Month Nineteen

This month has been full of milestones and just damn cute things that you've started doing, and I postponed writing this hoping that I'd remember them all, but I suppose the reality is, the longer I wait, the more I'll forget.

You have become amazingly adept at using a fork and spoon. The other day, I came downstairs while your Papa was feeding you and found you eating dry cereal with a fork. Not one of those plastic baby forks, but a real metal one, which is what you prefer, assumably (is that a word?) for the extra poking power. You've gotten in the habit of saying "aca" and slapping your hand against your highchair tray, indicating where you want your food so you can eat it yourself. Sometime I still get to feed you your oatmeal, but for the most part you eat independently, and don't miss too often unless it's something slippery, like corn out of a spoon.

You are eating better, but still mostly the basics: oatmeal, pasta, cereal, cheese and crackers. You do seem to eat more when we are out at other people's houses, like devouring the pozole at Tere's mom's place, and you're back in the habit of licking the dipping sauces, ranch dressing and ketchup, off of whatever we try to trick you into eating.

We went to your cousin's 5th birthday a couple weeks ago, and ever since you have been enthralled with the Happy Birthday song, you want Papa to sing it as you fall back asleep at 2am, when I nurse you after lunch, and you sang it to Jojo today after dinner. If your version, it's "Happy, happy, happy, happy....happy, happy" but so dang cute. And when it's over, you clap, like a gratified audience member, and say "mas" over and over until we are too sick of the song to sing anymore.

I thought we were rid of your binkie today, but I fear it's going to take a bit more effort on our part to get you to give it up. You don't ask for it unless you are going to sleep, but you will keep fussing in the middle of the night if you wake up and can't find one, so I've been sticking one in with you every night. I don't quite get the allure, you've chewed holes in all of them, so there is no suction going on, but maybe it's just a comfort issue now. We'll see... I don't see a whole lot of harm in letting you keep it a bit longer, as long as it's confined to sleep times.

Your Nonny bought you an easel for Christmas, and you have become quite the little artist in the last few weeks. When anyone comes to the house, you immediately want to show them how you can draw a picture, but if we try to draw with you, you grab the easel by one leg and pull it away. Or swat at our hands so we can't draw a picture, and color over our words with your scribbles. I can't wait until this summer when it is warm enough to get you outside finger painting. I can see the mess already, but I know you'll love it.

You're also down to one nap per day, every day. It's interesting, seeing your schedule change without any input from your Papa and I, but it's good too because we have a lot more time to go out tp shop, or go to the park, or visit with family and friends. And you love so much playing with other kids that even when you've been up for 6 hours, and we're way past your bedtime, you are still a joy to be around. We're hoping to bring you to the snow this year, though with Papa's new job it's iffy when that might happen.

The one complaint I have, is that you are super slow to warm up to certain people that you know, and I think people get a bit offended when you won't let them play with you. I don't fault you for it, I'm the same way, but my wish for you this month is that you develop a strong bond with your extended family, one that I never had, and that you learn that these people will be there for you whenever you need anything. You are so blessed to be loved by so many people.

This month has been rough for all of us, from the illnesses, to the scare with the kitty, Papa not having a job and the stresses of death and an unknown future, but you've been the glue holding us together, and I am so grateful every day when I see your beautiful face, you offer to share your cookie and you give me a big hug and a kiss. You are the most amazing, intelligent (I'm not the only one who says so!), loving, sweet girl I could ever imagine having. And every day I am reminded that I am so lucky to have you.

I love you,
Mommy