Oh My Dearest Leah,
How is it even POSSIBLE that you are two and a halfish??? The last few months have flown by, and since every day has felt so jamb-packed, so chalk- full of awesomeness; I'm having a hard time remembering everything that's happened. That's why I usually keep notes in my phone for each of your monthly letters, but clearly I haven't been super terrific about it as of late.
Lets start with the fact that you ARE GIGANTIC! 32 squishable pounds, (and you're still rocking your little six pack abs) and 39 & 1/2 loveable inches tall. We get a lot of people guessing you are "four or so". But we knew we had that coming with the whole - your dad and I being tall thing... You've maintained the 94-96th percentile in height since about 9 months. Our pediatrician said, while it really is a wait and see type thing, he also puts a little weight behind the theory of doubling your height at the age of two, which will put you right at six feet. Sounds good to me!
I really can't help but fall in love with you more and more each day. That must sound silly or cliche, but dang it's just so true. I'm working two and a half days a week for your dad, and I still stop what I'm doing sometimes so that I can watch a video, or look at some pictures of you on my phone. I just want to eat you up! And the more your personality develops the more and more I find to love about you.
(SO MUCH Personality)
Girl, you can talk. TALK. TALK. TALK. You talk SO MUCH. And I adore it. Some of my favorite things you say are actually because I love the way you say them. Like 'Thank you', is actually "Gank Yeew" And when you count it's One, Two, Free, Four, Foyve, Sic, Salmon, Eight, Noyn, TEN!, You can count higher than that, but 1-10 is the norm. It kills me every time. And for a short period of time whenever you asked a question, it would always start with Are. "Are I have this?". But I loved the fact that you suddenly understanding the structure of a question! When you're hiding from us, you'll yell from wherever you are "Where go Leah?". And yes, the 'WHY'S' have started, though I'm not totally convinced you know what it means...
When were home, 90% of the time there is music on somewhere in the house. We still have not gone back to cable TV, so we stream Pandora and listen to various stations. ($50 bucks a month for home phone and internet, THANK YOU.) (Plus, $7.99 for Netflix) Anywhere from classics to modern. And by classics I mean Motown, and the Beatles, Billy Joel, Basically the stuff your grandpa listened to... Modern is mostly Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Cold Play, Norah Jones etc. I always tell you who is singing, and when I don't - you ask me. But the best part is, most of the time I throw the question back to you: "You tell me, who is this?" And 80% of the time you're right: John Mayer, Bob Marley, The Beatles, Chili Peppers, Jack Johnson, Franti (Michael). Music is a big part of my life, I so hope it can be for you too. And more recently, when we listen to the Disney/Children's station. You'll ask to put on a dress whenever a Frozen or Tangled song comes on. SO fricken adorable...
Well, we've gotten you back into swim class, and you love, love, LOVE. IT. We took a break, then went back into the Parent and me. And two classes in, the instructor agreed that even though you're not three, you were ready for the 1A class - meaning just you swimming with an instructor. While I knew from a cognitive standpoint you were ready, I wondered about how you would do with a stranger. Fortunately your instructor is fricken AMAZING. (Seriously, I think he is a better mom than me.) So the class is going great. And I love watching you swim, you frequently yell across the pool to tell me what you are doing. Things like "MOMMA, I DRINK WATER!!!". Yeah, you still drink the water in the pool and in the bath. So. Gross. But you also tell me when you are kicking and splashing, and going down the slide.
Well, it still hasn't worn off. The awe. The disbelief that you really are ours. This cutie pie, belongs US. I realize it probably sounds dumb, but it still truly gets me. When people smile at you, or acknowledge you at the store or while on a walk "She's so sweet" "what a good girl", I have a hard time not tearing up. It's kind of embarrassing. But I just feel overcome with gratitude and love... For you. My sweet, sweet girl...
Can't wait to see what the next month brings!
Love,
Momma
Dearest Leah,
It Feels kinda nutty to still be referring to your age in months. So I'm going include the years now. YEARS. That's just crazy talk... I do not understand how you are TEEYOO. That's how you say it. You're actually kind of obsessed with the the word and the number, and if I'm going to be completely honest - which I always am here - the function... Number two. As in... Poop.
You are constantly pointing out two of anything when you see it or realize it. TEEYOO cahs. (two cars). If you I had you something, be it a blanket or slice of apple or crayon; you ask for teeyoo. If you ask for a doll from your crib, you point to another doll or animal, and say teeyoo. As in, "yeah that one too please". Then there is the poop. You ask if your Tidder (Tigger) doll has pooped, you ask if your Cabbage Patch has pooped. And you pick Molly (our dog) up by the tail, whilst pointing to her anus and ask POOOP???? "Yes, that's where Molly's poop comes from". It's all pretty adorable, even the poop parts. You also ask repeatedly if the moon, lights and airplanes poop.
You have recently become very picky about food. Which kind of bums me out, because you used to be such a good eater. Now you mostly subsist on toast, peanut butter, and cereal. I always offer you meat, yogurt and a veggie first, but usually resort to cheese and toast just to get you to eat SOMETHING. It's a tricky situation because I don't want to get in the habit of you thinking I'll make five different meals if I haven't offered you something you want or like. But I just want you to eat! You did however have your first (home made) burrito and you LOVED it! Which is a very good thing, because your dad and I LIVE for mexican food.
If I could back in time and redo one thing. This is going to sound nuts.
I would reevaluate my choice in highchairs. Ugh, I was overwhelmed with
registering/ bucking the system and not wanting to get caught up in
having a lot of crap. So I absolutely ZERO research in highchairs and
ended up with our POC "Space Saver". Anyhoo, you recently decided how
much you hate it too! Which is a good and a sad thing... I bought two
new(to us) highchairs from Craigslist. One is a basic restaurant style
wooden chair that I paid a whopping $5 bucks for, then the Stok.ke
Highchair which was $60. Which sounds high, but other similar chairs
were going for twice that price! And so quickly, that I kept losing out
on them! Anyhoo. You love it. Cause they'll both allow you to sit at the
table like a big girl, with Momma and Dada. It makes me so happy to see
you sitting across from me at the dinner and breakfast table. But I
can't help but feel a pang in my heart when I walk into the kitchen and
see the empty spot where your crappy other highchair isn't anymore...
I think you have accidentally discovered stalling. Your bag of tactics includes asking to see the wall of picture frames in the hallway. Pointing out the relatives you recognize, and of course Momma and Dadda. Or hugging me, putting your head on my shoulders... All to avoid having your diaper changed, or going to bed. It's hard not to give in a little bit.
Thinking about first Hair Cut - Pig tails! Your Grammy was a hairdresser professionally for 44 years, so she has been chomping at the bit to cut your hair, but I'm just not ready. You have slowly agreed to letting me but a barrette or two in your hair then finally a few weeks ago you let me do pigtails! And Holy crow do you look so stinking cute in pigtails. They usually only last a few hours at best, but I'll take what I can get for now!
I'm sitting here next to you on our bed while you watch Alice In Wonderland (the original disney one) because I am sick, and would rather be in bed than doing anything else... I can't help but marvel at your concentration and how your breathing changes when you watch tv. I have a love hate relationship with you and the television. I don't watch any tv while you are awake, and I only like you to watch Sesame Street or a small variety of Disney movies... And I try to keep it under 1 hour a day, preferably not at all. But I'll admit I rely on it to babysit you if I didn't get the chance to shower before you wake up for the day. But I hate how it kind of makes you a zombie. Ugh. On a somewhat political note, I have mostly kept you from the princessy stuff, because I don't want you to get caught up in that whole thing. And while I loved Ciderella and Sleeping Beauty as a kid, I am decidedly not princessy now. So you've watched Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story, Alice in Wonderland, and Finding Nemo. Your favorite characters are Pooh, Tigger and Buzz Lightyear. It's adorable. You ask for tidder (tigger), and Buts (Buzz), when you want to watch them...
You are turning into a little kid more and more every day. It's so much fun, but a little alarming that you're not a baby anymore. Seriously. You're not a baby by any standard... It's nuts. But I truly am enjoying each new stage. Even the ones that include your epic meltdowns.
Can't wait to see what the next month brings!
Love,
Momma
