Dyar Girls Take On Their Parents Join A & K As They Grow

Dearest A,

You are 27 months old today!  It was this time last year you learned to walk, and look at you now – running, jumping, loving Little Gym… hard to believe.

There are so many things in my head I’m having trouble figuring out what to write – so I might just write it in categories, a switch from my normal letter to you.

Creativity: You are really showing a creative side as of late, changing words to songs, making up your own songs.  Its really adorable.  The other day, ‘Mary had a little pumpkin, little pumpkin, little pumpkin…’ – perfect for this time of year!  You also have ‘caught bugs’ – you saw us trying to catch a fruit fly by clapping at it and copy us and you always catch one according to you.  The flip side of your imagination is sometimes you make up things that scare you – somehow you saw a choo choo train out the front door that terrified you.  It was heartbreaking to see you so upset, and we couldn’t figure out why – I think it was something you imagined from maybe a car driving by?  Regardless, I enjoy seeing your creativity and imagination grow. 

Independence:  Boy, you sure got that from us.  I mean I’m glad you are independent but it does make for some difficult encounters these days.  We try to let you do what you can within reason – but we draw the line on some things.  For example, only mommy & daddy are allowed to pump the lotion, though you are allowed to apply it.  We had a full on tantrum from you since you weren’t allowed to pump it.  I get that you want to do everything yourself – I do.  We are the same way.  And someday, you will get to pump the lotion.  In the meantime you are doing great with putting on your shoes, picking out your hairbows or ponytail holders and sometimes even your outfit.  Lately you are obsessed with wearing skirts but we can sometimes distract you into other outfits. 

Big Sister:  You love giving baby K hugs & kisses – you are so sweet.  The funny thing is how you only want to play with her toys instead of your own – guess we don’t need to buy you anything new, just need to get out more old toys!  We got the bumbo out for K and you insist on sitting and getting stuck on a regular basis – its pretty funny.  You also now insist on being carried up and down the stairs – I think this is because K gets to be carried all the time.  You sometimes get a little jealous of the attention K gets, but really you are a great big sister and I can tell you really love your sister.

Music & More:  You love to sing & dance and seem to show good rhythm when clapping along with the Little Einsteins on Disney Channel.  You get that from me.  Trust me on that one.  I hope you will eventually be interested in learning a musical instrument, even if it doesn’t lead toward being a huge part of your life like it was for me.  I think just understanding and appreciating music is a gift and valuable part of life – and hopefully you will continue to love it.

Language:  Each day you get better at verbalizing your thoughts.  One of my favorite things you’ve said lately… you ran up to K who was asleep in her swing and said ‘Hey K.., whatcha doin?’.  So cute.  But you get complete sentences now, 6 and 7 words long.  You can sing your ABCs, multiple songs, count to 14 (Sometimes skipping 4 – 6) and really start telling us your wants & needs.  Sometimes it still sounds like you are speaking a foreign language, but we really are getting to understand you more and its very helpful in figuring out when you are upset. 

Misc:  You’ve started liking sweets finally – you were introduced to candy corn and pez and both are big hits… you didn’t eat the cupcakes we made together yet (shown in pictures below) but I think when Nonni asks you to eat one tomorrow for her bday you will.  You DID eat some of the batter (no raw egg obviously, since you are egg allergic), and liked that.     You are also still really slow at eating – and apparently its not just at home.  You are the slowest at school as well – often still at the table while other kids are off singing & playing…. guess eating slow isn’t a bad thing, its just a funny trait that we don’t know where you picked it up from. I think its that you have to tell us about everything multiple times (this pasta touched the table, this pasta touched the table….).  Its adorable and uniquely you.  Love you slowpoke.

There are so many other fun things but the list would go on & on…. here are a couple cute pictures from the last couple of days.

I loved making cupcakes together – our first special baking together memory.  I hope you remember it fondly.

Love,

Mom

Dear K,

Wow you are two months old already baby K.  Time really does fly by these days.  I love that you are becoming more aware and interactive with your surroundings.  Look at you posing so cute for the camera.  (Yes you will get used to it, your mom loves to take pictures).

You are doing so well.  You sleep 6 – 7 hours at night now in a bouncer in our room (plan is to move you to your room THIS weekend – big weekend!), and eat your 6 bottles a day like a champ – you still nap inbetween all your bottles for at least a little bit.  Considering you have reflux, you are very happy and laid back.  The medicines seem to work well for you, though due to your love of eating we need to increase it for your weight I think.  We are coming to a time when they will tell us you don’t need your apnea monitor anymore.  That’s going to be hard for us – we’ll have to gradually stop using it.  I still remember seeing you in the hospital that awful day, so tiny with so many medical things around you.  I no longer re-live it daily but I still re-live it a couple times a week so it might be awhile until I can go truly monitor free.  We’ve probably spoiled you a bit because of it – so enjoy!  Your sister was already in her room (at 3 weeks old I think) and made to go to sleep without any aid.  You get a bouncer in our room with vibration.  Well you did.  Now that you are 2 months old – we might have some tough love and you will actually be in your crib.  You are an independent spirit so I think you’ll do just fine.  It’s us I’m worried about.

You now love your bath time and try to eat the water.  We do dance parties most afternoon, listening to a playlist on my iPhone and just enjoying the day.  You like your tummy time or playmat time for a few minutes, but you perfer playing with mommy, daddy or sister.  A loves being a big sister and is constantly giving you hugs and kisses and she tries to be gentle – we are working on it.  Hopefully you survive her love. 

We tried the bumbo for the first time today since you seem so strong - you liked it the first time for a couple minutes but the second time you were tired and well – figured I’d capture that moment as well.  You don’t smile all the time afterall – just most of the time.

Below is one of my favorite perspectives – I love looking at my girls as I hold you in my arms… I never managed to capture it quite right in a photo with your sister but this one came out really good – this is a view I love.  Look at your little nose and eyelashes – just love it.

I had to also capture my Frankenstein baby!  Both you and your sister would hold your arms .. oddly… during naps.  Had to get a picture of it – its just too funny.  Your dad says I still sleep with my arms in funny positions so its something you got from me.

And just for fun, a side by side comparison of my two girls at two months of age… K you actually have more hair than A - she was losing hers pretty fast by this point.  And due to perspective you can’t tell but you are probably 1 – 2 lbs heavier since you started off bigger.  I think you can say that you two definitely look like sisters, but that you both really have such a wonderful and beautiful uniqueness that is your own as well.

Baby K – you have brought even more love into our lives.  We love being our family of four and are so blessed you are here with us. 

We love you,

Mom