Dear Lili,
Over the weekend you had another growth spurt. Some of them in your life have been subtle and others are so ‘in your face’ it’s like watching a flower grow in fast forward right before your very eyes. We spent a lovely, sunny, happy weekend on Long Island ringing in the first days of summer with family and good friends for Memorial Day weekend.
Something about this trip changed in you. You were a pure joy to travel with despite the ‘standing room only’ for most of the not so air-conditioned train trip. You have no longer been ‘snacking’ between meals and have really held out until actual meals for which you say loudly and quite present, “I’m hungry!” (PS – I’ve attempted this 100 million times before btw and it’s only now working). You ate an ENTIRE large piece of flounder cooked merely in olive oil and salt. Go you! As we know getting you to eat ANY protein is our biggest food challenge. You played nicely and happily by yourself. You were very easy going during transitions such as the morning of Memorial Day when I awoke at 7:52AM remembering there was a 8AM parade I wanted to take you to. Your eyes fluttered open and I was literally standing there over you in the dark, “Wanna go to a parade?”
I love you. I am so proud of you. And I honestly feel like you’ve spent the last two weeks and counting trying to ‘reassure’ me in some way that you are so very fine and excited by life and growing. Your timing is perfect as I couldn’t feel more reassured as I approach my new full-time job start date of June 20th. Thank you for being such a team player.
Over the weekend your Dad and I also shared a parental milestone as we watched you loop around a carnival ride (train caboose) on your own waving to us on the sidelines. Why this photo is sideways I have no idea but it’s 3:28AM and tech support is passed out on the couch asleep.
That little wave crushed me with cuteness every time you looped past us in your little shades. I even shed a small tear.
When you first got on the ride I must admit I had a pause letting you though the gates on your own. The carnival guy lead you over to the ride and I yelled out to him a little desperate sounding:
K: Want me to strap her in???
The carnival guy smiled back at me and said, “Lady, she’s good.”
And you were good. In fact you were great. I promise you Lili that I’ll fight the urge to want to forever strap you in. But I’m your mother. I’ll secretly always want to keep you near. And even if your future high school prom date thinks it’s lame… I plan to stand there by the stretch limo, tapping on the tinted glass…waving like a fool.
xo
