Dear Q,
27 months is next week so I’m taking liberty. Right now you’re taking an epic nap and I don’t know quite what to do with myself! I’m sure that you’ll be up in the next 5 minutes, because that’s just how things seem to work, but I’m writing to you anyhow.
Every time I write one of these letters I seem to talk about how amazed I am at the speed you are growing, learning, developing and changing. This one won’t be any different. There have been some major leaps since your second birthday, that’s for sure! I seem to think every age is the most fun yet and I continue to think that. You just keep getting more and more fun!
Your speech continues to mature by leaps and bounds. You use full sentences more often than not. We have gone from “Help!” to “I need help!” and “Up!” to “Pick me up!”. You love to point out objects “That’s a truck! That’s a chair! That’s a Mommy! That’s George!” and you also love to tell us what color things are. Grey is a bit tough for you but you have the rest of the major colors down. You love to sing the Colors of the Rainbow song from Signing Time aka “Rachel Rainbow”. You burst into that song at the most random times. I love it.
You’ve picked up on several phrases that we say and incorporated them into your speech. Some are used correctly, some aren’t. I think my favorite Q-ism right now is “Oh Good Goodness!”. When you hand someone something you say “For Me”. I couldn’t figure out why as first but then realized that when you hand me something I often say “Oh, is that for me?” so now I see the correlation. When you’re upset or feeling sad about something you often say “I know….” in a very adult manner. “Daddy go to work, Daddy’s office, I knooooooow.” I realized that comes from when you are upset and I try to console you, I say “I know” and pat your back or tell you it’s going to be OK. The other phrase you use incorrectly (but adorably) is “I’m Sorry”. Instead of saying it as an apology you’ll say it when you hurt yourself. I realized that’s from me saying “I’m sorry you bumped your head” or the like. So you’ll fall down and say “I’m soooooorrry.” It’s too funny. Today you kept purposefully falling down and then saying in a very concerned voice “Oh nooooooo. Fall down? What’s the matter? It’s OK! Don’t be sad!” I was trying so hard not to let you see me laughing!
Another big change since your second birthday is that you moved from your crib to a toddler bed. You love your big girl bed. You REALLY love jumping on it. Your sleep hasn’t gotten any better since the switch, and not much worse either. The biggest difference is that when you wake up you go to your door and start yelling for me and you haven’t figured out how to get yourself back to sleep. When you were in your crib you’d usually just lie down and go back to sleep. So, it’s been a little tough on me and Daddy but we’re figuring it out. Usually I’ll go in and you’ll climb up on my lap in the recliner and go right back to sleep in my arms. You haven’t slept on me in almost a year prior to this and I think it’s sweet. It definitely makes getting up in the middle of the night….every night…. a little sweeter. I’m cherishing these last days of having you as my only baby. Another thing you’ve started doing is coming into our bed in the morning, sometimes to sleep, sometimes you’ll just play on my phone or the iPad. Even though you’re very much a squiggly wiggly worm when you sleep with us, I secretly love having you sleep next to me the way you did when you were a baby.
You’re already a pretty awesome big sister. You give my belly kisses and cuddles all the time. You like to “listen to baby’s heartbeat” with a pair of headphones. You learned about the heartbeat from coming to my midwife appointments. You either think that the baby is a girl or you just are hung up on the word “sister” because you talk about your baby sister but never say baby brother! Every night we read a big sister book and you know it so well that you tell us what’s on each page. “Baby is SO LITTLE!” “Baby drinks Mommy’s milk!” “Baby has STINKY POOP!!!” The poop part is your favorite part of the book. It was a bit of an embellishment on our part, the book just says that the baby needs a new diaper. We are definitely setting ourselves up for years of potty humor here. We also think your toots are hilarious, and so do you.
Speaking of the potty, you’re mildly interested but it’s become apparent to us that you won’t be potty training any time soon, and that’s ok. I had originally hoped you’d be potty trained before the baby arrived but, as usual, you had your own plans. I think it would be a lot to handle with the baby coming. We’ll get there eventually! You’re very good at reminding me that you operate on your own timeline, not mine!
What else are you up to these days?
You’re an excellent climber. You climb ladders at the park, metal and chain link, and have climbed several other devices at the park. You go down the big slides now and often turn around and climb back up the slide itself. You haven’t shown much fear of heights but sometimes are a little hesitant to start your descent down the slide. You get a little bit nervous when there are other kids climbing or sliding around you but you manage. “Wait your turn!” is a phrase we hear you say pretty often when other kids are around. You also like to climb all of our furniture so it’s not surprising to find you in high places.
You love to go for walks, go to the park and ride your balance bike. I love watching your bouncy walk, and when you decide to “go fast” you lean forward and throw your arms out behind you like you’re trying to fly. It’s so fun watching you on your bike too. For some reason seeing you on that little bike makes you look more grown up than anything else you do. You love being outside in general. I think the weather getting colder is going to be tough on us! I’m pretty scared of being stuck inside trying to entertain you and take care of the baby! We’ll figure it out.
This is such an exciting time for us as a family, baby girl, and I’m so excited about our future. I’d be lying if I said these twilight days of our one on one time together are bittersweet. We’ve had an amazing 27 months of time as a dynamic duo. We’ve made a pretty awesome team. I’m going to be sad to lose this dynamic but I know that giving you this sibling is going to be one of the most amazing life experience we’ll ever have.
I can’t tell you how much I love you in a letter, I’ll just keep trying to show you every day. You’re my #1, never forget it.
All my love,
Mommy
