My sweet Noah bear~
It has been an exciting summer! Time seems to be going by at warp speed and I continue to have a hard time keeping up. I’ve been wanting to write to you for months now-- but like I’ve said before, the opportunities to sit and reflect and actually write anything of substance are few and far between these days. I want to remember every little thing you do and say, to record it and tell you all about it-- but it’s hard to chase you around with pen and paper (or camera) in hand. What I want more is to be really *present* while I am with you and it’s just really tough to do both. So, I’ve got some catching up to do... here goes.
You are two! (And there’s nothing “terrible” about it...) You are as sweet and silly and smart and fearless and snuggly as ever. You are still in constant motion until you fall asleep, and you’re talking like crazy. The complete sentences exploded and you are pretty darn clear with your needs and wishes. Months ago you learned to say “don’t want to”, and learned to make many sentences out of that. “Don’t want to, clean diaper”, “don’t want to, time for a rest”, and “don’t want to, oo-ee’s are taking a nap!” Tonight at dinner we were having burritos, which you usually love, but apparently you have changed your mind. “Don’t want to eat it, it’s not yummy, I don’t like it!” So you ate a slice of turkey and fruit salad instead. You also love to sing and dance and usually break into song on your own at least once a day. “Happy birthday to you”, “Everybody wants to be a cat”, “Do you wanna rock? Do you wanna rock right now?”, and now your current favorite: “Hakuna Matata.” Your dancing may include running in circles, head banging, jumping up and down, or the more traditional semi-squat move. Always, there is your huge smile and sparkling eyes.
You are incredibly agile. We finally gave up trying to keep you off of the big kids’ scooters because you were so determined. You prefer Mariah’s pink one with the handlebars pushed down, and you tip over a lot, but you get right back up. That seems to be a recurring theme with you-- you are constantly hurting yourself, but are almost always un-phased by it. Your Daddy and I marvel at how tough you are, and how quickly your body heals from its various insults. You love going to the playground and invariably run straight towards the tallest slide. Just lately you’ve started to exhibit a wee bit of extra caution, and for that I am grateful, and relieved! You don’t necessarily go straight down the slide-- you hesitate or stop and think it over-- but you do eventually go down by yourself.
You love your family as much as we love you. Often the first words out of your mouth when you wake up are “where’s Buh-why-uh?” or “where’s Bee-bi?” and the two of them continue to shower you with attention and play games with you. You’re very attached to both me and Daddy. You’ve had a lot more time with him lately than you have with me. I’ve been working a lot, and he has been the one taking care of you most days-- which is hard for both you and me, but great for you and him. Now when I start to get ready to go you ask, “you go to work, Mommy?” Sometimes you simply kiss me and say goodbye, but sometimes you protest, “I go to work, too!” or “Don’t want to, Mommy’s going to work!” It breaks my heart a little bit-- but I know our bonds are strong enough to take the separation. You’re still nursing and sleeping with us in our bed, and those things help a lot. And we do our best to make up for it at night and on the weekends-- and now on vacation-- by having quality, connected time and many adventures together.
We’ve squeezed a lot into this summer and I want to tell you all about it, but it’s the middle of the night and I must get myself back to bed so that I can greet you bright and early with hugs and kisses and oo-ee’s. I love you so much, sugarbear, and always will!
xoxo,
Mama
