May 11, 2010
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Dear Aidyn-
It’s been a while since I’ve had time to write… this note may be a little short since I almost peeled my left middle finger nail halfway off last night… peeling an apple for you! It still hurts… I’m such a clutz. You got that gene too- sadly! I think you ran into the corner of the table 15 times in a span of about 3 hours. I give a lot of “tisses” to random body parts- but mostly to your head! Goodness.
A lot of things have happened lately- you went to your first movie last month. Alvin and the Chipmunks- The Squeakuel. We went with Shanna and Cooper- you did really well until about the last 30 minutes. You were so tired and started fussing just a little bit. I took lots of pictures- you got your own bag of popcorn and when the movie lights went down you gasped- “darrrrrk” “tv?” …then the loud intro started- you dropped your popcorn and clung to the armrests for dear life. It looked like you were getting ready to take off… I wish I’d had the video camera! It was hilarious… Cooper turned sideways and hugged the chair- so funny!
You are talking so much more now- In the last few days you’ve started speaking in sentences a lot- I would say about 50% of the time you speak, you string 3 or 4 words together. I can hardly believe it- I’m excited to have actual conversations with you. I don’t think it will be long before I can! At your 18 month checkup last month you weighed 23lbs (34th %) and were 33.3 inches tall (88th%). You have the build of a ballerina… and you certainly love to spin… but your biggest love is CHOCOLATE.
Goodness. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone love chocolate like you do. Your eyes get a little sparkle and you do this HUGE open mouthed smile whenever you think you’ll get some. It’s adorable. Most of the time, anyway. About a week ago I was changing your diaper (a particularly squishy one. took 5 wipes. ew. ) and you looked down and got that twinkle… ” chockkkk-wit!!!” “AHHHH no no n ono no no!!! That’s not chocolate!!!” Not so adorable at that moment. Thankfully your hands didn’t actually get far enough south to get the grossness on you. Ergo- I’ve decided we’re going to do a chocolate birthday party for you this year. Chocolate milk, cake, cookies, m&m’s… you get the idea. I think you will be SO excited. That’s one of your new favorite words now- “cited”. I love seeing you say that word… almost as much as “chock-wit”. Haha!
We drove down to visit Melanie on Saturday- I’ve pretty much decided I can’t take both you and Grae anywhere longer than 30 minutes by myself anymore. I don’t know that I would survive! On the way from Melanie’s to Nina’s, Grae woke up and started screaming to eat. You saw fit to scream ,”CUH-RYY-IN” over and over and OVER. For 45 minutes. Every time he’d fuss even the littlest bit- “cryyyyyyy-in!!!” I got stressed out for about the first 30 minutes… then just turned the radio up. I could still see you in the rear-view mirror shouting. “Cuhhhh-RYYYY-in!” As if I didn’t know. I couldn’t stop laughing after that…
I am going to register you for our church’s ELC (Early Learning Center) tomorrow morning. You’ll go 3 days a week starting this fall from about 8am-12pm. It will be good for you (and me!) especially since I will be going back to work shortly. I’ll have a set schedule working just Sunday nights. I won’t even have to miss you on Monday mornings while you’re gone ’cause I’ll be sleeping. You’re sleeping really well in your “big girl” bed too. Most days I just ask you for a squeeze and a kiss before I put you down for a nap. It usually takes you about 10-20 minutes rolling around to go to sleep, but you do it on your own! I still rock you a couple of times a week though. Sometimes because I want to, sometimes because you need me to… I still enjoy holding you in my arms when you’re snoring. You’re my baby… and you always will be.
I hope you enjoy reading these notes someday. I love writing these memories down- as much as I hope I’ll never forget them, I know I will. I want you to know how precious you are to me- You have such a big part of my heart and while I can’t wait to watch you grow up, it scares me. Even now- you’re starting to call me “mom” instead of “mommy”. I don’t think I could explain how I feel… like I’m mourning the fact that I’m losing you as my baby but rejoicing in the fact that you’re growing and changing so beautifully. How excited I am to see you grow and mature into the woman God has created you to be. It’s going to be so hard when you think you don’t need me anymore- I know I thought that about my mom… until I became a mom. I don’t think I’ll ever stop needing her. I hope you always want me to be a part of your life. But I hope more than anything that you grow up to be an independent and strong woman- completely rooted in the love of Jesus… and in mine. Neither one will ever change.
mommywell… so much for being short!!
Comments (1)
I love you, Joanna. You are a wonderful mom!