January...ish

Dear Bella,

What a fun month January was. I won't even try to pretend that I'm writing this letter on time.

Your language is a source of daily amusement and bewilderment. Half the time we don't even realize that we use an expression until it shows up in your vocabulary with body language to match. First you started with whatever. You spared no expense and dished it out with the eye roll and exasperated sigh. Lucky for me, all I had to do was ask you to say Okay, mommy instead and it has faded out of your vocabulary. That was a rough few weeks when daddy was around that attitude, though!

From there you moved on to try out a few of my choice swear words, which we were quick to replace for the sake of company. (whew.) Now you are stuck commenting on the obvious, which puts into light just how often we do that to you. We try to talk to you like we would talk to anyone else, but when you regurgitate our conversation back to us (since it is the only kind of conversation you know and you are trying so hard to engage us) it becomes apparent how different it still is.

You say with such pride to me, Did you make a *sandwich*, mama?? In the same way I say, Wow, Bella, are you drawing a snowman? (To which you reply, Yes I'm are!) We take interest in so many tiny things in your day and as adults we overlook our tiny successes. It's rather refreshing to have you here narrating the mundane with fresh excitement.

You learned what skin was this month. For some reason or another it came up, and now whenever you are itchy or get a bump, you shout, My skin!! Actually, you will go out of your way to find a reason to use that phrase...that and vamella. All you wanted was vamella milk and Cookies! With vammmmellla!

You're getting more independent every day. Your new favorite thing is to wash your hands all by yourself. The living room is always in some form of disarray between your colored pencils and your friends in various stages of dining and napping.

This was the first time that you really started to include miming in your pretend play. You set out imaginary feasts ( your friends are very well fed here) and when driving your car you make sure to strap your baby to your back and get out at least twice to get your keys and glasses before you can drive away.

You're taking quite the interest in Lia. You like to join her in her baby talk and translate for her. All it takes is a few moments together and you erupt into laughter. Or bath time screaming contests. Aren't acoustics wonderful?

Watching you enjoy life so much can't get much better than this. When you go anywhere you run with high steps. It's my favorite thing to watch in the world. All the better when you punctuate them with happy little leaps.

Sigh, these days are the best.

Love, mama