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Happy 4th Birthday, Alafair (and a little bit of 3rd)

9/26/2022

1 Comment

 
Dear Alafair,

Well, I missed your 3rd birthday entirely. I mean, I was there and we had the GREATEST strawberry party, but I didn’t get anything posted for you. For reasons that had nothing to do with you, it was just a crazy year. I’m going to put together another video that covers the missed year and post it here soon. Honestly, I’m not sure where to even start with this. Obviously, your speech has dramatically improved in the last two years, as you’ll see from the list below. This 4th birthday is a hard one–you’re definitely a kid now!! I’m watching you shed the remnants of toddlerhood, both physically and emotionally, and move fully into being your own complete human. It’s bittersweet of course. You’re growing up too fast, but what a magnificent creature you’re becoming.

Thanks to covid, I got to have an entire extra year with you at home! You were so ready to go to school last fall, and I think that’s actually made it a little more difficult on you as you’ve started school this month. But I’m still so grateful for that extra time with you. Last fall we went to Wiggins again where you drove the golf cart all over and ran naked through the fields on a daily basis. In January when Alice finally started school, you got to start Bibi preschool. You have a slight lisp so when you got up at preschool graduation and sang “Poor Little Bug on the Wall” in bug language, it came out as “Bsssth bsssth bsssth bsssth bsssth bsssth bsssth,” instead of a straight up “buzz” and it was adorable.

Earlier this year we got a puppy. Roux has been with us for 7 months now, and you’re still not that impressed. I can’t really blame you. He was just a tiny little guy when he first came here, who was actually just your size, but unfortunately had super sharp shark teeth that you quickly learned to steer clear of. And then before you knew it, he grew into a massive giant who is taller than you, can knock you down just by turning the wrong way, and loves to shove his wet nose right into your face. You yell at him a lot in an attempt to exert some authority over this furry giant, but it’s generally to no avail because he’s a dog and he loves you anyway and will never quit trying to gain your approval.

I’ve also started working a lot more this last year, and it’s been a struggle for you to have me gone so much. I have a lot of meetings with clients that are pretty short, and then I am gone longer (often overnight) when I occasionally attend a birth. I think part of the problem just comes from the abstraction of the concept of time–how long is mama going to be gone? A short time? A long time? And what’s the difference? Right now, gone is gone to you, and that makes leaving you hard for me. I do it anyway though, because working is good for me, I love my job, and I know that seeing your parents happy is good for you too.

You’ve grown into such a ham in the last year. It’s nearly impossible to get a “normal” picture of you. It took two days and over 200 shots to get an acceptable passport photo! And speaking of passports, where should we go?! The thought of stuffing you on an international flight (or let's face it, even a domestic one) still makes me break out in a cold sweat. You’re getting much better at controlling your big emotions these days, but you’re still a LOT to contain. But as of this week, we’ve officially run out of excuses. We have passports, and you’re FINALLLLLY fully vaccinated for covid, an event you’ve been planning for for two years now. “When I’m vaccinated, we can do…” ….a million things. Your list is long: go to New Orleans, go to the YMCA, go to Roaring Springs, go go go. You might be in for some disappointment. Or maybe we’ll just pull Alice out of school and travel for a year. Who needs an education anyway?

Oh! And somewhere in the last two years, your eyes morphed from dark blue into an indescribably beautiful…green? Hazel? I can’t pin it down. They actually change with your mood, which is pretty cool. I think your passport actually says blue, but it’s wrong now!

The pictures above say more than I ever could about how amazing you are. I love you most of all, Sweet Pea Tiny Witch Alafair Bea. You’re my favorite Red One.

Love, Mama

Two years of Alafair-isms:

Aloh beeloh-alafair burrito
Helmoh-helmet
Honky Beep- honk honk beep beep (book title), also a car
Saucy-sausage
Choffee- coffee
Looht- look!
Shoos- shoes
Aleeees- Alice
Pelloh- pillow
Pillupts- clippers
Menoh- medicine 
Mayo- mail
Teet! - treat
Forf- fork
Pak Pak -backpack
SaMA- salmon
Ba-gnome- bottle
Peent- pink
Nax bohl- snack ball
Boontz- spoon
Tarpano- guitar piano
Baint- bacon
Tootpate- toothpaste
Dance- thanks
Diema- vagina
Tamat- magnet
Fahvie- favorite
Sot- socks
Nate- naked
Seedy Ba- conceited rabbit
Meety bahllll- meat ball
Tonty high- twinkle twinkle little star
Carkle- Good Dog Carl
Pahcohlcohl- popsicle
Sheckth- Chex
Effendent- elephant
Yam!- yeah
Wanoh- water
Brexy- breakfast
Umpsie din- upside-down
Seenaloo- her own word
Lily- little (lily bath, lily walk)
Bloonz- balloons
Assy sacky- Scatty Catty (book)
Munga- watermelon
Schlogit- chocolate
Pancaink- pancakes
Fingo- flamingo
Mernake- mermaid
Stuffes (pronounced stuff-is)-plural of stuff
Too muches-too much
Gonin- going
Kalwakka- kowala bear
Hostabill- hospital
Got-for: forgot
Queminnie- community
TIME IT IS!! - what time is it
Mayn't (pronounced maint): may not
Don't reprise me!!! (Surprise)
Enrique Ehglade-ious 
Shitter shatter- chitter chatter

Hey! That's Alo's when me kid! (Referring to something she JUST grew out of.) 10/28/20

Me: how much does mama love Alafair?
Alafair: THREE!!!!!
10/28/20

I sweep my hairs! (Brush) 1/22/21

Mizzalizzabizabit - Miss Elizabeth (dance teacher) fall 2021

Pewp-poop. "Have I pewpened today?" Winter 21/22

"Why do some kids like me....X?" (Hit their sisters, pinch, fall down, etc) March 2022

Mama, why don't they make the sky lower so I can reach it? 4/9/22

Tape expenser (dispenser)

Alafair: it's raining!
Me: IT'S RAINING TACOS...!
Alafair: NO, mama!!!! It's raining water!!!! 
4/28/22

(Alice sneezes) Alice? If you're gone be snotting in here, you need to go get a Kleenex.
5/14/22

Mama! White Ba WAS listening! (In high-pitched bunny voice): Oh oh I was listening, sorry I just forgot, I'm old. 6/7/22

Salmon tea is my favorite! 7/4/22

Oposta- supposed to 

Why do dogs and cats have different ears?....did somebody just toot!? (No) 8/18/22
1 Comment

Happy 2nd Birthday....4 Months Late

2/1/2021

1 Comment

 
Dear Alo,

This isn’t the nickname I would have picked for you, but it’s what you call yourself these days.  Mostly in an extremely demanding, very LOUD, flappy arm sort of way… “alo!!!alO!!!!ALOOOO!!!!!!!!!”  Yes, I understand.  Even though that object you want is upstairs, through a locked gate, on top of a 6 foot tall shelf, you want to get it yourself.  You pretty much want to do everything yourself.  The other day you helpfully took off your poopy diaper for me.  While standing up.  Over a carpet.  You are SO helpful. 

I started this letter back in September right when you were turning 2.  That part up there is still pretty accurate.  Although now that you’re two and a half you would just open the gate, climb the stairs, then climb the 6 foot shelf.  We really love your independent spirit!!

You are a kid with no middle ground.  Your feelings are big, swift, and determinate.  You are fearless, unless your sister has “suggested” something is scary, and then you are terrified of that thing.  That’s because you worship the ground Alice walks on and want to do everything exactly like Alice.  You always try to match whatever Alice is wearing.  You like to wear the old clothes that used to be Alice’s best.  This is a great phase.  I know one day you will realize that Alice is getting all the new things and you’ll want new things too.  But for now, you only want Alice. 

You are exhibiting a remarkable ability to play independently right now for good lengths of time if no one bothers you (cough ahem, SISTER).  You like to use the play kitchen foods to make White Ba brexy (breakfast) or "lunch-es".  And recently you’ve started helping Mama make your special foods in the real kitchen.  This is a really big deal for Mama since it’s been really hard building our food culture in a positive way around your different needs. 

You and Alice have a healthy dose of sibling rivalry going on that I think is amplified by the fact that we’re still in a global pandemic and we spend nearly 100% of our time together.  It’s….tiring. But I try to remember that it must be tiring for you guys too.  You LOVE the mornings when Alice has Bibi School and it’s just you and Mama together.  We play with all of Alice’s toys when she’s not looking (shhhh!), read books together, go for walks, or cook.  I love getting to see what kind of person you are when you’re free to just do your own thing without much sibling influence.  You’re creative and playful and so funny.

You are the type of kid that takes a LOT of energy to parent.  You never stop moving and demand constant attention.  The parenting books label you as “active” and even “difficult” (screw you, parenting books!).  But what I know is that you also have a sweet side to you that is achingly sincere and innocent.  You make a point to kiss ALL your toys.  You give hugs with your entire body.  You bring Alice her bunny when she’s crying.  You are the full package, Alafair Bea, and I love you for it.

Here are some of your greatest words right now:

Helmoh, for helmet.  I especially like it when we’re riding bikes, you see someone else wearing a helmet, point and yell at the top of your lungs, “HELMO HELMO HELMO!!!”  Because let’s be honest, it sounds like you’re yelling “homo” at them and we always get sideways glances from people.

Umbli-eye--I think this is from a Mary Poppins song.

Seenaloo--We have no idea where this one came from, but you shout it as you run all over the house.

Boontz--spoon

Tarpano--piano

Baint--bacon

Effendent--elephant

Schlogit--chocolate

Stuffes (pronounced stuff-is)--plural of stuff

I’m sorry it took me 4 months to get your birthday letter posted.  That’s life right now, and probably for the next...10 years.  Happy Birthday, my tiny witch.  I love you most of all.

Love, Mama

1 Comment

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

4/21/2017

3 Comments

 
Alice!!!  This year was SOOOOOO fast.  And huge.  Right after your 1st birthday, we packed up and moved from your birth town to what we hope will become your new hometown. I really wanted to minimize the impact of the move on you, so we packed up your room the day before we left with the intention of unpacking it pretty much immediately upon arrival.  That's not how it worked out though, and we pretty much didn't get to see most of your things again until nearly 6 months later in December!  I felt a little bad, but there was nothing to be done about it.  The good part was that you were super excited when we finally did get everything set up and you even recognized a bunch of the art that had been on your walls in Cheyenne!

It's been a big year of changes and transition for all of us.  We moved to Idaho!  We lived downstairs for 6 months, then we moved upstairs!  We stopped nursing in December (around 20 months).  Dada got laid off from STP and will be starting his own job this coming summer (wahoo!!!! and YIKES!!!!). 

Lots of people came to stay and visit.  I think you've found this a bit confusing, but you're always so happy to see everyone (and mama is devastated when they leave).  We spent the summer riding bikes around our new neighborhood, working on all of the huge house projects, and playing in the water at Quinn's Pond.  You even rode on the paddle board with mama!  You started taking swimming lessons with mama at the YMCA and baby French class at Mme. Veronica's house.  You LOVE to go swimming, and you LOVE French class. 

Your other biggest love right now is other kids!  You get SOOOOOO excited to see kids wherever we go, which is why it's really great that you'll be starting preschool in the fall.  It will be two more chances per week to hang out with kids ("There's some little tiny kids!!!!!).  You call lots of things "little tiny" regardless of their size. 

You are whip smart.  I mean, seriously.  You are probably smarter than mama and dada combined (and that's saying something because your dada is BRILLIANT).  It's likely only a matter of weeks before you are doing calculus just for fun.  I joke, but it is so astounding to watch you absorb literally everything you are taught.  Not a single day goes by that you don't manage to say something that completely amazes us.  You are extremely observant ("LOOK AT THAT!! MAMA NEW SHIRT!!!!), you are developing your own little sense of humor (pinecones = "tree poop"), you are trying out your own opinions ("NO LIKE THAT!"), and you are exercising your tiny will power to its fullest extent (and NOW mama finally understands what everyone was talking about when they said parenting is so hard).  

Now that you are turning into your own tiny person, mama is not allowed to just "nuggle" you whenever she wants ("OFF MAMA!!!).  This makes mama sad, BUT in return if I ask you for a hug, you come running, leap into my arms and hug me with your entire body.  I have to say, this is pretty great.  Doubtless that this will be one thing I'll carry with me forever long after you've adopted more independence and attitude. 

Every morning you come into the bathroom with mama and we brush our teeth together, do our hairs, and then look in the mirror so mama can ask you, "Who's so cute?!" 
And you respond, "ALICE SO CUTE!!!" 
"Who's so smart?"  "ALICE SO 'MART!!!"
"Who's so kind?"  "ALICE SO KIND!!!"
"Who's so smart and kind?"  "ALICE SO 'MART AND KIND!!!"

I can't wrap my brain around the fact that you've already traveled with us around the sun TWO WHOLE TIMES.  Surely, the Earth's orbit is speeding up on a daily basis.  I love you, Alice Safa Svilar Finley Newlin Kumquat Sweet Babu Sugar Bean AlicitaYou'reSoSweeta "mart" Girl. 

Love, Mama

P.S.  I made you this video.  <3
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