Today is our 9th wedding anniversary. All this time and 2 kids later, Jens can still crack me up better than anyone. He’s a terrific husband, father, and life partner. He has a heart of gold and it still amazes me that after all this time he continues to love me the way he did when we were newlyweds. (Obviously I managed to hoodwink him somehow.)
I love you Babe, and I look forward to the next 9 years and beyond!
Dear Monkey-Pants,
Today, you turned 2 years old. And though you’re technically still a toddler, there is very little “toddle” about you.
You love to run. You chase your sister around the house and spin in circles until you fall over. You go romping up and down hills and climb the stairs without even holding on to anything.
You’re fast. Especially when making a beeline toward mischief. I’ve banned you from our bathroom but somehow you find your way in there to wreak havock at every opportunity. You cannot resist the kitchen cabinets - which, unfortunately, are ALL at your eye level.
You get an emmense amount of glee out of stealing things, usually your sister’s favorite toys. This morning it was my granola, which you acquired by bringing the bathroom stool into the kitchen and climbing up to steal the box off the counter. “I stole it! Mama’s gahnola!” you informed your father as you rushed into the living room, digging your little paws into the box.
Your vocabulary has improved by leaps and bounds in the last 4 months. You have your own way of phrasing things that makes it seem like English is your second language and has earned you the nickname “Little Yoda.” Your most frequent phrases include, “I drop it, my boppy” or “I stole it, Kaelin’s kitty,” or “I no like it, the beach.”
When you can’t quite express something that you want us to see, rather than your old method of (heaven help me) screaming at the top of your shrill little lungs, you now take our hand and lead us to it, saying “Come, I show you.”
The screaming hasn’t completely disappeared. You are very possessive of things, regardless of whether or not they’re actually yours, and frequently let loose a shrill shriek when you think Kaelin is encroaching on your property or not sharing her things to your satisfaction. “MINE” is a word you have learned very well and you use it often.
You’re still a good eater and will try nearly anything, then inform us whether “I like it” or “I no like it.” Your favorite food is bacon, and sometimes you get so happy about it that you break out into a dance. You also really love blueberries. You and your sister can down 2 cartons of blueberries in a single sitting.
You’re not a huge fan of the beach anymore. Ever since you were surprised by a wake wave a couple of months ago, you have been very anxious at the beach and want to turn around as soon as you can hear the water.
You have gotten noticeably better about boats though, and don’t seem to be bothered by the noise anymore.
You’re a total ham. You make silly faces and try your best to be a total goofball at every opportunity. A couple of days ago I was changing your diaper and asked you why you were (insert silly goofball antic that I can’t remember). You smiled at me and said “‘Cause I silly.”
Yes, son. That you are.
You love school. Perhaps it’s because you can be in the same class as Kaelin or maybe it’s because they have guinea pigs, but there was no adjustment period of prying you off my leg during drop-off. You love going and every time I pick you up you are happily busying yourself around the room.
I had prepared to write about your miraculous transition into (FINALLY!) sleeping through the night just before your 2nd birthday. We had 3 good nights in a row this week.
And then you were up about 6 times last night. So nevermind on that.
You have gotten very particular about how your blanket is placed at night. You insist on having the dark side facing upward - if it isn’t you complain, “Turn over” until we comply.
You have a sweet nature and are empathetic when other people get hurt. When Kaelin fell off the bed and cried the other day, you practically smothered her with attention and “What happen, Kae’n? What happen, Kae’n?” Sometimes you get in trouble for hitting or playing too rough, and when we scold you and tell you that what you did wasn’t nice, you immediately offer “Hugs nice, kisses nice” and give a sweet hug and kiss.
You thoroughly enjoyed your birthday today. Since we couldn’t go to Seldovia this weekend due to Daddo’s recent injury (more on that later), your Ana came to see you and you have thoroughly enjoyed having her around. After a low-key morning and a nap, we all went to the park where you swang, climbed, slid, and ran around until you could hardly stand up anymore.
Then we came home for some good grilled food, followed by cake and presents. You were a little unsure about the cake at first but warmed up to it pretty quickly. At least, you warmed up to the frosting. I don’t think you ever actually had any of the cake itself. You enjoyed opening all your gifts and took to the books immediately, pursuading your Ana to read them to you until your bedtime.
I am hopeful that tonight will turn out to be a good night for sleep after your big day. Goodness knows we could both use it.
Happy Birthday, my little man. You find new ways to make me smile each day, and I look forward to the next year with you.
Love,
Mama
In the past, the idea of having the kids home all day every day sent me into a mild panic attack. I dreaded summer “vacation” when there was no dependable schedule and the kids had to rely on me for their entertainment day in and day out.
I realize that a lot of mothers enjoy summer vacation and relish the time they can spend with their children. And don’t get me wrong, my kids are awesome. But I simply do not possess the ability to play toddler games for hours on end, and I don’t have the mental capacity to read the same 10-word book 2,378 times in a row without going completely bats__t.
Taking the kids to the mall play area wears me out and raises my blood pressure because they’re both running in opposite directions and weaving in and out of other people and Where’s Koren, he was just here, OMG SOMEBODY RAN OFF WITH MY BAAAAAAYBEEEEE OH WAIT THERE HE IS TRYING TO DO A BACK FLIP OFF THE TOP OF THE 5’ BUGS BUNNY.
Besides the mall, the summer entertainment options in Texas are basically swimming or playing at an indoor facility (which, I might add, always costs money). Both tend to get old after about the 15th time.
So with that in mind, I was equally dreading the waiting period after we moved here, knowing that the kids would have no friends, no school, no babysitters, and no schedule until we could work our way up the wait-list for the local early learning center.
...The kids started school yesterday. And it totally snuck* up on me.
It seems that we’re just so busy here that I didn’t even notice the 2 months of No! Schedule! going by. That, and the kids have gotten surprisingly good at entertaining themselves for longer stretches of time. Kaelin is always coming up with some creative pretend game and Koren is all too happy to play along. He’s also been taking really good naps - 2½ to 3-hour naps are pretty normal.
The kids loved school. Koren clung to me for a few minutes until they gave him a carrot and told him he could feed the guinea pigs. Then Mama was old news. I didn’t even get a goodbye.
Kaelin got to go down to the harbor on a field trip and tour a “big boat with a gun.” Koren got to do some gardening, and earned himself the nickname “Mr. O.K.” (apparently he was very agreeable). When I came to pick them up after lunch, Koren had the full attention of one of the teachers and was bringing her one book after another to read. Kaelin was socializing with the other teachers and kids in the class. She made two friends, named Hope and Elsa. When they came home, both kids took really long naps.
I believe they are looking forward to going back tomorrow.
*Yes, I KNOW the grammatically correct term is “sneaked” but that sounds retarded and I refuse to use it.
This demonstration brought to you by Macaroni, the color Purple, and the letter K.
