Good heavens, it's a good thing that I update your monthly recap periodically throughout the month. Because if I didn't? The only things I would remember from this month would be croup, snot, too much TV, more snot, ear infections, and not sleeping well. So there's that. And then there's this:
Have I mentioned how you, my analytical child, never cease to amaze me. Your tricks this month include counting 30 and counting to 10 on your fingers. I'm glad you learned 11-20 before you were old enough to get annoyed by how those numbers have a weird pattern (THIRteen [and not THREEteen] and FIFteen [and not FIVEteen] would start a nuclear meltdown for SURE). You count everything - leaves, blocks, toes, people, Cheerios. For some reason, when you learned how to say 'seven', you said 'foe-foe' instead. You also say 'yum-yum-yum' for 'eleven'. Daddy and I joke that we need to run to the foe-foe-yum-yum-yum to get a Slurpee. I have a feeling when you're 25, Daddy and I will STILL tease you about this. (side note: you've now learned how to say 'seven', but Daddy and I will always call it foe-foe).
You also like to sing your ABCs. Granted, some letters never make your final cut (sorry, E, T, and W) and some letters have new homes (S is often close to the front of the alphabet), but who cares. I'm floored at how quickly you're picking these things up. Maybe it's completely normal. But to me, it's amazing.
We had our first beach trip of the year. (And since I'm a mega hot-weather-wuss who hates going to the beach when it gets above 75 degrees, I jumped at the chance to go when it was 72 and low humidity). February seems like an odd month for a beach trip, and I guess it is, but this is Florida, and it's not uncommon for the weather to be jacked up. (ie: it was fuh-REEZING less than a month ago.) I was banking on you (ie: my mildly prissy daughter) not wanting to get sandy and especially not wanting to go into the frigid, bone-chilling water. I was wrong on both accounts. You loved LOVED playing in the sand - throwing it, digging in it, piling it on top of your legs, the whole shebang. And the water? It was top-notch in your book. Perhaps this is payback for me wanting to see the reaction on your face when your toes hit the cold water, but you couldn't get enough of the water. This is not your first trip to the beach, but this is the very first time you've enjoyed the water.
You love talking on your phone (we realized very early on that you don't want a Fisher Price phone to play with - you want the real thing. So your phone is one of Daddy's old phones). You have the same conversation each time.
(you put the phone to your ear)
"Hey-yo!" (how you say 'hello')"Hi.""Oh."(handing the phone to me)"Bye BYEEEEEEEEE!!!""Yay-ter!" (how you say 'later')It's hysterical. Truly, truly hysterical.
I have KLOVE on pretty much whenever the TV isn't on. A few weeks ago, "Come Home" by Luminate came on. When the opening bars played, you immediately started singing the "Oh oh oh oh" part at the beginning. I know you've heard that song countless times, but this was the first time you've ever 'sung' anything. And let me tell you, pumpkin, it was fantastic. And when the song is coming to an end, you squeal "Song ... again!" I finally just put it on a continuous loop on YouTube so you can hear it over and over and over (and over and over ...). For you to like a song, particularly THAT song, it warms the cockles my heart.
You like to say 'How 'bout?' a lot. Like, if I ask you if you'd rather have a turkey sandwich or a grilled cheese for lunch, you'll say "Umm, how 'bout turkey [tuh-keeeee]". If I ask who's on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, you'll say "How 'bout Mickey! How 'bout Goofy! How 'bout Pluto [boe-toe]!" How 'bout that you're ridiculously adorable. How 'bout that.
You've recently discovered the wonder of Mommy Kisses. Whenever you get hurt, you immediately say "Mommy KISS!" The downside to this cuteness is that sometimes, instead of "Mommy KISS!", you screech "KISS IT!". I know what you mean, of course, but seriously. I've gotten some side-eyes from people who've overheard this. Anywho, I kiss the offended area and you're as good as new. Thanks for thinking I have special healing powers.
You had your first ear infection this month (and it was a double ear infection, you little over-achiever). I never would have known if you hadn't started wailing that your eye hurt. I just thought you had croup. But when you said that your eye hurt, I called your pediatrician to ask about pink eye (the only eye-related 'illness' I could think of). The nurse said that I'd know if you had pink eye, but that your eye pain might be related to your ears. So I brought you into the doctor, and lo and behold, you had an ear infection in each ear. You were mainly complaining of your right eye hurting and it turns out that your right ear had the more severe infection. So for about a week, you'd wail "Eyeeeeeeeeeeee! Kisssssssssss!" And I'd dutifully kiss your eye, ask if it felt better, and you'd pitifully say "yes". I know it still hurt, but you saying 'yes' made me feel like a superhero. Thanks.
Just in the past week, you've loved taking walks. You grab my hand and say "walk" and away we go. We don't walk far, just to the end of the street and back, but you seem to really enjoy taking it all in. Sometimes we discuss important things such as grass, leaves, dirt, bugs, and mailboxes. Other times we don't say anything at all. Walking hand in hand with you as we mosey down the street is one of the highlights of my day. That you enjoy something as simple as taking a walk, and that you like holding my hand, does more for my soul than words can express. I have visions of us years down the road, still taking these walks. Our topics of conversation will move from grass and leaves to school and boys. And when you're older and think it's lame to hold your lame mother's lame hand, it'll be okay. Because I will always remember our walks when you were two. So take my hand, little one. Cuz you and me? We've got a big world to explore. How 'bout that.
Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy
Headlines for March 1, 2011
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- Flooding, Tornadoes Wreak Havoc on Midwest
- Reba McEntire Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame
- Sugar Ray Leonard, Kendra Wilkinson to Hoof It on 'Dancing' Series
- Opening Arguments Begin in Deadly Arizona Sweat Lodge Case
- U.S. Ramping Up Pressure on Libyan Leader
- E. coli found on 50 percent of shopping carts
- Mom sells kids' toys on eBay as punishment (excellent idea - don't test me, kid!)
Oak leaves are 99% annoying.
Trying to catch bubbles that Daddy's blowing
When Lee said he'd only blow bubbles two more times,
My loves at the Mardi Gras parade
Five minutes after the parade began.
She oozes grace when climbing down stairs
She loves tunnels!
And to demonstrate that love, she busted out some
I see you!
A solo see-er (or saw-er)
YAY for parks!
Busting out with some more mad dance skillz
Making sure I'm watching her
Her PIGTAILS! look funny when she jumps
A PIGTAILED! pilot
Pleased with her flight, she busts out even more
Giving the ladybug a hug
Giving the ladybug a smooch
She loves her some Elefun
LOVE HER
Her eyelashes kill me.
Cute pouty lips.
How many is too many tutus?
Whereeeeeee's Natalie?
There she is!!
