Dear Noah,

Today–yes today Over a week ago you turned 32-months-old.  Let me just say that I had every intention of writing this letter last month and then again last week.  But you will learn something about your mom–I am constantly taking on more than I can do and I have a hard time finding time to fit it all in.  I try but somethings fall by the wayside and I sorry that your newsletter found it’s way there.  I am going to try to do better and that really is al that I can promise. 

You have been part of our family for what seems like forever but in reality is 28 months–which is a very long time.  I never noticed how much you changed and how quickly before I started writing your monthly letters.  While it has only been four months since I started writing to you monthly, I find myself paying much more attention to what you are doing. 

This past month has been a big one for us.  You are now sleeping in your “big boy” bed.  This is the second time we have attempted to transition you.  I did some things better this time around–I disassembled the crib and moved it out of your room and I think that has helped the transition.  You still have not yet made it all night in your room but you are getting better and you don’t cry when we put you in it.  I am certain by the time that I am writing your next letter you will be sleeping all night in your “big boy” bed.

I have tried to start and attempt to potty train you.  You are making progress and hope that by your 3rd birthday I can say that you are potty-trained.  We can hope. 

As you get more and more verbal you amaze me with your words and the things that you say.  You are trying out “Knock Knock” jokes, but don’t quite get the whole concept and it’s pretty funny.  You say the whole “knock knock whose there” and then laugh as though it was the funniest thing ever.  Often you walk up to me and ask me–“feel my muscles.”  You get that from your Grandpa Mike, who you lovingly call “Mike”–your just too busy to add Grandpa to it.  You spend a great deal of time at your Grandpa Mike and Grandma Lori’s house and you love it there–it really is your home away from home and I am happy that you have another place you feel loved and safe. 

You’re Grannie Sue came to visit at Thanksgiving and you had a blast spending a week running her ragged and we went to Champaign and spent some time with your cousins and you had blast having tea parties and playing trains. 

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Your 33rd month was so full of fun and excitement.  We decorated for Christmas and you got to pick out your first Christmas tree.  You talked about Santa for the entire month.  You are changing so fast and it makes me sad to see some of your toddlerhood fall away as you begin to become a full fledged pre-schooler.  I can’t believe that you are growing so fast. 

This month has seen you become fully fascinated with Kung-fu Panda.  You want to play it all the time.  You karate chop with the best of them and it is hilarious to watch.  You are a total crack up.  You are also totally into your trains and ask your dad to play with you at least 20 times a day. 

You have become such an awesome big brother to your little sister.  You play so well with her and you are slightly less annoyed when she plays with your toys and you are starting to help her and attempt to teach her how to “play.”

You continue to bring laughter into my world everyday.  The things you say and the reasoning you use to come to decisions…or the way you cradle your chin with your hand like Rodin’s Thinker and say “maybe, I ….”  It is adorable. 

This past month has been a blur, but this was the first Christmas where you actually gasped that Santa Claus was a person and he brought you gifts. It was awesome.  We have be prepping you for your next birthday which will come too fast for me.  You know you’ll be three.  On New Year’s Eve, I was explaining to you that it was the last day of the year and that the next day would mark the start of a whole new year and you asked “my birthday is next year.”  I said yes and told you that you will have a birthday every year.  Your eyes nearly exploded out of your head and you said “EVERY YEAR?”  as though I had just promised you the world and stars.  Keep being amazed little man–it does only get better. 

Love you lots,

Mommy

Dear Noah,

Two weeks ago you turned 30-months-old.  We were lucky to be in St. Maarten for this joyous occasion.  I cannot believe how fast the time goes and at the rate which you are growing up.  It really does go so fast.

You have been in school for nearly 2 months now and are just now starting to become a little boy.  You are starting to stand-up for yourself and are  hitting the kids at school who take toys away from you.  This hasn’t been a problem yet and the teacher has only said something to me on one occasion.  When asked if you hit someone at school, you happily replied–“Woah hit everybody.  Everybody cry.”  I am not sure how this is going to go. We talk about the rules of “no hitting” and “no pushing” but you still manage to both hit and push your sister reminding me that those are the rules for school.  I try to convince you that those rules also apply to home, but so far you aren’t really buying that. 

Now don’t get me wrong you are by no means hitting or pushing your sister often or even in an agressive way.  You are often just playing and forget that you are close to twice her size and that she cannot stand up on her own yet.  You’ll get it and you are pretty great at apologizing. 

Our fridge is covered by the masterpieces of toddler art work and I promise to save them and pull them out to show your first high school girlfriend (or boyfriend–whichever).  We have butterflies, bats, some paper with sequins and feather glued on and one with an assortment of beans too.  I know that our days of childhood artwork are just beginning and it is really cute when you see what you made hanging on the side of the fridge.  I am sorry to say that at some point, I may only keep the good stuff.  If that scars you too much, I promise to allow you to use some of your college fund for therapy. 

This summer you fell in love with the beach.  You hardly complained about getting sand on your hands (just in case I haven’t said this 100 times yet–you absolutely hate having anything on your hands that shouldn’t be there. It is quite funny).  You were in love with the ocean and couldn’t get enough of wave jumping and the pretzel water in your mouth.  Pretzel water you ask?  Well, you were quite taken aback by your first mouthful of salt water. I told you it was like eating a pretzel without the pretzel part.  You laughed and every time you got a mouthful of salt water your smiled and said “like eating pretzel mommy.”  I smiled and we continued to have fun.  It could have gone either way and I have to say that I am happy it went the way it did or our island vacation could have easily been a disaster. 

You wore you “mermaid” suit with pride.  I know that this trip brought about many exaggerations on your mother’s part but I did what I had to do.  The look on your face when you saw your body glove wet suit with the styrfoam chest and back piecs said “there is absolutely no way I am wearing that suit.”  I preyed on your recent infatuation with Diego and the Mermaind Manatee Rescue episode and told you it was a mermaid suit.  You hardly took the suit off the entire trip.  You looked quite a bit like Hans and Frans from classic SNL.  These moments really are priceless and I am happy to have a written memory of them.

You are growing and are now repeating nearly everything that is said in front of you.  If someone says “hello sweetie,” you reciprocate with your own “hello sweetie.”  And it really is cute.  You are now saying “I love you mommy/daddy” without prompting and are quite anxious to have me sit next to you while you watch Wonder Pets, Wow, Wow Wubbzy or Diego.  I of course would rather be poked with a sharp stick than watch either of those shows, but I can’t say no to you when you want to hang with me.  There will soon be a time when you are telling me “Go away Mom.”  So, I will continue to hang out with you when invited and cherish every moment. 

Keep growing…

Love you,

Mommy

PS.  I wanted to add that you attended your second carnival and actually had a blast.  You rode the rides–over and over again.  You won prizes and gave your dad and I a glimpse at the fun we will have as you and your sister grow older. 

Dear Noah,

I cannot believe that you are almost 2 and a half.  Where has the time gone.  You are growing and changing so fast.  You started “school.”  You carry your own lunch box on the walk from home to school.  It is so cute.  You tell me that it’s time for me to go home and you play and follow directions and are learning things. 

As each day passes your are becoming a little bit more of a boy. You love wrestling and you think it is some that your little sister should also like.  She doesn’t.  Part of it is because she can’t push back.  Soon enough she will.  You have grown more and more opinionated and verbal.  I am amazed almost everyday of the words that come out of your mouth.  Pretty soon you’ll be able to say your name and I will cry on that day.  I love how you say “Woah.”  It melts my little heart. 

This past month was full of change–your little sister started crawling and cruising.  The unadulterated love that you felt for her has become muddled by the fact that she now touches you and wants to play with whatever you are playing with.  My days are now filled with a symphony of “MOM, MOVE Zoë PLEASE!”  It’s cute and sometime I do move her, but most of the time I make you deal with it.  I know that this isn’t the wisest course of action.  I know you will start hitting her and pushing her, but for now little man.  You have to deal with it. 

I worry about your eating habits, but what mother doesn’t.  Some days all you want is cheese and strawberries.  Other days it’s hot dogs and avocado.  Other days, I swear all you eat is fig newtons and cheetos.  You are growing and I try not to worry too much, but I hope I am being a good mom and that you don’t some day wonder “What the hell was she thinking?”  Okay, that’s a pipe dream because you are going to be a teen-aged boy one day and I think you just might have that thought more than once a day. 

Your ability to be social and adapt to changes is refreshing and makes me so very happy.  I know this personality trait will serve you well in life.  You have become more and more interested in blocks and actually building with them instead of taking them out of the box and putting them back.  It’s awesome so see you change and advance.  You know so much and I have to give some credit to educational TV–Mickey Mouse/SpongeBob, etc.  I think it has taught you more than it has hindered you.  I don’t care what the research says. 

I do want to apologize now, before I forget for enabling you to be as loud as you are.  You have always been a loud child and that is too be expected because both your father and I are loud.  Your father will blame this on me, but I will tell you the truth now–your father is the loud one.  His normal register is loud.  I have to tell him a lot to talk quieter.  Again he will blame this on me.  But it isn’t my fault.  I know you will side with your father.  I have already been given peeks at this secret male alliance you two share.  You often tell me “Momma, no yell at Daddy.”  What the hell is that all about?  Really, don’t yell at your dad?  He’s a man and often deserves a little bit of yelling.  UGH!  Where did I go wrong?

I can see the “Why” phase coming as we have been in the “What this is?” Phase for a long time.  You are so very inquisitive and I love it.  Keep it up Noah.  Keep laughing and keep smiling.  You are a shining star and you light up my world. 

Love you,

Mommy