25 months

Dear R,

You have been happily settling into the life of a two-year-old, claiming ownership of as much of your little world as you can and growing ever-more independent. But all of this is happening in fits and starts, with plenty of "fits" and "starts" along the way.

Today you were the sweetest little girl just about all day. When we asked if you wanted yogurt for a snack, your face lit up, you yelled, "YOGURT!" and ran to your high chair and started buckling all the buckles. Yes, your newest thing is buckling every buckle in sight, and insisting that if there is a buckle to be done, "I do it!" During your snack, you were so happy to be eating yogurt and blueberries, and you proclaimed several times, "MY yogurt! I eat it!" Then we offered you some frozen watermelon, an offer that you met with more shrieks and giggles. "I eat water MELON!" You were so excited!

And all through dinner you were so happy to be sitting there eating corn on the cob, peas, and gardenburger riblets with us. It was kind of amazing. Everything was funny. You giggled like a crazy lady at everything we did or said. And when I suggested it was bath time, you leaped down and said, "I walk upstairs!", didn't protest one bit when we got you in the water, and you even let Daddy wash your hair and rinse it like it was your favorite thing to do in the whole world.

When it was time to read stories and get ready for bed, we read some Mother Goose and you requested your favorite book (I have read this book to you at least 15 times in the past week): My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch, we got your giraffe pillow, and you snuggled up to listen. And when I said it was time to lie down, you went right to sleep.

It was nothing short of awesomeness.

This month you've become Mommy's little clone. Everything I do, including "having a baby in my belly" or "eating ANYTHING" or "taking a shower" or "going to work" instantly becomes, "I have baby in MY belly!"; "I eat _________!"; "I take a shower!" and so on and so forth. You want me to hold your hand every time we go somewhere, and whenever Daddy suggests doing something, you shout, "NO, MOMMY DO IT!" or "MOMMY TURN!".

When Daddy and I took you to pick up some dinner the other night you wouldn't sit in the stroller unless I was pushing it. And I couldn't just be pushing it with one hand and walking alongside you. I HAD to have both hands on the stroller.

We're never 100% sure what will set off your latest "fit." Not that you have tantrums all the time, just that they feel awfully random when they do crop up. A lot of times we just have to laugh. Seriously, you're going to be upset because I'm standing with one foot on the rug and the other foot on the hardwood floor? There are bigger things to care about in this world, and I know you'll recover from this one. And you usually do--in 60 seconds or less.

Baby girl, I love you so much my heart breaks every time I look at you. Thank you for being my little girl and opening my eyes to a whole new perspective on the world.

Love,
Mama