Two Years Old

Dear Ella,

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! Like most two-year-olds, you have definite ideas about how things should be and protest loudly when they aren’t that way. You pick out all your own clothes and can even put most of them on by yourself. You love to wear my clothes -- especially my shoes. You stand on the chair at the kitchen sink to wash your hands and tell me “Ella’s a big girl.” You love to help me cook -- French Toast is your favorite thing to make. Your favorite activity is watching “movies” of yourself on the computer. And you love playing Hide and Seek. Your favorite books align=riare the ones on the high shelf – and in particular, my childhood copy of Blueberries for Sal.

But the biggest change by far is how much you’re talking. You narrate your life, as well as ours. “Mama’s checking email.” “Daddy’s ironing shirt.” And you’ll keep repeating it until we acknowledge that, “Yes, that IS mama’s nose.”

This second year has definitely been tougher than the first one. The tiredness of a new mom comes mainly from lack of sleep and the steep learning curve. The tiredness of a second-year mom is both emotional and physical. As I said, you’re becoming more independent with definite ideas of your own. From ski jackets in July to wearing no clothes at all and consistently removing your shoes right before we’re about to go out the door – to plain old pushing mom’s buttons. This job takes the patience of a saint. And the strength of a young Schwarzenegger. You’re 25 pounds (and 35 inches) of non-stop energy.

But this second year has been more fun too. You make us laugh. This morning, when your daddy asked you if you wanted one or two carrots, you told him “Seven.” You have a fake laugh you call “fake funny” and you can even let us know when you’re teasing. (Wonder who you got that from?) You told us your first joke this week with a smile on your face and in your eyes: “Ella eats dog food. Katy eats people food.”

You sing whole songs – “Make New Friends” and “Baa Baa Black Sheep” are your favorites – and even make up songs of your own. You’re learning your letters, E, K, M, D, S, B so far … and keep asking “What’s that?” about the others. Which is good, because you’re going to need a few more vowels to hold your own in Scrabble.

Love,
Mama