My Dear Daughter,
I started this letter the day you turned two. Like any mother of an active toddler will tell you, it is hard to get anything done so I am finishing more than a week later. This one is hitting your momma a little hard for some reason. My little baby is not a baby anymore. In my heart I know that this time as a toddler is so fleeting and I am trying to soak it all up. I had great plans for us on your birthday. After dropping your brothers off we were going to go to the library and the park, then off to a fun lunch together. I wanted to document the whole day in pictures for you as we enjoyed your special day. Unfortunately your brothers had some others plans for us. Sick boys staying home from school means all plans must be changed. Instead of taking fun pictures at the park, I was cleaning up after sick kids while trying desperately to make it a nice day for you. I did manage to snap a few pictures of you on the porch to remember the cute outfit I picked out for you, and surprisingly got you to agree to wear.
Even though I canceled all our plans, I decided to take the time to jot down some of the things you are doing that just make my heart melt, or make me laugh. As you did things throughout the day, I took a note in my phone so I would have it to make this list and tell you about each thing.
1) You wake up perky in the morning just like your mommy (I should say pre-kid mommy because now I feel like I drag my bones out of bed most mornings). You are an early riser and you wake up ready to go. It's a good morning if you make it to 6. The minute you see me coming down the hall, you smile and say, “Morning Mommy. All done, get up now.” You gather up all yours toys for some couch snuggle time, but you can barely hold them all. I love your beautiful smile and seeing it in the morning just brightens my day.
2) You like to pick out your own clothes. Actually I should say you insist on picking out your own clothes. Today I really had to sell it too you in order to put a matching outfit together. You started at about 20 months insisting that you pick out clothes like your brothers. You definitely have your own style and favorite color -- pink. Right now your favorite things to wear are t-shirts and soft cotton pants. Some of your combinations just make me laugh. Also, if I washed your Ariel shirt every night, I am pretty sure it would be your top choice. You are not a fan of dresses or frilly things. When I do put you in them, it usually results in a 15 minute fit before you resign to wearing it with a giant pouty face.
This is what happens when I pick something you don't want to wear.
3) You are talking up a storm. I can’t even keep track of how many words you have anymore. You have always been good at communicating. Since you were about one, I could always understand what you wanted. Now we get to have full conversations. It really gives me the chance to see more of your personality and what you are thinking about. You say some things that are so cute, I can't help but laugh. You use “Mommy is” or "Daddy is” whenever you want us to do something. If you want me to fill your sippy cup, you hand it to me and say, “Mommy is.” I have to ask, “What is mommy going to do?” Then you reply with “Mommy is going to fill cup.” You walk up to me and give me a hug around my leg and say, “I love you mommy” for no reason and I melt. You go up to people and say, “I tickle you. It’s funny, you laugh.” You have so many cute things I really can’t write them all down.
4) When you see a camera, you flash your lovely smile for about 3 seconds then switch to sticking your fingers in your mouth and making a silly face. I have learned that in order to get a picture of that beautiful smile, I have to be extremely fast. I usually get one nice smile picture followed by ten silly face pictures. Some day I am going to make a collage of all your silly face pictures that I have taken over the past few months.
5) You do not let your brothers get away with anything. People have told me since the day we found out you were a girl that you would be tough. That any girl with three older brothers would have to be tough to survive. You have lived up to everyone’s predictions. If they try to take a toy from you you scream, “No brothers, not your toy.” You sometimes hit and pinch, but we are working on stopping that behavior. You can hold your own in wrestling matches and light saber fights and it makes your daddy proud. We have used the word "spirited" and "feisty" to describe your personality quite a bit.
6) You are very interested in princesses, dolls, R2D2, pretend kitchen toys and tools. You are a perfect mesh of girly girl and tomboy. You love your princess shirts but want to wear them while rolling in the dirt. I love this part of your personality. You are just a well-rounded mix of interests.
7) You are not afraid to try new things. Even if things are tricky or scary, you keep trying until you get it. For the last 6 months you have been climbing up on your brothers’ trikes, but you were not able to reach the pedals. Finally the day you turned two, you were able to pedal yourself around the front yard and you were so pleased. You have also been taking after your brothers and learned how jump off the couch.
8) You like to hum and sing with me while I sing you a lullaby. Your bedtime is truly a special time for me. We sing songs and read books and I love that you participate with me. Right now you always want me to sing Baby Mine, It’s a Small World, and Part of Your World. I am sure the songs will change and eventually you won’t need a lullaby, but for now I will enjoy our time together.
Today didn't turn out like I planned. We didn't go out on any grand adventure and we ended up just getting take out for dinner, but I still spent the whole day thinking about you. I watched you and smiled as you played on the floor. I watched you and thought about who you are becoming and who you will be. I chatted with other moms about how weird it will be when you are a teenager. I know that those days will come sooner than I expect, but for now I will just watch and enjoy you as a toddler.
Today, my dear daughter, you turned two and you are a beautiful, resourceful, creative little lady. I do get a little sad to think my baby girl is getting older but I am excited to see what the next year will bring us.
With all my love,
Mom
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