KDUNK

Dear Lils,

Even though in a few short months you will be THREE (!!!!!!!) you still say you are 2.5yrs. I can’t believe it. My little baby.

Things you do now:

CHORES: You are WAY into chores. I made a chore chart I hung on your door and told you I’d give you a chore star sticker in blue/gold/green/red or silver every time you helped the family in some way. Chores include putting away your clean laundry, putting your dirty laundry in the hamper, dividing your laundry, putting books and toys away in your room, etc. I’m very proud of you for wanting to help! I really believe kids should value their ‘part’ in the family and get a true sense of contributing to what makes this family run.

EATING: You are hair more better at eating darling. PHEW. You sometimes say in the dark before bed that you want to try a ‘new food’ and rattle off things you’d like to try. Recently you said lettuce, corn, grill (ha) but not snails.

GETTING UP ON YOUR OWN: This one kills me. It still blows my mind you do this. How did you get so old? But in the morning you get up from your big girl bed, you take off your pjs, go potty, wipe, open lid of big potty and dump your ‘contents’ in there, flush and then run down the hall to wake us up. This first time it happened it felt like I was in a dream. I actually could not believe my own small child handles all this stuff on her own. This – mixed with a sense of fear that you were running around the apartment while we were dead to the world asleep. Good job Lils! We are so proud of you.

EMAILS: You love ‘typing’ emails. You dictate and I type. Today you sent one to Nanny asking her if she has a teapot and how is her blanket? Hey – whatever goes.

TALKING: You love talking to Dad and I and we love talking to you. Sometimes you sit on the stoop and lean back and say, “Mom, let’s talk.” Often I say sure and ask what you want to talk about and you usually say, “My school. Ask me some questions.”

SCHOOL: You say you hate school despite literally skipping your way there two mornings a week. Every time I pick you up you are SO EXCITED to tell me what you did for the day. I love seeing your happy little face each time and hearing and seeing the proof of everything you have been learning.

TEETH: You love brushing your teeth. We went to Dr. Mindy your dentist only once and yet we talk about her every tooth brushing. What Dr. Mindy would say about your brushing. The song Dr. Mindy sings about brushing your teeth. Here’s to hoping you have better teeth than your mother!!!

BOOKS: You continue to love reading but I rarely see you ‘reading’ on your own. Sometimes. You love to cuddle and read. You are asking funny questions now when we read. When a character is ‘off camera’ you ask where they are since you can’t ‘see’ them on the page. Sometimes you look long and hard at certain pages of story books and point to the scene and say with all sincerity, “Mom, can we go here some time?” I love reading with you. I just love it.

SLEEPING: For the first time in your life you sleep through the night. Wow. That only took close to THREE YEARS. THREE YEARS PEOPLE despite trying every thing in the book. Sleep deprivation has done some crazy, insane things to my body over these years. Black circles under eyes that won’t go away.  Bad eating habits because too tired to deal. Jittery nerves. Bad decision making and perspective askew. Hey, but it was all for a good cause, right? The amazing thing is I am slowly feeling my body being restored again I don’t even know how more to explain this. I’m afraid to say any more should I break the cycle of bliss!

We love you so much and can’t believe you will soon almost be three! When asked what your birthday theme should be you said, “Bubblegum and Hello Kitty napkins.” And so it begins…

xo