Dear Captain--month 24

Hi Sweetie,

You are TWO! I can't believe it. It has gone by so quickly. I remember thinking, when we brought you home, that if we could take you back to the hospital and drop you off until you stopped crying, that would be just great. I'm glad we didn't, but don't think that sometimes I don't want to take you somewhere and just drop you off for a while. I don't think that it would last long. I get at least one good laugh out of you daily. Yesterday, your Birthday, you were talking to me. I was washing off your face after having lunch (Sweet and Sour Chicken and Crab Rangoons) you told me "Just Relax". Now, I don't know that I use that phrase often, I'm sure every once in a while when someone here is being a little high-strung, it gets used, but to hear it coming out of your mouth just about had me rolling on the floor.

These days you have been growing up so much. You love looking at catalogs that we get in the mail. You sit and look at all the pictures and talk about what is going on in them. You are learning your colors. Orange is one that you have down. The others, well, they are kinda fuzzy. When we look at books and I ask you to point to something that is, say, red, you can do that, but when I ask you "What color is the ball?" Unless it is orange (and sometimes if it is purple), you really just spout off a color. You always get the idea, though, even if the answers are wrong. I'm amazed at how you figured it out so quickly. When asked "How many?" You always give us a number, too.

Your language skills are amazing. Even the doctor was impressed at how well you dictate what you say. The doctor was also impressed at how well you did during your appointment. When you got your finger pricked for blood draw, you said "Ow." and then sat patiently while they took your blood. Nothing more. You are pretty laid back that way. You don't let much phase you, unless it has something to do with your sister playing with something that you were possibly going to play with in the next, oh, three years. Then you get a little emotional.

You have added a few things to your bedtime routine. Other than the standard brush teeth, flouride, get dressed, say prayers, Glowy, Tiger, Blanket, you have added "Sweet dreams. I love you." Melt my heart, honestly.

You really enjoy having your Guppy around. In the mornings (most mornings, anyway) Guppy comes to your room and gets you out of your crib. You are living downstairs together. Then, you sit with Guppy on the bottom of the stairs and look out the picture window and watch the birds and the trains. It is darling and I'm glad that you have had this opportunity to spend some time with him. You are always right there, ready to greet him when he comes up the stairs, and you are always looking for him when you wake up from your nap. He will be leaving on Tuesday, and like a protective parent, I do not want you to have to say goodbye to someone you have grown to love.

You really enjoyed your birthday party. The cake was a big hit, as were the presents. It was so neat to watch all of your excitement. It was really sweet when you went to people and thanked them for the gifts they had given you as well. You are good with your manners like that. You say please, no thanks, thank you, you're welcome.

Your obsession with the outdoors has become, well, just that, an obsession. On your Birthday Party Day, we had a Pelican migration come through on the Mississippi River. You were in awe of these huge birds flying around and landing on the water. You watch them and watch them. You also watch the trains, semis, school buses, amulances, and pick-up trucks. You also can tell some birds apart. You know the difference between a pelican, a robin, a duck, and a goose. You really know your animals as well. It is amazing to listen to you go through some of your books and name everything that is in the whole book. I was amazed yesterday when you put together two puzzles from the library, without help, even though those were the first real puzzles that you had ever been exposed to. I can only hope that your fascination with learning continues the rest of your life. I also hope your excitement for life helps you through those inevitable tough times.

On your second birthday, you sang Happy Birthday to your sister. You are self-less that way and I don't know that you recognize yourself apart from her. This brings me to tears. You are such a good boy and I hope that we can look at you in fifteen years and know that you are still the same kid you always were... maybe with just a little more attitude.

We love you more today than yesterday,

Mommy

Dear Captain -- 23 Months

Dear Captain,
Hi Buddy, today is your 23 month Birthday. I am writing this to you from Gummie and Guppy's computer in California. This is the longest that I haven't been near you. I am sorry that I had to leave you guys, but I had to come out here to visit Gummie. She is not doing well and we are actually going to take her off of life support tomorrow morning. It pains me to have to tell you all of this, but Gummie is suffering and she is no longer responsive. She opens her eyes, moves her hands and shoulder, and lifts her eyebrows, but all of this is involuntary response. This trip was very important to me and I thank you guys for being understanding. Tonight I went and bought the cutest outfits for Easter on Sunday. They are matchy-matchy, but I will do it while I still can. I can't wait to see you in them.
You have been so sweet lately. You told me "Sweet Dreams" about two weeks ago when I layed you down in your bed. I just about cried. You have such an obsession with anything that moves these days. You watch every train that goes by and tell me what that train is doing ("making money", "slow down stop train", or "fast fast fast". You have seen a couple of helecopters around and are in love with them too. Your biggest physical milestone is the need to run. This means everywhere and with much abandon. You really don't care which way your legs are going and your arms go every which way. You really enjoy being outside now that it is warming up more. You run up and down the deck and cry when we drag you inside. You go go go from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep. That is, unless you are listening to the Beatle's Children's Album. You mellow and veg when we put that CD on. You especially like the songs "All You Need Is Love" and "Yellow Submarine". Comical.
You are a climber and push our limits all the time. You talk so much and most of it is funny, but some is not necessarily what we want to hear. You are into ownership right now and let everyone know when a toy is "Your name's".
You are so cute at church. You really get along well with Father and you interact with him even during service. You are so independent. You walked right up to the pew we normally sit in and sat right down. You were carrying a hymnal and walked halfway through the pew and climbed up. You just started paying more attention to the choir and director and have been conducting from your seat. You also sing, sometimes loudly, and sway when the choir is singing. It is adorable.
I love you so much and will see you in a couple of days.
Love,
Mommy

Dear Captain--month 22

Dear Captain,
I love you dearly, but yesterday you were very trying. You have come to realize that pushing my buttons is fun. You enjoy stealing things away from me and running as fast as you can. I realize you probably want attention, but I need my space too. You also steal things away from your little sister. I hope that this is just a phase, a way for you to assert your independence and let us know that you want our attention and our love. You have also taken to biting, hitting, pushing, and kicking. I really hope that this is just a phase. You have been learning so much lately. We have been working with you on reading. You really enjoy the Your Baby Can Read DVD Set. You wake up in the morning and after breakfast you ask to watch the "Baby DVD". You are still sleeping downstairs in the dark by yourself and we are so proud of you. You go downstairs willingly and just a couple weeks ago, you have started asking for help going up and down the stairs standing up. You hold our hands and use your short little legs to get you up and down. Just this morning you said "Thirsty. I'm thirsty. Drink milk please." What a big boy. You really enjoy being out and about. You love shopping and going out to eat. You like to look around at new surroundings and talk to new people. Sometimes you are shy, but you are quick to warm up. You enjoy going to church, about a month ago, probably right after I wrote your last letter, we went to church on a Saturday evening. You had a clear view of Father, and after everyone had bowed their heads for a prayer, you said (rather loudly) "Hi, Father." Father's face turned red and he said "Hi, Captain." and tried his hardest not to laugh. The whole church laughed. They all adore you and tend to pay more attention to you than to Father sometimes. You got your hair cut this week and you sat in the chair all by yourself and didn't make a fuss or wiggle too much or anything. You are such a big boy and are so independent. Your favorite food right now is Cottage Cheese and has been for quite some time. You would eat it at every meal if I would let you. You also love anything sweet. Last night when we got home from church, you were fascinated by the "White Moon" and kept looking up at the sky. So, after Dad took your sister in the house to put her to sleep, he shut off the outside lights and you and I stayed outside looking at the big sky and pointing to the moon and the stars. I can't wait to take you outside on a summer night and run around and catch fireflies and look at all the stars in the sky. It is snowing right now. You enjoy the snow. You love running around in it and eating it. You hate your boots as you can't walk very well in them, but it doesn't seem to bother you when you wear you leather soft-shoes around outside even when it is cold and they get wet. We are going to the circus tomorrow night. We can't wait to see how you react. I'm sure that you will be absolutely excited and observant. Maybe we'll even get you some cotton candy.
We love you more today than yesterday,
Mommy

Dear Captain--month 21

Dear Captain,
I would like to have started this months ago, but today is the day. You are 21 months old today and it is amazing to see how much you have changed and grown. You explore the world and learn and this is all so amazing for a parent to watch. Oh, to have the eyes of a child. We see how you change from day to day, but it is only when we look back when we realize how far you have come.
This past month you have been more and more active and more and more persistant. You are a little more moody than usual. I have a feeling that this is the beginning of your "terrible twos". You don't much care to share your toys or our attention, but your little sister still loves you. The two of you get along pretty well. She is not able to really defend herself yet and you steal toys from her, but pretty soon she'll be bigger than you and then the tables will be reversed. You have been very interested in sorting things and lining them up lately. You sorted all of the big rubber balls the other day and lined them up along the banister. Anytime someone moved them, you got defensive and cried and put them all back where they had been disturbed.
You are a tender heart. You love hugs and kisses and you give them out freely. Last night when Grumpa E came over, you called him over to your highchair so you could give him a hug and a kiss. You blew Gramma G a kiss yesterday and even told Auntie J that you loved her. You are great at developing relationships with people and have a real fondness for others. I believe you see the good in people. I hope that this never changes. I hope you are always able to bring out the good in others.
Yesterday we sorted your toys and you were disturbed by this. You would have preferred that they all stay where they were and you were nervous that they were going away. We will just be rotating them so that you are able to play with different toys daily. Today is block and ball day and you have been building towers up to 6 blocks tall. Then you take great joy in knocking them all down and giggling. However, if someone other than you knock the blocks down or if you knock them down before you are ready, you become upset.
We tried to potty train you a while back, but you just aren't ready quite yet. Lately, though, you have shown more interest and the other day you insisted on going on the potty and you immediately went tinkle. We are so excited that you are picking up on these things. Can't wait to have one less diaper to change.
You are also very helpful around the house. You help unload the dishes (even the ones that aren't clean), you help load and transfer the laundry, you even help pick up toys if it suits you. You help throw away garbage and you try and soothe Burbles when she is crying. You even soothe Nibble when he cries.
You talk really well too. You can repeat almost anything someone says. You sing songs. (Itsy Bitsy Spider, Amazing Grace, You are my Sunshine, Twinkle Twinkle, Raffi songs, Alleluia, Gloria... the list goes on and on.) You are able to count to ten and sing almost the entire alphabet without help. I find you very easy to understand even if someone else doesn't quite get what you are trying to say. It is the language of a mother and her child.
We moved you downstairs about a month ago and you are doing very well down there. You go to sleep at 6:30-7pm every night without a fight and wake up at about 7 in the morning. You nap only once a day for about an hour and a half. You have three things that must be with you when you sleep: Glowy, Tiger, and Blanket. When we put you in your crib, you are overjoyed to see these friends of yours.
You are a risk taker and enjoy walking the edge. You like to push the limits. If this continues, we may have to put you in a bubble. I fear you will be my bungee-jumper and sky-diver. You have no fear of heights, of people, of new experiences.
A couple of days ago you started spitting. Not a fan of this behavior, but I think it is just a stage. If we could only teach you to do this when we brush your teeth. You much like the taste of your fluoride-free toothpaste and swallow it as soon as the brush is in your mouth.
Like I said before, it is so neat to watch you change and grow. Your father and I sometimes watch you in amazement as you go about your daily work of being a child. The new things that you can find to do.
We love you more and more each day,
Mommy