Another Month of Bella

Dear Bella,

Okay, so let the crazy times begin. Let's just say that this new schedule we're on might be wearing us a bit thin. You're sick of seeing me 24-7, I'm sick of being cooped up with kids week after week, and we're all sick of being sick. The weather is not helping us recover one little bit.

You actually had your worst illness to date this month. You and Lia were back and forth puking then happy every other day until finally you spiked a fever of 104 on the holiday weekend and you got your first trip to the ER and your first round of antibiotics for a craptastic ear infection.

You were such a trooper with the hours of waiting and the doctors. I could go on for days about stupid medical rules in this country, but I'll spare you because at least now we know how big you are: 37" and 28lb. Next time it will just be easier if we measure you ourselves. :0)

You're learning in giant leaps and bounds now. It's so much fun to watch, and I really need to get my butt in gear and organize school time each day. You can draw for ages (now you draw arms and legs on your smiley snowmen - people!)

You can't possibly learn enough to fill your brain each day. Right now you've mastered concepts like big and little and are working on soft and hard. Your days are spent mothering and doting upon your friends, making sure they are well read and well fed at all times. At night I often find stuffies already snoozing on my pillow for the night. You might not nap, but they sure do.

Grandma came for a surprise visit and you wanted song after song.

What song would you like, Bella? A new song!

She's good at that stuff.

Your responses crack us up every day. Instead of yeah, you reply with a long contemplative Yeyyys. Sometimes you really just want to say No! (because it's your right) so you say, No! ...But yes.

And the sibling shenanigans have begun. You like to tell Lillia when she's in the wrong by shouting, Nonono, Lia! Your mom said no! You have started shoving her when she gets to close (much to her shrieking dismay) and if I leave you alone for more than a minute I often return to Lia's cries because once again you have her in a hug headlock or you are trying to ride her.

Your current favorite things? My new kimper, the ipad (drawing with no mess ....and videos at bedtime!!), and staying in your jammies all day long. I suppose there are quite a few benefits to getting very sick.

What else is there to say? You're quickly approaching three in all the attitude it brings. This month has been countless sleep struggles with you being sick, and you have now started peeking at bedtime in defiance of the bedtime authorities. That's a pretty good metaphor for the entire month. Three is on its way (well, in real time it's already here, but shhhh, don't tell this post) and I have a feeling it will be a new level of adventure.

Love,

mama

P.S. Where would I be today without my attitude? As hard as you can be to live with, I wouldn't dream of any other personality for you.

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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

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Let's pretend it's january

Dear Bella,

I have to say this month has been downright enjoyable. Something clicked in you when grandma and grandpa visited. You got a new bed over Christmas and the nights have been heavenly ever since. Sure you still wake up a fair amount and throw the occasional tantrum, but bedtime is now just another part of the day, something you're learning to enjoy.





You've had a rough time with daddy's new schedule and miss him dearly. When he's home, you will take no substitutes. You look forward to pancake mornings more than anything ( who wouldn't?). Someday I will get to take over some of the work for him so you won't have to miss him so terribly.





Thanks to a Tinkerbell movie from Grandma, you are thoroughly addicted to fairies now. It's something I can indulge in since fairies belong in the real magic of nature. I have no problem helping you explore their world one little plant at a time. In fact, I have started planning an epic fairy birthday party for you (though you should know by now how little experience I have in planning such things). But there, I've said it. Now I have to follow through.







You got another haircut from me! It's coming in fast now and turning brown in the dark winter days. How I'll miss your cornsilk hair. That seems so vain, and I have so many photos of it, but it's just another reminder of how quickly you are growing into a person all of your own. I can't believe three is right around the corner.



You have always been a child whose actions are completely dictated by your emotions. It is my mission in life to make sure you learn to live with them and understand them and keep them passionate because they can change the world some day. This month you are starting to realize the effect you can have on people and how to use your super powers for good. You ask me to put Lia in your line of sight so she can laugh at you while you jump on the bed.



Even though it's not our practice to say Good Job in the house, you have picked it up from friends and make sure to tell me when I'm do a good job drawing with you or cooking dinner. You can always tell when I've done something that makes me proud.



Likewise, you know when I am too deep in a funk to pull myself out (it is so very hard being a grownup sometimes) and you offer me kisses until I finally relent.

Are you happy now?

Not yet, I reply..

I try to be honest. You need to know that it takes effort to live with strong emotions.

You persevere with a tiny hug or a kiss on the knee until I give in and gratefully scoop you up. When it's over I'm never really sure why I tried to resist your antidote in the first place.



I love every little bit of you so much. You are my happiness.

Love, mama

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