23 Month Newsletter

Dear Rory -
Today I sat writing out the invitations to your 2nd birthday party, and it wasn't until I was halfway through them that I realized exactly what I was doing - WRITING OUT INVITATIONS TO YOUR SECOND BIRTHDAY PARTY! - Holy cow! Obviously I've been in complete denial over the fact that you are turning two, even though I've planned your party and have everything ready to go. Everything, that is, except ME.

I'M NOT READY.

But apparently what I think is not important, because the truth of the matter is that March 10th is coming quickly, and I'm going to have to come to terms with the fact that I will soon be the mother of a two year old child. A very fiesty, opinionated, fast-moving child, but a two year old, none the less. Oye.

But enough about me. Let's talk about YOU.

This month I can honestly say that I'm seeing your true personality come to life. There's no doubt that you know EXACTLY what you do and don't like - and you aren't afraid of expressing it - EVERY CHANCE YOU GET. Here are some examples:

- DISLIKE: Getting your diaper changed - My GOD, child, can't you just hold still for a second? I'm pretty sure that I'm one of the quickest diaper-changers on the planet right now, and it STILL isn't fast enough for you. And your displeasure comes with kicking. Which makes it one of Mama's least favorite things to do, too.

- DISLIKE: Drinking anything but apple juice - Repeat after me. "Hello. My Name is Rory, and I am a juice-aholic." It may only be 1/3 juice and 2/3 water, but heaven help me if I don't get the ratio EXACTLY RIGHT.

- DISLIKE: Being left in the church nursery - we're able to leave you with babysitters at home now (hurray!), but we have yet to conquer leaving you in child care on Sundays. Five weeks in counting and you are still crying as though we're leaving you FOREVER. I wish we could make you understand that Mama and Dada ALWAYS come back.

- LIKE: Dora the Explorer- Okay, so it's kind of the same show over and over again, but watching you sing along and wave your arms to the "I Did It" song at the end makes the repetitiveness worth it.

- LIKE: Eating - Apples, apple bars, apple juice (seeing a trend here?), not to mention whatever someone ELSE is eating. I haven't been able to eat anything lately without seeing your head pop up over the plate and hearing you say "Hey, Roro eat that!" or "Little Bite, Pleeeeeese!" No wonder I'm losing weight.

- LIKE: Going to Gymboree classes - Let me tell you, people, Gymboree may be pricey, but it's been worth every single penny. You absolutely LOVE it, and therefore, so do we! And you plays so hard while you're there that you nap for at least 2-3 hours afterwards, and that in itself is PRICELESS.

- LIKE: Music - Your love of music has absolutely exploded, and during a rare time when you're not rocking out on your guitar or banging on your drums, you are singing and dancing all over place. And I LOVE IT. Watching you shake your groove thing and wave your arms around makes your dad and I dizzy with pride and joy. It's truly one of the best things ever.



The other best thing ever is finally being able to put you down to sleep with a kiss and then walking out the door. No more sitting on the floor waiting for you to fall asleep, no more tip-toeing out while trying to avoid the creaks in the floor. We just say goodnight and LEAVE. And amazingly, you are OKAY WITH THAT. How this happened, I'm not sure, but why question a good thing, right?

Speaking of good things, have I mentioned how much I've been enjoying being your mama this month? You and I have spent A LOT of time together these last few weeks since Nana and Papa were out of town, and although it took some tinkering, we finally found our rhthymn together. It may have taken almost TWO YEARS, but I think we're starting to get the hang of this mother-son thing. And it's WONDERFUL.

Happy 23 months, little man.

Love,
Mama