, go for walks, take the train downtown, play with cars, build with blocks, and talk about star wars. you now frequently request daddy rather than mommy for many things, a welcome sign that the dynamic of our family is becoming more balanced.
i would have thought that i'd feel more emotional and sad at the prospect of you turning two, but the thing is, you just keep getting more and more fun, so i find myself looking forward rather than looking back. the next year is sure to be full of new kinds of fun, new challenges, and new opportunities for us all to grow and change. i can't wait to spend it with you.
love,
mommy
you had the basics down at your last birthday: you were walking, and saying a few words, and moving through your world with purpose as you sought out toys and activities that interested you. but oh my, look at you now! you run, march, slither like a snake, swing like a monkey, spin in circles, and jump up and down. you are speaking in full sentences and are able to communicate your needs, desires and feelings to a degree that astounds me. (just last night when you and i were at the playground, you asked me if daddy was coming too. i told you i didn't know, and asked if you'd like him to. "that would make bebe so happy," you replied.) and your play has recently reached a whole new level, as you talk to and for your dolls and cars, and pretend all kinds of things -- you put emma in your doll stroller and take her for a ride on the orange train to go see the ducks, you put your dollhouse family on their potty to go pee and poop, you put gas in blue car at your car garage. you have also recently become interested in story books, and we spend lots of time snuggled up together on the couch while you choose one book after another. your current favorites include spoon, where the wild things are, and in the night kitchen.
you continue to be a very easy-going kid. you are more likely than not to listen to me when i ask you to do (or to stop doing) something, which i try to model for you by agreeing to your requests when they're reasonable. since you're a toddler, they sometimes unfortunately are not -- like when you would prefer to walk to mems and teed's house rather than ride in the car -- and at those times what works best for you is to be given some time and space to feel sad/mad/frustrated, after which you'll usually ask for a snuggle or for "mommy holdu!"
after a long period of shyness and clinginess in new situations or around unfamiliar (or kind of familiar) people, you have very recently become much more independent and comfortable in all kinds of environments and around all kinds of people. you'd still prefer it if people you don't know well would stay out of your personal space and refrain from touching you (and honestly, kid, i can't blame you there), but as long as your boundaries are respected you will engage with whatever is going on around you happily and with great interest.
one of the most fun parts of this past year, for me, has been watching you develop your own relationships with others. you now remember your grandparents and aunts and uncles between visits and are comfortable with them almost immediately. you have a whole crew of playground and playgroup friends -- alma and jakob, aya, riley, ben, oz, vienna, ila, ivan, zaylie -- who you talk about regularly and get excited to see when we're out and about. you continue to love to spend time with euan and ari (and now baby wren, too!). your visits with nora jane, both here and in california, have been really fun and have kept that friendship alive for you -- this morning, you told me you were flying like a bird and when i asked what kind of bird, you answered, "a nora jane bird!"
the four days per week that you and morrie have spent together every week since november have given you two the space to forge what is, by all appearances, a fairly unique relationship for toddlers. you play together -- not parallel play, but true together play, including your own silly nonsense words that make the two of you laugh and laugh, elaborate projects that involve moving all of morrie's toys from one room to another, and crib jumping routines that include the side-to-side twizzle, the flamingo, and the switcheroo. you hold hands, hug and kiss, and offer comfort when the other is sad.
and your relationship with your daddy has blossomed as nursing has become less and less a part of our relationship and as the two of you have spent more time together when i've been working. when you're with your daddy, you love to ride skateboards, read books, go for walks, take the train downtown, play with cars, build with blocks, and talk about star wars. you now frequently request daddy rather than mommy for many things, a welcome sign that the dynamic of our family is becoming more balanced.
i would have thought that i'd feel more emotional and sad at the prospect of you turning two, but the thing is, you just keep getting more and more fun, so i find myself looking forward rather than looking back. the next year is sure to be full of new kinds of fun, new challenges, and new opportunities for us all to grow and change. i can't wait to spend it with you.
love,
mommy
_
1 comment:
Oh my, there should have been a warning that this letter would make other mamas cry. Beautiful post and I feel honored to share your journey in raising bebe.
Post a Comment