Letter to Miss Leyba: Month 19

Dear Miss Leyba,

You are growing by leaps and bounds every day. We understand almost everything that you say now and you are learning new words every day (the other day you started saying “pirate,” as in that delicious snack Pirate’s Booty not Arrr!).

You are so happy. Hysterical gigglying is a regular sound over here in our house.

At the same time, you do have your (daily) hysterical fits… usually when we need to come in from outside (regardless of whether we’ve been outside for an hour or four) or when it’s nap time (and you’d rather sing songs or name body parts in bed). We know this is normal behavior and try to just ride the wave and give you comfort when you’re done. We hear you, sweetie, we do. We just can’t do everything your way all the time. (SHOCKER!)

95% of the time you are smiley and happy. Mama is so thankful for this. Singing and dancing together is an every day activity. Your favorite song is “Sing!” though you love your Maracas Music Together cd (plus Raffi and Sharon, Lois and Bram music too). You frequently say “more!” when you want us to repeat a song (or “all done!” when the stereo has already jumped to the next song and you want to go back). Occasionally you say “again,” which we’ve been trying to encourage. You sing along with these cds and like to harmonize with us. We have so much fun together.

You are so loving and constantly give us kisses and hugs. You love to cuddle and hold hands… especially with your friends! Hand-holding and hugs during play time and kisses goodbye are playdate staples. (Sometimes your friends reciprocate and sometimes they just aren’t game; you are so kind and patient and loving regardless of their response.)

We are very social together: going to weekly playdates at the park, mama and baby yoga classes several times a week, and making regular playdates with your girl friends (especially Sadie and Matri, your special buds).

You love pretend play, especially when it involves reading aloud to us from your books or talking to friends on the phone (or calculator or computer mouse or shoe). We have several (non-functional) cell phones that are especially for you and you like to carry them around and bring on outings.

You think driving the car is simply divine.

Watering the garden is a regular activity that you adore. Occasionally you let me hold the hose with you. Most of the time I have to direct you about which plant needs more water (or less! You are so enthusiastic!). More often than not you “faux water” the garden with the hose turned off…. (more pretend play!)

You pretend to be a train (“Chug-a-chug-a-chug-a CHOO CHOO!” with hand motions!), like giving high fives, and playing patty-cake. You walk up and down the stairs on your own. You dress yourself every day. You love to keep me company in the kitchen while I cook and helping out (tearing greens, cutting cheese with a butter knife, pulling off the stems of cherry tomatoes or grapes).

You enjoy visiting with our neighbors, patting dogs and cats (“pat pat!”), and picking blackberries from the bushes on the street. We take walks up and down the street, sometimes with your tricycle, sometimes with your push cart, sometimes with an item you have latched on to (yesterday: sunscreen container). We like to blow dandelions or watch ants or open seed pods. You know where grapes grow wild by the street and insist we stop and pick some when we walk by.

When you want to go outside, you find and put on your shoes, pick out a hat, start putting on sunscreen and wait for me by the door. Sometimes you get impatient with me and come over to grab my hand; you then lead me to the door and say “Mama! Open door!” Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. We are so glad that you love being outside so much. You are our nature girl.

I could go on and on with stories about you… but I’ve written a lot and you are going to wake up from your nap any minute now (you’ve slept for over 2 hours already!).

I love you, peanut, so very much. You and Daddy are the loves of my life.

Love,
Mama