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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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