Dear Siena – 2 Years Old

Dear Siena,

You’re TWO! And this will be my last update on you (ok maybe we’ll do one when you’re 3). I know I say it every time I write one of these, but the time keeps flying and things just get more and more fun. I ended up deciding to publish this without the official photo because time keeps ticking and those photos are really hard to get these days. I’ll try to add it if we get one!

At your two year appointment we found out that you’re 35 1/3 inches tall, which puts you in the 90th percentile (previously you were always in 97%-99%) and you weigh only 26.2 pounds (42% percentile). Our little string bean! Makes a lot of sense because you’re incredibly active but don’t have a huge appetite.

You continue to amaze us with your communication skills (the doctor was impressed too!) and thanks to preschool you’re now reciting the entire alphabet and you can count to 10. You know several songs (10+) by heart and you have even started memorizing parts of your books (“Deep in the water where the fish hang out…”). You’re very observant and caring and even say “bless you!” when we sneeze and “are you ok?” when we cough. We are starting to be able to have conversations (“How was your day?”) and I am looking forward to the day when you tell us your first joke.

You caught on to the idea of birthdays a few months ago and are kind of obsessed with them. A few weeks before your birthday we started prepping you and telling you that it was almost your birthday and that you were going to be two (Still now when we ask how old you are, you say “I gonna be two.” Working on it.) 

You soaked in every minute of your birthday week, which started with a visit from Papa and Grandma (and presents). On your actual birthday the following week we started the day with balloons in your crib followed with bagels at Einstein’s and then you went to school. Your dad and I came to pick you up a little early and brought brownies and your class sang to you. That evening we took you to the pumpkin patch and you went on a few rides, played in the petting zoo with the goats, sheep, bunnies and chicken and picked out a pumpkin to take home! We plan to continue the pumpkin patch tradition for years to come. That Sunday evening we had Nana, Boo, Aunt Claire, Uncle Josh, Grandma and Asia over for a birthday dinner and you got to open a boatload of presents. Your favorite was the new doll that grandma got you along with a small high chair and bassinet for her. 

 

You’ve actually gotten MORE cuddling with age and say adorable things like “I need a hug.” You’re also getting a little more shy and sometimes when we go somewhere you cling to me and dig your head into my shoulder. This is very unlike you as you’ve always been super outgoing and social.

One of your new favorite games is Hide and Go Seek, although you pretty much always blow your own cover while hiding. You generally love anything that involves a fort or hiding. You like puzzles (we got some new ones this month), anything involving fish (Finding Dory is your favorite movie/show) or farm animals, and you love learning your letters (“M is for Mommy!”).

You no longer like me to sing “You are My Sunshine” and insist I sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” when putting you down for a nap or bed. While I sing it you put your fingers together into the shape of a star. Your dad still puts you down at night the majority of the time and your favorite song that he plays is “Someday” from the Hamilton musical soundtrack (you already do “blow us all away”!).

We moved into a new house this month and the transition was smooth. Most of the time when we leave the house you say “Bye bye new house!” It’s odd to think that you won’t even remember the home you spent your first two years in!

Siena, our lives are so much more full with you in them. Your smile lights up our hearts. We’re mesmerized by you and can’t wait to watch you grow and learn over the next year.

Love,

Mommy