Happy Birthday, Sela!

Dear Sela,

Can you really be 2 already? Man, time flies. It seems just yesterday you were throwing up after gagging on your first Cheerio. Now you will eat just about anything – including books, letters, and plastic toys. At least your appetite for real food, even healthy food, is pretty good most of the time. The only thing that frustrates me a little is when you don’t eat breakfast and want a snack an hour later. Argh.
Your physical development has been so very fun to watch. When you came home at 9 months old, you were not able to sit up by yourself yet. In November you started to walk, though, and now you are practically running and can jump a little bit. You also enjoy trying to copy your brother in all the things he does, like Tae Kwon Do. Really funny to hear your little “I-ya!”

As for talking, well, that is another fun bit. We have recently had you start putting you binkie in a drawer when you wake up from either bedtime or a nap. You are quite willing, which is really nice. But now that you don’t have an impediment in your mouth YOU DON’T SHUT UP! And I do love it. Even if I don’t honestly understand more than about a quarter of what you are saying. Some of the words you can use are brother, ‘eerio (cheerio), wa-er (water), ‘rapes (grapes), ‘Nette (for your friend Annette), Auva (for your friend Auva), gramma, papa, potty, and, of course, mommy and daddy.

You have been asking to use the potty, off and on, for the past few months. I am gearing up to hit the potty training full force soon. I need to do it before you get too stubborn, eh? If we can accomplish that task, maybe we can do some swimming lessons this summer, and maybe head to a gymnastics/tumbling class. We’ll have to see.

And little girl, you are very, very sweet and funny. You enjoy giving cuddles, have a terrific sense of humor, and have a very definite idea what you want and how you want it. Woe unto the person (usually me) who says no to you. Yikes! I am learning to have more patience when you throw the inevitable tantrum when you have been denied an object or action of your desire. I choose, instead, to delight in the times your very full personality shines.

We are blessed and grateful you have come into our lives. You are just an amazing and wonderful little girl. And remember that smile of yours will get you ever so much further than being a crank. Oh, wait, maybe I don’t want you to know you have that “weapon” at your disposal – I am just as likely as anyone to give you everything you ask for when you are sweet about it!

Love,

Mommy