23 Months, Mina

My fantastic first born child-

It is 90 minutes past your bedtime and you have been singing and kicking and talking nonstop. Just moments ago you started asking for water, and being a sucker, I relented. As I walked up to your crib,I noted you are not wearing pants. I put you to bed with pants on, my dear. I asked where they were and you showed me, they rest in a wad by your feet. As I go to put your pants back on you sing-song through grinning teeth "Don't forget the diaper!"

"Do you need to be changed?" I ask, thinking to myself that you are stalling.

You nod emphatically and upon further inspection I find that YES you do need a diaper change- I shake my head and smile to myself- This is yet another reminder that you are smarter every day.

You are so smart at this point that you can deceive, deny, and distract. The toddler triplicate of terror. You might might peek at me from over a chair and I can tell by the look in your eye that you have something you should not (a marker perhaps?) and when I inquire further you make a dash for the nearest exit. Or, I may ask you what you have in your hand and you will make a remark about something happening outside the window. You are sneaky, but also not good enough yet at hiding when you are doing something you should not be. I never grew out of this- ask your father.

In this last month you have started to become more of a "daddy's girl." This is a wonderful turn of events, but I would be lying if I said I was not a bit melancholy. For the first 22 months of your life, I was the one that could calm you the fastest- the one you looked to first if you were hurt or sad. Now Daddy is taking over that role and it is such a bittersweet moment. I love seeing you with him. I love the way he makes you laugh and the heart-meltingly sweet way you say "Daddy." I will never forget when you burst into our room and exclaimed "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!" I am pretty sure I saw his heart explode. This is the nature of things-But my heart still aches a little remembering the many nights we spent snuggling together until the wee hours. And when you said Mamma for the first time- Gosh that seems to be so recent. Anyhow- I am proud of the independence you are showing and indeed thankful that you have a father so willing to be excited and involved in your life.

That independence shows itself in many other ways as well~ You seem to wait until I am in the bathroom (and I am in there a LOT thanks to you little sister who likes to rest her weight directly on my bladder) and then you run into the kitchen.

You might start to "cook" some rice:

From 23 months

You might hide in a cabinet:

From 23 months

OR you might find a blue marker and run it across your face and exclaim to me that you are doing it because of Halloween (exactly how do you remember Halloween?)

From 23 months

Your imagination thrives in the kitchen- Which is why I hope to get you your very own little kitchen as a birthday gift. No ridiculous parties this year. I am taking it easy on myself. But I do look forward to the day you turn two.

How did you go from being a small, wiggly newborn to a force of nature that ignores what we say, and wants CHOCOLATE or STRAWBERRY EVERYTHING and can become like a sack of potatoes within seconds of being asked to do something simple like "put on your shoes." All of this fervor for living, and doing thing YOUR way, and exclaiming all things as "MINE!" How in the hell did we get here so fast?

I have so many stories I want to record, but you do something hilarious or mind boggling everyday- Each one is better than the last (to me, your highly biased mother). I don't have the ability to share them all, my brain just can't handle it.

So this month I will leave you with this quick story- one I am sure your father will tell for years to come. And for the record, he is a much better story teller than me. Forgive the clumsy reenactment.

We were listening to a Prairie Home Companion on NPR (old people radio) and they have a sound effects person who can make any number of amazing sounds with his mouth and body. (good sounds, NOT the sounds that come out of the bathroom when daddy shuts the door) On this particular night, they had a guest sound effect man competing with the regular sound effect man. Your dad happens to be a fan of this guy and has been following him for years-

Anyhow- they were competing, ie the host would suggest something ludicrous for them to immitate like "An air plane being driven by a gaggle of geese and an auctioneer" and the sound people would find a way to make that sound come to life (it is difficult to explain in print). We listened for a good couple of minutes, parked in the lot of the restaurant we were going to visit soon afterward. As the segment ended, your father turned off the car and from your little sweet mouth we hear "A COW.... MOOOOOOOOOOO"

You knew exactly what they were talking about on the radio and you even managed to come up with your own perfect sound effect. You are brilliant.

Your sister will be here in one month's time. I know your life is going to change, but I also know you are going to be an amazing big sister. And I can't wait to see that part.

Love you lots~

Mamma