My darling,

You are officially a toddler in every way, even though I still call you my baby. You are walking and running everywhere and rarely take a break unless we are reading books or you’re watching your favorite Super Simple Songs on YouTube or Daniel Tiger (you love!).

Winter has taken it’s toll on us, but we’re trying to get out every day it’s remotely nice (and even some days when it’s not). We have found several places for great indoor play, including a gymnastics studio, where you love the trampolines and slides. It seems like every day you’re just a little bit bigger with just a few more abilities. It’s mid-March now and the weather continues to improve and your love for the outdoors is greater than I had originally thought, as you like to throw a tantrum every time I make you come inside. (Another tantrum? Diaper changes. They are the new bane of your existence.)

You’ve been an amazing sleeper your entire life and I’ve been noticing that you’ve been playing around in your crib lately for your naps. Happily. Just not sleeping. So I think it’s time to switch to one nap a day. So far it’s been going good, but, as with anything, it’s a transition. RIP, 2-naps-a-day.

You continue to love books and will find one and just demand it be read over and over and over for 2 weeks straight. Then you’ll gravitate towards another and do the same thing. We love that you love books and you love a good cuddle while reading too.

Technology is fascinating to you. We have to hide the remotes, iPads, phones, and anything with blinking lights. If you see my phone, but can’t have it, you break down in tears and go rest your head against a wall because you’re mad. It’s like you put yourself in timeout, which is funny because we haven’t even introduced that concept yet. It makes me laugh (quietly so as not to encourage you…hah).

This age brings its challenges. You’re not yet talking so you are frustrated when you can’t communicate what you want to. Your brain is about 3x faster than your body (and yet, miraculously, sometimes the opposite is true too) and I can sense your frustration when you can’t do what you think you can or are trying to. And yet even through these challenges, this age is SO MUCH FUN. I can’t get enough of you. I can’t get enough of your silliness and your laughter. You get this last burst of energy in the evening right after bath and right before bed where you are so crazy and I just want to kiss you to pieces over it. I love how you sometimes need a cuddle and will come up to me and lay your head against my legs. I love how you carry books to us to read to you. I can be cooking in the kitchen and here you come, holding a book up with those pleading little eyes. So we just sit down right there, leaning back against the cabinets, and read. I love that as soon as the sound machine is turned on in your room, you come sit on my lap and lay your head on my chest, waiting for me to sing you a song before you fall asleep. I love how expressive you are and loud and babbling. You are the most delightful child.

I love so many things about you, my sweet, but it all comes down to this: I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you. It’s such a privilege to be your mama.

Love,

Mama