Monday, December 27, 2010

two




Dear Adeline,

Two years ago, you came into our world on a cool, gray afternoon. Or should I say, we (your father and I) came into your world. A world we could not have imagined prior to it happening. Sure, we pictured the sleepless nights and a faceless you filling the little onesies we folded into your drawers, but never could we have guessed what your laugh would sound like when we tickled you, or how it would feel the first time you clasped your hands behind our necks and proclaimed, "I love you."

The leap from one to two was at times unnoticeable--so gradual your development appeared because I would see you every day...that is, until I looked at you one day as you sat in your chair eating yogurt you requested with a spoon like a normal human being, and I marveled at how just a few months ago, I was washing most of that yogurt out of your hair after every breakfast. Or how at fourteen months, you were still wobbly, learning how to balance, shuffle, and scoot along on your feet for the first time, and now you run full tilt down a sidewalk with your arms swinging along your side. How you've taught yourself to bend your knees and jump, something I never realized was a learned skill. You love to hop around, especially on the bed while holding my hands for extra leverage...I even made up a song for you that I hope you'll remember when you're older.

"I'm a little bunny, I'm a little bunny, I'm a little bunny, and my name is Addieeeeeeeeee. And I like. to. HOP, HOP, HOP, HOP, HOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPP."

(Yes, mom's songwriting skills are not the greatest, but she made it up on the spot so give her some credit.)

You are such a chatterbox. Most of the time I can understand your toddlerese, acting as an interpreter to everyone else when you speak to them.



You ask to wear your Halloween costumes. You remind me to give you gummy vitamins. You tell Zoe to get the toy you threw at her head. You LOVE to sing...your current repertoire includes, "Twinkle, twinkle", "Itsy-Bitsy Spider", "Row Your Boat", "ABC's", and of course, the ever-monotonous, never-ending classic, "Old McDonald Had a Farm".

"...and on his farm he had a...?"

"A SEA OTTER!"

Speaking of which, you are also obsessed with animals. Especially animals that live in the ocean. It's a good thing we have a membership to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and how much do I love that you want to read my book about Sharks every day...not even a children's book about sharks, but a thick, serious-looking one with lots of text and photos depicting terrifying scenes of Great Whites leaping out of the water and shark feeding frenzies.

"Look mama, sharks! So cuuuuuuute."

(everything is "cute")

"Mama, let's go to ocean. Jellyfiiiiish. Sea otterrrrrrs. Shaaaarks. Whaaales. Dolpheeens."

(Your dad says you mimic the way I speak to you--lengthening out the end of each word. )

I feel bad that your birthday is jammed in between Christmas and New Year's. I promise we will always do our best to make this day your very own and keep it separate from the common festivities. I also promise to never wrap your birthday presents in Christmas wrapping paper (ok, this is the last year).



Tonight (the night before your birthday), your dad put together the balance bike your Cheney Family got for you, and I blew up balloons and arranged your presents on the coffee table. I tidied up the living room and moved the bike three times to secure an optimal location for it's discovery in the morning. Tomorrow, I'll hang the hand-made birthday banner and we'll wear the party hats I spent way too much time making last year for your first birthday. I know you probably aren't going to remember any of this when you're older, and like your dad said to me, this fussing about and making sure everything looks nice is mostly for myself, but I replied (a little defensively), that it matters because we make it matter...because that's how you celebrate anything you value. It may just be another day to everyone else in the world. But to your father and me, to your extended family and the friends you have made, it's a day that will be spent being happy and giving thanks that you were born.



Happy Birthday, monkey.

Love, your mama