Dear Siena – 21 & 22 Months Old

 

Dear Siena,

Hard to believe I was able to keep the streak alive for 20 months before I missed an update, but don’t worry – we’ll wrap two months into one! And you wouldn’t actually sit still for your photo so this one was the best I could get.

These last two months have been huge for two reasons: First, because you have a new cousin, “Baby Molllllly” as you call her, and you’re absolutely smitten. One of your favorite things to do is scroll through the Baby Molly iPhone shared album and watch videos that your Aunt Claire uploads. You’ve ever learned to swipe and navigate the iPhone pretty well thanks to this (I need to look into parental controls for my phone!).

Second, you started preschool two mornings per week, a transition that is taking some time to get used to, but that I know you’re going to love in the long run. The preschool is a home based school that is less than 10 minutes from our house. We already love it so much more than the daycare you were at when I worked full time – the teachers are so sweet, responsible and attentive and every day you come home with a really cool art project (and you exclaim “I made it!” which is adorable). The first week you did great – no crying at all when I dropped you off. But the second and third weeks were tough – you did not want me to go. You’re adjusting better now and seem really happy when I pick you up, so I think you’re going to love it in the long run.

Your communication skills continue to blow us away and you only speak in sentences now and are really good at telling us what you want. Your ability to remember names even after meeting someone just once is seriously impressive. You’re always asking “Where did mommy go?” when I leave a room and you are really observant – you’ll notice if things are broken and point them out,  you can tell when we’re about to leave and say “See you later!”, and you will ask things like “What are you looking for?” 

The best thing you said during these last two months, which was actually right after you turned 20 months, was “I love you, Mommy.” It made me cry, it was so sweet! It happened when I was putting you down for your nap. I sing a “My Little Sunshine” to you when I put you down and part of the song includes “I love you” which prompted you to say it. I melted!!! 

Some of your favorite things to do for fun is build forts, play a pretty basic version of hide and seek (maybe it’s more of peekaboo than anything else), help us cook, go to the beach (your dad takes you every Saturday while I go for my run), play with buckles (on anything that has a buckle), build towers out of blocks, go in your pool or play with the water table, and look at videos of Baby Molly (or yourself).

You still really love to read and one of your recent favorite books is “Give a Moose a Muffin.” In the story, the boy has to go to the store to get more muffin mix. We’re pretty sure this is why when we tell you that we’ve run out of something you tell us, “Go to the store and buy more!” The first time you said it we were pretty entertained! If only life were so easy. Another cute thing you say is when you jump off something and we catch you, you say “Good catch!”

Now that you can tell us exactly what you want, you also want us to do exactly what you want us to do. When what you want and what we want don’t align, there are battles, and sometimes/often, tears. We do our best to set boundaries and be patient, but it’s hard at times to deal with an irrational toddler. We know you’re just growing, testing and exploring, but you definitely test our patience. I had to admit I am thankful that you still take three hour naps!

At the end of June you stayed with your papa and grandma in Mariposa for four nights, two of which your dad and I were away. You did great and especially loved the swing that papa set up for you on their balcony. On the 4th of July, you and your dad ran a 10K race together and we spent the morning at the pool at Nana and Boo’s house. You really love the pool, though you have yet to put your head under the water.  

You continue to show an interest in potty training and even have asked to sit on the toilet without your diaper, but you haven’t gone yet. We are not in a rush to train you, so we’re just fine with the way things are now.

You’ve almost figured out how to crawl out of your crib. You’ve gotten to the point of laying across the rail but haven’t jumped over. You may be in your big kid bed soon enough! And just so I remember it, I wanted to add that your dad and I go into your room every single night before we go to bed and check on you. I stroke your hair and think how lucky I am to be your mom.

Love,

Mommy