Happy 23rd Month Birthday Sweet Pea

A letter to Inara as she inches closer to turning 2

It's the eve of your 23rd month birthday, and I find myself thinking about how big you are. One more month, and you'll be turning 2. I can't believe that. I swear you were still in my tummy just 6 months ago. But when I look at you and all the things you do and say now, I realize you're not that little baby girl you once were, but now you're growing up to be a big girl.

Some of the things you love doing right now are playing hide and seek (especially with daddy), playing marketplace (this is when mommy comes to the food stand with the shopping cart and asks you for food I need and you get it for me), playing little people, and reading lots and lots of books. You've become quite the avid reader lately. Mommy reads to you at least 3 different times a day, plus before bedtime. Of course, you love reading Curious George books. But you have started liking Berenstein Bears, Pooh books, and a Finding Nemo book all about school. You also still love helping mommy around the house. When we come home from grocery shopping, you now like to put the fruits and veggies in the fridge for me. When I make dinner, you want to see what I'm doing, so I will pick you up and show you what's cooking in the pots and pans. One day I even had you help me make dinner. I made homemade pizza and salad for daddy and I. You helped me sprinkle the cheese and toppings on the pizza, as well as add shredded carrot to the salad. I encourage you to explore and try new things, with my help of course.

Last month we took a big family vacation and went to CA. We stayed at NeeNee and Pop's house for 12 days. During that time, you became infatuated with Toby the dog. You now say "sit down" to Daddy and I just like you did to Toby. Also on our trip, I think you really started to build a strong bond with Uncle Mikey. He helped so much with you on the trip, and I think you loved spending the time with him. Our big adventure on this trip was taking you to Disneyland for the first time. Now all you talk about is Mickey, Minnie, and Donald. Pop bought you a Mickey Mouse doll, which you have to carry with you all the time. You even put him in your stroller and push him around the house. When you look at the pictures, you ask to go again and always talk about the rides. I can't wait to take you again because you really loved visiting Mickey's house. Of course at Pop's house we went swimming a lot too. You started jumping from the side into mommy's arms and loved doing this over and over again. You would count "1, 2, 3, 4" then jump and immediately say "Again!" Also, when we watched other people jump off the diving board into the pool you kept saying, "Me too!" You so want to learn how to jump off the diving board. I better get you enrolled in swim classes asap. You don't show much fear and want to do everything. That's my girl!

In the past month, you've started building quite the vocabulary and becoming the never-ending chatter box. Just today you said microwave for the first time, and I was shocked to hear such a big word from you. Some of my other favorite things that you've started saying are "you're welcome," "cantalope," "watch Nemo," and one courtesy of Pop "oompa sharumpa." I absolutely love hearing you say the last one. You started saying it after we were in CA, and I got you to say it on the phone for Pop. He chuckled. I know he's proud of that one.

One thing that really amazes me is that you can count to 10 already. I know I always count when we walk up the stairs and various times through an average day. But it really surprised me when I heard you start counting along with me and made it to 10. And you're not even 2 yet. I'm so proud of you. Mommy continues to work on colors with you and we will next start on our ABC's. I can't say it enough: our baby girl is getting so big.

You have really shown a huge growth in your conversation skills these past few weeks. I now feel like when we talk it's becoming more like a conversation. You ask a lot of questions, and I explain things to you, which prompts more questions. One of our routine conversations is when we are in the car. You often ask to see the cows. You call out for them and moo like cows do. We then go back and forth on which type of animals we are looking for: horses, chickens, rabbits. I then ask if we can look for monkeys, and you giddily respond, "no mommy." We continue this for most of our trip. When in the car, you also like to look for objects such as busses, flags, doggies, diggers, and continuously ask for more. Car rides, even really short ones, are always fun when you're in the car with me.

There have been a couple instances when you've said something that has really shocked me. You're starting to form sentences, and I'm very very impressed. Last week, I asked you to play by yourself for a minute so mommy could go potty. You ran after me yelling your usual "Me too!" I told you when you get a little older you can go on big girl potty too. To that you replied, "Mommy, no diaper. Big girl potty." My mouth dropped open. Did she just say what I think she said? Yep, you are definitely showing signs of being ready for the big girl potty. Guess this means you and mommy are going to start potty training soon. Gulp! I have no idea what to do, but I'll figure it out.

Back in CA, you kept playing with Pop's special cell phone. He was showing you how to play songs on it, but you struggled a bit to figure it out on your own. One day, as you were playing with the phone, you got it to play a song. You were so happy and yelled, "I did it, Pop." We were all surprised and humored by this statement. Now you say it all the time when you complete a challenging task. Way to go, sweet pea.

We are working on manners and asking for things nicely. You've been saying please (or peas as you say it) for quite awhile. Now that you can form sentences, you can ask for more things and politely as well. The other day you and I were eating cantalope with our lunch. You suddenly said, "Mommy, give me more cantalope." I looked up at you, and without hesitating you said, "peas." I also love that you reply "welcome" when someone says thank you to you. It's the cutest thing to hear you be polite and use your manners. I'm so proud of you.

Another thing you've been saying for awhile now is sorry. I've been explaining to you that you need to apologize when you hurt someone or make a mistake. For the first time though you showed empathy. I was too close to the kitchen counter when I tried to get up and smacked my head on the bottom of the counter. I yelled "ouch" and sat on the floor holding my head when suddenly you came running to my side and said, "what happened?" I explained what I had done. You were so concerned about me. "Mommy owey." You leaned over, hugged me, and said, "kiss." I asked if you wanted to kiss mommy's owey. "Yes," and you kissed the boo boo on my head. It totally brought tears to my eyes to see my daughter have such concern and care and want to make me feel better. I hope this is because I've shown you how to be a caring, loving person. This meant so much to me baby girl. Add this to the list of all the reasons I love you.

Along with showing concern for your mommy, you always talk about your friends. When we were in CA, several times I asked who we were going to see that day, and you would replay with "Whitney. Tamum (Tatum). Owen. A (Avery)." I get the feeling that you love spending time with your friends and look forward to seeing them. Now that we're back home in Colorado, you ask me every day if we're going to see Pop, NeeNee, Mikey, Toby, or your new buddy Kylie, who you now call Kylie Bear. I love that you ask to see friends and loved ones. It makes me so happy to know that my daughter looks forward to seeing all these people. At one time I was concerned about you being overly shy, but now I'm really starting to see you blossom and grow into a social butterfly. You got to stay with Miss Jen and Addison one day this week and did wonderfully playing with them. Then you did fantastic this week playing with Avery, Kristi and Jack when mommy went to work at the consignment sale. It makes me feel that when you start preschool, you will have an easier time adjusting and will enjoy playing with new friends and teachers.

I don't want to forget something else you said to me this week that totally made me cry. I volunteered to work at the consignment sale two times this week. I know you really missed me because of something you said. When I got you up in the morning and said we needed to get ready to go to Auntie Kristi's house so mommy could go work for awhile, you said, "Mommy no work." You totally got me baby girl. My heart sank and all I wanted to do was squeeze you tight. I can't imagine ever having to go to work every day and not spending all my time with you. I adore you so much and never want you to feel that way again. Yes, sometimes mommy will leave for a few hours, but know that I will always come back to you. I'm so grateful that I don't have to work and be away from you. I wish all moms could have this opportunity. I never take it for granted. You truly are the most precious, amazing child in the world, and Mommy loves you more than you could ever know. Sweet pea, happy 23rd month birthday. I can't wait to celebrate your 2nd birthday next month. You deserve the world!