Grace, June 27, 2011
You recently turned 21 months. Just this week I commented to your daddy that you have turned into a child and are no longer a baby. Sometimes you don’t even remind me of a toddler anymore when you look and act so old. You are growing and changing so fast that I will use this letter to capture this stage in your life so we never forget these precious moments.
Your favorite things right now are; Elmo, cookies, sidewalk chalk, the park, your “mi-mi” {pacifier}, blankie, cheese, trucks, trains, fire trucks, books, music, and Daddy.
An image I want to capture and remember always is you sitting next to your daddy on the couch watching Elmo just as you do every morning. You have the entire length of the couch but insist on sitting right beside him pressed up against his body. You sit with your back up against the back of the couch just like Daddy with your legs sticking straight out, barely reaching the edge of the cushion. You have your “milky” sippy cup in one hand and your Elmo plush toy in the other. The Elmo theme song comes on and you look up at Daddy with a surprised face like you had no idea what was coming, even though this happens every morning. Your surprised face turns to a giant grin as you begin to sing along. You sing along to the “La-la-la-la” and the “Elmo’s world” portions of the lyrics. The rest you just mouth like you’re singing along. Your daddy and I try not to laugh out loud.
Right now you hate; getting your diaper changed, getting dressed, turning Elmo off, and being told no. Although you hate hearing “no”, it seems to be your favorite thing to say right now. You have an automatic response to every question of saying “no” regardless of whether you mean yes or no. Just today I asked you if you wanted a cookie and you impulsively responded “no” with an assertive tone only to realize what I was really asking. You turned to me and gave me the cheesiest grin and said, “Cookie?” Of course I laughed and you got the cookie.
You LOVE music. You always have! Your face absolutely lights up the minute you hear music. You have made up your own sign for music by snapping your fingers and you pronounce music as “meese”. The minute I hook you into your car seat you begin snapping your fingers and saying, “meese, meese, meese…” until I turn on your CD. Let me emphasize that part about turning on YOUR CD. If I turn on the radio or my music you insist I change it to your music. Right now it’s a compilation of kid songs such as Wheels on the Bus that we must listen to. Prior to this CD it was a series of CDs with Christian children music that we listened to over and over for 3 months. You currently know all the words and verses to Wheels on the Bus and even do the hand motions to the song. My rearview mirror is adjusted so that I can watch you do this as I’m driving. Just this week I downloaded the song Girls Just Wanna Have Fun on my phone and you and I dance to that song each morning. That’s one of my favorite memories. Your dancing includes twisting your hips back and forth and swinging your arms as you bend your knees. I hope to get a video of it soon. In church you can be wiggly and distracted in the pew but the minute the organist begins to play or the choir sings you stop what you are doing, crawl up on the pew, and sometimes even stand up and begin waving your arms like you are directing the music. It’s adorable and honestly the congregation gets just as much enjoyment from watching you as they do from the music. I hope you continue this love for music throughout your life, as it is one of God’s greatest gifts.
You are the greatest gift your daddy and I could have ever asked for. I thank God for you every day and I love you just the way you are. Thank you for making me smile, laugh, and enjoy every moment of life. You are special and very, very loved.
Mommy
