Wow Baby

Little One,

Nights are so funny.  I love that as I settle down from my day and after I have put or bubbling, busy Matine to bed I have time to spend alone and uninterrupted with you.  You are already so loved, so anticipated, and so uniquely you.  I can feel your little spirit and personality already and I love it.  I think you like to make your presence known.  Currently, you are doing so by residing right up under my lungs and ribs.  As silly as this sounds and as much as you hear people complain about this uncomfortable stage of pregnancy (it's no picnic), I laugh because I truly am grateful.  I am so thankful that you are growing.  That you move and shake and poke and kick.  You are preparing every minute for your entrance into this crazy world of light and noise and activity.  Each kick and punch and piercing blow to my pelvis is your way to getting strong and bold and ready.  I admire that.

I thought Mattie moved a lot in my belly, but you move ALOT and either my memory is totally warped or you are much bigger than your sister was at this stage.  It just feels fuller in there.  Tonight as I read books to Matine, she picked out 2 princess books that she thought YOU would like and when I kissed her good night, all on her own, she asked if she could kiss my belly and the baby.  Do you hear her little voice?   She loves you so much already too!

Five weeks - that is all we have left.  Last night I could swear labor was starting.  It was a few hours of pretty consistent contractions and intense tightening of the belly.  While I am a big pusher for full term (and then some) babies, they say it would be safe to have you now.  I hope you stay in there and fatten up a bit more.

This weekend I am getting some "belly / maternity" pics taken by the uber-talented and lovely Meggan Carrigg Davidson.  She is our family's unofficial photographer and just an all around terrific friend.  I am excited to capture this burgeoning belly and emotions that come along with it.

Our friend Emily told me yesterday that she had a dream about us.  She said I delivered you three weeks early and you were a BOY!  Are you?  I think you are.  That has been my hunch from the beginning.  Your dad thinks you are a girl.  Your sister says you are a "brother."  Micca thinks you are girl.  Madeleine goes back and forth and Sally thinks you are girl.  Nana Jo thinks boy and every person who we see has an opinion.

I just want you healthy, calm, happy, and HERE!  I have experienced a lot of anxiety (not because of you) and stress this pregnancy.  I know it is self defeating and creating more stress, but I worry and ironically "stress" about hurting you or affecting your development through my thoughts, sleeplessness and worry.  I sure hope not.  I try to breath deep, speak positive things into your little life and focus on all the beautiful things I want you to experience in your life.   Regardless of the hard things in this life, I know you will bring so much joy and clarity to my life.  You are meant to be.  You are meant to be born at this very time into our lives.  You have great purpose and timing.  I am thankful to be your mom and see what you will be and what unique stamp you will bring to this life.

I think you like the cats.  At night when you are really active and seem to be bouncing all around, Fez will cuddle up on my belly or right next to it and start purring really loud - You immediately chill out and get more still.  I think you can hear each other.  I like thinking about that connection.

I have my 35.5 week appointment tomorrow with our darling Doctor Coleman.  I think I will be going every week after this point - wow! Time has FLOWN by! I am so grateful for another easy, uneventful pregnancy and let's hope the delivery goes as smoothly.  I would ask that it not stretch over THREE days like it did with Matine!  Can we work on that?  I will do my best to bring you into this world as peacefully and patiently as you like (if you can make it painless and quick, that would be appreciated!) - Ha!  Just get here - safe and happy little one - there are people anxious to meet you and start memorizing your face!

I love you,

Your momma

My love.

** I wrote this one month ago and never posted it... thought I should for posterity - even though it's a bit late...

I love our daughter.   She never seizes to crack me up.  I can totally see why people get addicted to having children - they are a constant escape from being an "adult" and remind us just how fun the simple things are in life. Here goes another list of Mattie these days - no particular order, all important.

She's still on her toast kick ... hardly eating ANYTHING but toast.
I take that back, she asks for "suckers" too ... See's Chocolate suckers to be exact.
She calls the kids that live next door to Nona and Jimpa, "the boys" - and always asks what they are doing.
Ever since her cousin Sam left last week she has asked for him at least 5x/day.  She LOVED him.  She kept wanting to "hold his hand and dance."
She will randomly walk over to Logan and just squeeze him like she can't contain her love any longer - it is so genuine and sweet.
She likes to open up coolers at parties and walk around handing out beer to everyone.  "You want another beer? Ok, I'll be right back." 
Last night Jim asked Mattie to bring Peter a water and she says, "No, daddy wants a beer!"
She is VERY into her "ouches" -- she will grab a cloth or napkin and come over to you if she sees a scratch or bruise (new or old) and hold the cloth on it and look at you with the most concerned face and ask, "You have an ouwie... is that better?"  "You need a band-aid, ok, I'll be right back."
Most answers to questions we ask her or start with an, "Ok... I will feed the dogs" or "ok, I'll go get my shoes on." 
She still has NO clue about colors.  Everything is "blue."
Last night she sat naked on her drum set and strummed her guitar for a good 45 minutes - the song selection was a blend of "Tomorrow" from Annie, "ABC's," "So Long Farewell," "I am 16 going on 17," and "Itsy Bitsy Spider."  It was QUITE a show!  She even told me I needed a microphone - apparently I wasn't loud enough.
She loves to kiss and hug.  She never hesitates to give a kiss or a hug - requested or impromptu.
We LOVE our chickens and constantly ask to "hold them."   She does this very funny jumping-chase action with them.  She flaps her arm like a bird and jumps at them and then laughs hysterically.  She will follow them around talking to them ... I am still not real sure what she is saying, it usually involves trying to hand feed them something she thinks they would like.
She has really been enjoying her friends lately - particularly Camille and Audrey O'Connor.  They all play in the yard, on the swings, have pretend tea parties (where they eat hamburgers) and play dress up with princess dresses.
She has been napping on our bed, but sleeping at night in her own.  She likes for us to lay down with her for a few minutes before she will go to sleep.  She sometimes even say, "Goodnight momma, you can go now" when she is ready to actually sleep at night.
She sometimes gets overwhelmed with those she loves and will just walk up to you and squeeze your face with both hands and give you a kiss or say, "I love you!"  - she does this to Nona, Mom and Dad alot!
She plays this funny game with JimPa - using her dry humor already- she will see Jim and they start this banter back and forth, claiming ownership over someone - ex. Matine:  "This is MY Nona."  Jim:  "No, she's my Nona..."  and it goes back and forth over and over and then moves on to "My Annie," "My Momma."  ... etc.  She starts doing this game from the car as soon as she sees JimPa coming out the door to greet her. Very funny.
She likes to say, "Tulsa, Oklahoma" and when you ask where either Uncle Clark, Grandpa, Sammi or Aunt Shell live, she will say very proudly, "Tulsa Oklahoma!"
She is a whiz at her animal matching game.  There are momma animals and baby animals on separate puzzle pieces.  They are all laid on the floor (like memory but right side up) and she has to find the mommas and babies and put the pieces together.  She loves to play this and I think she is almost bored now that she has mastered it.  She has even figured out the Frog / Tadpole connection ... pretty smart kiddo.
She is the SLOWEST waker.  It takes a solid 20 minutes of fussy quietness before she is ready to get after her day.  This is after naps and each morning.  We usually deal with this by sitting quietly on the couch for a while ... toast is often requested and needed for proper wake-up.
You get really excited about dressing up.  You love your "party dress" and my fancy glittery purses.  I am not sure where you got this flair for fashion, but it's hilarious and she takes your clothes, shoes and accessories VERY seriously!
You really like playing with the dogs now and they are your buddies. I catch Oliver sneaking in your room to nap with you in the middle of the day and you will chase them around the yard and wrestle with them when they get roudy.
You also can't resist bossing them around when you get the chance - "Oliver, no, sit, no begging" or "Gaucho stay, you can't go with us today."  They seem to get your leftovers and extra treats from you too.

I might need a helmet

As the last few weeks have passed in an ever increasing whirlwind, I am realizing, I might just need a helmet to survive this kid! At 22.5 months old, all I can think is "Oh my goodness, she's not even 2 yet!"

Oh Matine. Where to start on "the you-ness of YOU" these days! I like lists.  I like pictures. I will start there.

• Your increasing vocabulary now includes many "commands" and they are mainly directed at me. "Sit down," "play with this," "up here, "hold you (me)," "no, back!"
• I got our first "I don't like" at dinner the other night. 
• You are finally "interested" in the potty now, but won't actually use it for it's designed purposes. So far it is serving as: a chair to read books, a place to sit and talk with me and get undivided attention, a place to play with your "my little ponies," a clever stool to play in the sink, a platform for jumping, and very entertaining contraption for flushing the toilet paper that you use to "pretend wipe your butt." Progress.... I guess? 
•  
• You are not only singing songs constantly now, but they are Matine Originals. You will take the most mundane words or conversations and put them to a tune. My favorite so far has been the one you made up after I scolded you for kicking me while I changed your diaper. It went something like "no kickin, no kickin mama, no diapers, kickin! NO NO"
• You are very comfortable getting yourself dressed and out the door ... on your own. This means that pj's or naked, you get your boots on by yourself, open the door and go outside. You usually bring something back in with you ... snow, a bucket, a dog toy... The front door now remains LOCKED ... for fear that you might stroll across the street and ask the neighbors for a cup of sugar.
• We took the paci away about 2.5 weeks ago. I cut the tip off of it and handed it to you when you asked for it. You looked at it with serious disgust and gave me a horrified look. You then said, "OH NO!!!!!!". I agreed and shrugged, stating that it "broke." You have hardly asked for it since. Why didn't I do that 6 months ago?
• Toast is still your favorite food group. Meat balls are a close second.
• You are into fruit again, thank goodness but it must be accompanied with toast. You get your vegetables from pizza, some spinach ravioli that you tolerate, sweet potatoes in the sweet potato pancakes, and an occasional pasta dish with hidden veggies in the sauce. Oh, and ketchup of course.
• You still dance endlessly to the Waltz and Lindler on The Sound of Music and love to act out every move of the "So Long Farewell" scene on the stairs. You even lay down on the floor (on que) like Gretel at the end of the song.
• You have an amazingly good ear / voice. You are always on key and can hit high and low notes ... It sounds quite good really. You did NOT get that from your father or me.
• You LOVE all your friends. You talk about them constantly and anytime we get in the car you ask if we are going to one of their houses. It is usually, "Logan's house?" and asked oh so sweetly in a totally cute question voice.
• We had the Cox Family over for dinner a few weeks ago and you glammed on to the handsome 6 and 8 year old boys and wouldn't stop hugging them. When they left, you screamed at the door as they drove away, "MORE KISSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
• Your father might not let you out of the house - ever - after that one.
• You are loving the entire ski experience. You love the gear, the skiing, the "scene" and the hot chocolate. You are a natural.
• Your new favorite activity is "driving." We let you play around in the car (with keys out and it turned off of course). You wave, mess with every button and even mimic me (perfectly) by pulling down the vanity mirror and pretending to wipe under your eyes. I never realized that I do the EXACT same thing each time I look in the mirror until you started mocking me.
• You are in a "big girl" bed now. Well, it's your crib mattress on the floor - more like a "mat," but you love it. You crawl into it all by yourself, ask for "night night" and your "too-bies" (lullabies) and you are down by 7 and up around 6. At 6 you open your door and come quietly to our bed and snuggle and doze back off again for about an hour - the best hour of my day. When you are done sleeping and you want us up you say "all done" every single time and start crawling over us and repeating "all done" until we are up. Who needs an alarm clock or parrot - you are both!
• You are in a bit of a needy phase in terms of being held. You have days or parts of the day when you are attached to my leg or standing on my feet, whining, until I pick you up. You repeat "momma, hold you" until I do it.
• You still love to: color, chase the dogs around, play with your legos, stuffed animals, guitar, My Little Ponies, dress up in beads and silly hats, explore the yard, go for walks, pretend to type on a computer, play with flashcards, watch videos of yourself, watch Charlotte's Web, and generally roam about the house singing, or talking to yourself or bossing the dogs.
• You LOVE to help me with whatever I am doing - mopping, organizing, vacuuming, folding laundry, emptying the dishwasher... You mimic it very well and make house chores MUCH more fun.
• You are SO sweet. You LOVE to give kisses, say "I Love you" all the time - prompted or not, you always ask where daddy is if he is gone or at work. You keep close tabs on the dogs and their needs and wants, you share very well for the most part, and love, love, love other babies.
• You love to run, but look so ridiculous when you do. You are so enthusiastic about EVERYTHING you do. It's always exciting, funny and the greatest thing you have ever done.
• You love to "pretend surprise." You make up things that are going on like "a bunny in the yard" so you can open your eyes big, open your mouth and yell excitedly. You pretend there are bunnies, deer, dogs, and horses in the yard - all the time!
• I keep a step stool at the window so you can look out yourself.
• We have a pretend bunny in the yard and you like to feed it carrots and always pretend like you see it in the bushes.
• You are my heart little gal. You win me over every single day and your dad and I wish that it were morning as soon as we lay you down to sleep. We hate having to wait 8 hours until you make us laugh again.

A few of my favorite things

Matine's very favorite thing right now is "The Sound of Music" movie, or as I call it "coo coo moogie."   For those of you who haven't memorized the entire score and script of the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit, "coo coo" refers to the song the seven VonTrapp kids sing on the stairs of their home, "there's a sad little clanging from the clock in the hall and the bells in the steeple too, and up in the nursery and absurd little bird, is popping out to say COO COO!" 

Let me just say - Matine has memorized this entire movie in the 3 times she has seen it's bits and pieces.  From the dance moves, the lyrics, and even the gloves and fancy dresses the ladies wear in the ballroom dancing scenes, she has tried to recreate the movie in it's entirity for the last week.  Instead of saying "goodbye" or "goodnight."   We now SING "goooodd  byyyyeeee," just as in the movie or say "coo coo" is now chirped as I lay her down to sleep."  She demands us to ballroom dance with her WHILE WEARING GLOVES in the living room and her t-shirts have turned into dresses that can be held and twirled as she spins around a room.  Do Re Mi is sung under her breath most of the day and I can't describe how cute her little voice is when she sings "the sun to bed"  (the sun has gone to bed and so must I) while simutaneously laying her head on her clasped hands and pretending to sleep, just like Gretel in the movie. 

She is absolutely angelic right now.  Me, Peter,  Nona and Jim Pa are in tears DAILY right now watching this sweet little girl get wrapped up in this beautiful little land of musical imagination.  Her dancing and singing these these days would make a hardened criminal weep. 

Since we are all balls of tears and being made to dance with her during these moments, it's been hard to capture it on film (but I will eventually).  Some more of her "Favorite Things" right now, besides whiskers on kittens ,bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens are:

I love any place where my Nana, Nona or Jim Pa is ... here we are watching a horse sale at the Winter Fair - FUN!

I LOVE little animals, big animals, especially "Goats!"

Oh and bunny rabbits!

I love getting to wear fun things ... and wearing my "backpack," and visiting Nona when she works at the Obsidian.  I nearly always end up leaving with a new "puppy."  This spotted puppy rounds out my collection ... for  now.

Cake.  I love all cakes, any color, any kind.  Breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Mom even lights candles for me and I get to sing "happy birthday" everytime I eat cake.  I pick one of my friends names each time I sing and sing to them!

I adore my friend William right now, and with eyes like that... why wouldn't I!  "Wiwam, Ogan, and Ia" (William, Logan and Sophia) are always on my mind.

Oh, and horsies ... our horses, miniature ponies, random ones as we drive down the road. I notice and love them ALL!



Livingston.  I love my "home."



Parties.  I love parties of any kind. Gatherings of any kind with my kid friends.  I get really wound up and excited when people are around. FUN!



My little animals.  I mother and care for these guys like you wouldn't believe. I hold them, feed them, talk to them and carry them eveywhere.  For some reason, the "piiig" is extra special.

These are a few of my FAVORITE THINGS!

18-Months and "thriving!"

Well little girl,

You are officially 1.5 years old!  We had your 18 month check up today and Dr. Coleman broke my heart by informing me that you are "not a baby anymore!"  The wails could be heard round the world!  After my crying subsided, we found out that are:

• 24.9 pounds and do NOT like being stripped down in a hallway and laid on a cold scale with scratchy paper on it.  
• You are 31 inches tall. 
• You loved hamming it up with the nurses and doctors 
• You showed off your "advanced" (Doctor's words not mine) verbal skills by constantly chattering and attempting to repeat every word Dr. Coleman would (try) to say.
• You were oohed and ahhed over because of your outfit and "pretty face" today.  
• You looked darling in your polka dot tights, houndstooth shorts, frog wellie boots, and cowl neck sweater.  Cuteness. 
• We were told to not even try to keep you in a high chair to eat a  meal.  "Let her graze" during the day and offer a nice variety of healthy choices.  
• "Table manners" don't really need to be pushed too hard until 4 years (says the Doctor).  All I have to say is, "THANK GOD!  I have felt very sub-par as a parent lately with meal times. 
• You happily grinned to show the good Doctor all 4 (almost 6) of your teeth.  
• You enjoyed giving and asking for "high fives" from the two nurses that then quickly held you down for your shots.  We could tell you felt very betrayed by their pre-torture friendliness.
• You only cried as long as it took us to get your clothes back on.  You are SO brave.  Always have been. 
• The words you say on a regular basis:  puppy, kitty, toast, candy, daddy, mom, momma, baby, Nano (for Nona), animals, truck, eat, teeth, brush, up, all done, water, milk, nanas (banana), apple, chiz (cheese), alk (walk), elk, tv, atch (watch), shhh - sleep, nap, oh wow, wowee, jaclin (jacqueline), amy, cash, josh, micca, Nana, i love you, ook (book), sit down, buuurd (bird), bunny, bugs, fly, fower (flower), hay (as in "horses eat hay"), thank you, peeez (please), welcome, snack, urse (purse), hot tub, bath, bubbles, hat, shooooz (shoes), shirt, pants, socks, booots, sunnies (sunglasses), fish, boat, hurse, Olie Olie Olie (your call for just about every horse you see), rocks, box, beans, hot tea, coffee, cup, more nanneee (not sure what this means but you say it for anything you want more of), nurse, night night, Olver , Gaucho, Gauch, Brutie, Tana (for Montana), Ully (Sully), Isla, tractor, bike ride, bye bye, hhiiiiieeeee (hi), uh oh, tree, ance (dance), usic (music), pay doh (play doh), huuussshhhhh .... I know there are more.
• Your "look" changes everyday.  I personally see a little of everyone in you.  
• Your head is so SQUARE ... not sure where this trait comes from, we think the Buell's.  
• You have your dad's gorgeous skin and his "general look" right now.
• There are times  you look a lot like your Nona Kerri and your Nana Jo.
• Your expressions and movements look very Cottongim to me - you are VERY enthusiastic and expressive.   Your serious face and profile can look a whole lot like your Uncle Clark.
• Your eyes are a light brown, sometimes green (Nana Jo, Uncle Clark, your dad)
• Your hair color and hair line look just like your dad's at the same age
• You still take a while to wake up in the morning.  You need about 20 minutes of  "nuggling" before you are ready to go.  You immediately ask for "toast" as soon as you feel like speaking.
• You love to sing songs, you like your own the best, but will try to pick up what others are singing too. 
• You dote and coddle your "babies" alot right now.  You spend hours a day swaddling, feeding, diapering and talking to them. 
• You take them on imaginary outtings and make them dance and play with you.
• You love to go to your room and crawl up in yoru little picnic table and play with your toys (bugs, blocks and read books)
• You MUST go outside for a couple hours each day.  You love it outside and you go straight to the door, find your shoes and try to open the door when you are ready.  
• Brushing your dogs is a favorite pastime these days.  They don't like it quite as much. 
• You still love watching elk videos and now you like to see other "animals" and are quite entertained with (this morning) mayfly mating, hippos, alligators, and strange cats on YouTube. 
• You have been carrying around dad's elk bugle the last few days trying to make it make the same sounds as he can do.  You get it out when you watch your elk videos.  Pretty amazing. 
• You love the library story time and pretty much go CRAZY with excitement when any song is sung or book is read.  You stand up, clap furiously and yell "yyaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy" after EVERY pause in the action.  Hilarious.  
• You love to look at pictures of people - especially "daddy" and babies. 
• Yo u love, love love to laugh ... and you love even more to make people laugh
• You love to "jump" and it seems by the look on your face that you think you are flying at least 10 feet into the air.
• You like to count things.  I know you can't really count yet, but you will play with tiny objects and as you lay them out say "one, two, three" (but very slowly).  You also ask us to count "1, 2, 3" before you jump. 
• You would love it if Oliver and Gaucho would let you ride them... you try, but they run away.
• You still love your walks ... now you prefer to walk yourself and you love to stop and look at everything we pass and collect as many rocks as possible.
• When you hand us things, you say "here go" and thank you when it's in our hands -- reminding us to always be polite!
• You still try to hug your friends to death.  When other kids get around you love to make them feel welcome by patting their backs, standing very close, and hugging them. 
• You "talk" on phones ALL THE TIME. You pace around the house, holding it up to your ear just like mom and dad... You mumble and laugh and carry on full conversations ... it's frightening what a little mimic you are!

Darlin' - we adore you and all your sweetness.  I hope you know what a joy you have made our lives.  There really aren't words (as any parent understands).  Every moment with you is truly a gift, miracle and joy.  Thanks for being so good to us and allowing us to be in your wonderful little world.

xoxox - Momma

Dear 17 Month Old Bathing Beauty,

{ Matine is now nearly 18 months old and it's time for another letter... but, here's a review of what she was into until she was 17 months... CATCH UP MOM! }

Oh, the things you are up to these days

I wish I could jot down DAILY a new thing you do, say or imitate.  You are growing so fast and every minute of your life is just fascinating to me.  You seem to be constantly talking and narrating still, but now you are repeating most words verbatim and I find that I actually understand you now.  You communicate entire thoughts with such ease now.  With a combination of words, signs or actions, you can tell us what you are thinking, feeling and needing most of the time.

Hands down, your favorite thing is TOAST.  You ask me for toast every day, at every meal.  You look up with those big puppy-dog brown eyes and make the sign for toast with your hands and say "tosst."  Sometimes you even throw in a "mo" or "plez" with it.    It's adorable, and likely going to be what I remember the most about this age.

Apparently your Uncle Clark NEVER sat down in his highchair to eat and neither will you. You aren't the most consistent eater, but you manage to grow and stay healthy.  Some days, the high chair is merely a perch for you to play with forks or spoons, talk to us, or show off.  Other days, you eat up an entire plate... I have quit fretting over your nutrition --- I figure it all balances out.   Lately, you have enjoyed "quiche" and it is SO cute when you say it... Your lips get really pouty and "duck like" and with that little voice -- melt my heart!

You still love to be outside.  This morning, I had to take off your shirt after breakfast (of toast, eggs, and fig yogurt) because you were filthy, so all you were wearing was your spotted PJ bottoms.  Your crazy blond hair was all frizzy and uncombed and you found a plastic jug that I keep under the sink.  You were sitting on our back patio step, topless, frizzed out hair and you had a dog on each side of you.  They follow you around like you are a pied piper.  With the jug you were "pretend" pouring them water and talking to them with all the animation and intensity in the world.  You sit there, unaware that anyone is watching, just having the most peaceful conversation.  You look up, watch the birds, look at the sky and gently pet and rub your "puppies."   It's precious and it is such a glimpse into your gentle, sweet and peaceful little soul.

You still love your little animals and babies.  You point out animals in books, on the street, in the store, on the TV... You LOVE babies and make sure to tell me anytime you see "babeee" or "popppy."  You carry your baby around kissing it, rocking it, patting it on the head, laying it down to sleep.  I can't beleive how maternal you already are.  It makes me happy to think that a little brother or sister (someday, this isn't an announcement) will be a fun thing for you and you will make the very best Big Sister ever.
You still LOVE other kids, especially those that are a bit older than you, especially older girls.  You take to them immediately and dive right in to "play" with them.  Hide and seek, dolls, pushing things, running around, rocking in chairs, puzzles, or coloring - you mimic what you see and look at them with such adoration and amazement.  You are a friend to all and never hesitate to try to make a new friend - young or old.

You are very smart and we don't' have to tell you things more than once before you understand it or get it.  If we tell you not to touch the coffee mug on the table, you will walk up to it, stick your hand out (but not touch it) and shake your hand and say "no, hot."  You don't even test it.  You just remember and very matter of factly, repeat "no, hot" to it the next time you pass.  You do this with the Jim Pa's computer or certain things in the house that you aren't supposed to get into.   We have hardly had to childproof anything.  We just tell you not to mess with something, and you don't.  Amazing!   You do like to test me with standing in your high chair however.  You give me the MOST mischievous look (it's a smirk) and make your eyes really big and wait for me to tell you to sit down.  You then look at me and say, "no sit!"  And of course, you don't sit.   I have already lost that battle I am quite sure.  But, you are pretty well behaved as you stand and eat and I am just letting that one go...


You LOVE LOVE LOVE your JimPa and Nona.   You have started saying "NaNo" for mom... She just marvels at you and you have no idea how loved you are little girl.  They both sit around just watching your every sound and move and think that you might just be the only baby on the Planet that can do the things you do... at least, you do them the best!

At their house, they have a big cloth cooler-box that has a layer of dried beans in it.  It's the perfect size for you to crawl in and hang out.  You love to shut the flap on top and pop out.  You have a cup in it and you fill it up with beans, dump them, play with them ... It is seriously HOURS of entertainment this "bean box."  You will take yourself in the kitchen after playing with other things and just crawl in and play - all by yourself.   And like the sweet Grandpa he is, Jim sweeps up those beans and puts them back - over and over and over - never complaining that their entire house can be covered in lentils and kidney beans!  They let you be a kid, let you explore, and imagine... and you do!

You most recently got a Little Tikes car from them, one that is large enough to get in and motor around like the Flinstones.  You only go backwards in it, but that doesn't seem to concern you much, as you love to just "be" in it. You inspect and examine every inch of it, turning the wheel, the key, the horn, and opening and shutting the doors.  You just get in and out of it over and over for hours!

The library is a new fun activity.  Since you are not consistently taking 2 naps a day now, we have a bit more time to get out and about during the day.  Twice now you have gone to the library.  We go downstairs to the kids section where there's a big play area and so many great books and toys.  You love to pull books off the shelves, look at them and then move on.  We have picked out books for you to bring home and you love to read them.  You think it's very fun to take them back to the library and drop them off in the book drop hole.

Your favorite books these days are books with real pictures of wildlife.  You love to see elk, bear, wolves, moose, and birds.  You make noises for them and very closely examine them.  You also watch YouTube videos of elk bugling.  You mimic a cow call so well and will randomly make the elk call when you see an elk in a book, a toy, along the road, on a shirt ... anytime really.  This makes us laugh and realize, you really are a Montana Girl.  Your daddy is oh, so proud!


You do a lot of reading to yourself and talking yourself through your books.  You will even laugh at the high points of the story and thumb through bigger grown up books like an adult.  Your favorites are The Big Red Barn, Goodnight Moon, Three Little Pigs, Little Red Hen, your wildlife books, "Blue Hat, Green Hat, Oops!", Richard Scarry's Best Story Book Ever (anything from it),  Dr Seuss books, Wee Little Lamb, the Belly Button Book, and really just about anything.

I hope we have a nice long fall, because we have much more bike riding to do.  You LOVE to ride on the front of the bike in the "Wee Ride."  You will run to the bike and try to climb in before I can even get situated.  You ask to "bi ride" and you love your "hat" (Helmet) and never let us forget to put it on you immediately.   You squeal, talk and sing the entire time we ride and you just soak up everything. Pointing out "poppies" "kitties" "birds" and anything you see.  You now notice bodies of water (creeks, rivers, puddles) and get so excited for "wa wo" (water). 

Dancing - you are a dancer.... Anytime, anywhere, you can make up your own tune if you need music.  You are getting quite good now and will move your feet really fast, twirl, raise and lower your hands, just about anything now.   We occasionally catch "Dancing with the Stars" on tv and you LOVE to dance with them.  You even know when it's a slower waltz or a faster jive.  You grab your baby and will swing and twirl and hold it just like it were a dancing partner.  None of this was prompted by us - this is all you!

You love to see horses.  You heard your Nana Jo call the horses in one day (which you love to do with her) and she was yelling for our "Olie" horse.  She yells "Olie, Olie, Olie!"  - You know try to say Olie, Olie, Olie as fast as you can whenever you see a horse.  It's adorable.



You love to sing right now.  Hokey Pokey, "Bye Bye Baby" (an original that JimPa made up with you), Miss Mary Mack, Twinkle Twinkle, and other "unknown" tunes that you sing all day long.   You love to sing Happy Birthday and when you do, it's always "Happy Birthday to CASH!"  You really must have loved singing to your favorite cousin.  You also love the "Daughter" song by Loudon Wainright and get so excited when it comes on in the car.  Usually when you sing, you like to spin and twirl.  They seem to go hand in hand.  And when a song is over, you very enthusiastically clap, grin ear to ear, and yell, "yaaayyyyy!"  You still watch the Rodrigo and Gabriella guitar players on DVD and do "air guitar" with them. You bop your head, jam out and LOVE to watch and listen to their amazing acoustic guitars. 


You love your grandparents - all of them and it is so fun to see them all love you.  You freely give them kisses, hugs, snuggle with them, and can play endlessly for hours.  You are so lucky to have them around.

You wear size 18 month - 24 month clothes, are getting much leaner and taller, and wear size 4 diapers now.  You  still only have 4 teeth - to front uppers and two bottom, with a big gap in the top ones.  You still crinkle your nose (like me) when you laugh hard or smile big.  Your eyes juggle back and forth between a deep green and a light brown.  You have your dad's gorgeous dark olive skin and have never had a single blemish or bump on it.   You got your first scabbed knee last week and made a BIG deal of your "ouch."  Dare I introduce you to band-aids?  You still want your pacifier at night, naps and if you see it laying around the house.  You call it your "mam" (have no idea why).  You will take it out and come find me to hand it to me when you don't want it in your mouth.  I think that's funny.  You won't carelessly discard it like anything else, it must be placed in responsible hands so that it can be located when it's needed later!


















Kid, you are just sweet.  You are just funny.  You are just perfect.  You make us laugh every single day and you are just a joy to be around.  You are darling and we are so, so, so, lucky to be your parents. 

Love you to the moon,

Momma