A Letter To My Girl

Dear Kaylee ~

As I write this, you're on your forth day of child care after five months of staying home with me. It's been a hard week...for both of us.

If I could pluck a star out of the sky and use whatever magic it holds, my dearest wish would be to be where you are. I miss being with you, watching you learn and discover new things. I miss going to play group and story time, watching you interact with other kids. I miss how you run to me for an after-nap hug, not wanting to spend another moment apart.

The worst part of my day is walking away as you cry and scramble to get to me. I feel like I'm abandoning you, and for that, I will always be sorry. I have to tell myself that this is part of life and that I have to do the very best for you. Right now, that means working while you are in child care.

I know that things will slowly get better and that our new schedule will become easier. For now, though, we'll just have to look forward to the weekends. For two days we will stay together and enjoy each other, bracing for another week ahead.

I love you. We will both get through this.

Momma

No Longer Stinted

This morning Kaylee got the stint removed from her left tear duct. The process was quick and painless for all involved. Kaylee barely grunted a little complain, and I think that was because we were holding her down. Hopefully, this will be the end of the eye troubles.

As we were leaving, the doctor told Kaylee that she got to choose a toy from the treasure chest because she was so brave. She picked a small plastic lion and said, "Kaylee Beth brave, lion brave too!" I freaking love my girl!

Family Pictures

Yesterday we dressed up and headed out with the goal of taking some decent family pictures. While we did end up with a few good shots, we also ended up with a lot of funny. The biggest reason we wanted family pictures was to have something to share with our grandparents. Grandparents tend to appreciate pictures in which you are smiling and looking at the camera. Here are my favorites...a little silly, artsy, and not really what a grandparent would enjoy (we did get a few of that variety, though).

Two Years Old

My lovely little girl ~

We celebrated your birthday just two days ago and I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that you are two. Every time I catch myself calling you Baby, Babyface or some other variation on the same I think that I need to stop. You are not a baby any longer. With all your independence and your knowledge and your spirit, you are becoming a little girl. A little girl who has her own ideas and questions about her world. A little girl who clings to her mommy a little bit less each passing day. I am moved by the absolute joy that you exude and feel so very grateful to be a witness to your unfolding life. Simply put, you amaze me. Every day.

I love you with everything I have.

Your Mommy

Winding Down and Baking

We are rapidly winding down Kaylee's second year. We're having a cake-and-ice-cream family birthday this weekend, and then the big event is next Wednesday. Tomorrow I begin baking all the yummy things I will make in celebration of my little lovey.

For Sunday, I'm making a pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, and there will be pumpkin muffins with raisins (a special treat for my raisin-lovin' girl) to share with her friends on Wednesday. (Can you tell that I'm totally loving the fact that Kaylee has a fall birthday?) For all the moments in between, there will be "Leaf-Shaped Christmas Tree Cookies".

That last one may sound confusing, but no matter the shape, I can't bring myself to think of sugar cookies (my grandma's recipe) as anything other than Christmas Tree Cookies. As early as I can remember, it was tradition for my grandma to make and decorate cookies with me to share for my birthday (in early December). I hope to carry on this tradition with Kaylee, only with fall leaf cookie cutters. There will be golden-colored frosting with orange and red sprinkles to give them the perfect fall look, but they will still be Christmas Tree Cookies to me.

23 Months

My Little Lovey ~

In just one month, we will be celebrating your birthday once again. I absolutely cannot believe how my helpless little baby has turned into this bright, independent, stunning little girl. You amaze me in so many ways every single day.

This month you finally straightened out the "L...M...N...O...P" portion of the alphabet. Before this, you were leaving out N and O for the sake of time and rhythm. Now, if we could just get you to say W instead of just "Double", you'd have it. You're also making serious headway with your counting. You're going up to 20 and only leaving one or two number out...usually 15 and 16.

Your big adventure this month was starting Tot Time at the library. We go every Tuesday evening for a 30-minute story time. I know that you really like it, but you're still being pretty shy about it. You never want to sing out loud with the other kids, but as soon as we hit the car, you're begging to sing the new songs you just learned. Silly girl. I have been so proud, though, of your behavior when we go. You sit on your little carpet square and listen to the stories and wait your turn to go up and participate.

This weekend, you got to go to a birthday party for one of your friends from childcare. It was so fun for us to watch you play with your friend, and it was nice for Daddy and me to get to talk to other parents, too. It was a fun evening and I'm so glad we went.

In the category of things that only a mommy would notice or care about, you got your first little freckle/mole this month. I noticed it on the left side of your back, and it just made me giggle. Your Daddy and I both have a lot of freckles and moles, so I knew that you wouldn't be keeping that flawless complexion forever. I'm so curious to watch these little changes in your appearance.

As always, you are just such a joy to us. We love you so much and can't wait to see all the things that your future holds.

Your Momma

22 Months

My Dear Little Love ~

Another month has come and gone while I sit and wonder where the time goes. You are just growing and changing so much it's hard to keep up with you. Here lately, I see you so much more as a little girl and less like a baby or toddler.

You continue to love singing, and this month you learned to sing Baa Baa Black Sheep (almost) on your own. There are a few parts that you need a little help with, but you're just so cute when you're singing it. You also learned to love Ring Around the Rosie this month. At school, you sing and play it with the big girls, but at home you love to play it with your babies. We have so much fun watching you.

Yesterday you informed me that you wanted to eat "my mommy's cereal" for breakfast rather than your customary oatmeal. We shared a bowl of Special K and you did so good with your spoon and barely made any mess. Today you got your very own bowl of Cheerios, and did just as well. You even picked up the bowl and drank the milk after the cereal was all gone. What a big girl!!! I suppose the next step is to let you start drinking out of cups without lids. I know that you'll do fine.

This week Daddy started school full-time and our schedule has changed a little bit. You've been eating a later dinner and staying up a little later at night, but you've been a little trooper. I have to admit, you're a little grumpy when we wake you up in the morning, but it doesn't last too long.

I hope you know that Daddy and I are both so so proud of you. You are a lovely little girl and it's just so much fun to watch you grow. We love you.

Your Momma