Mia Gianna: 23 months

Dear Gianna,

You are such a big girl...almost 2! Mommy can not believe it.  Last night, before bedtime stories, I was filling milk bottles when I heard you and Bode giggling in the bedroom. I ran into the room to see what had you laughing.  Bode had gotten onto the iPad and started a slideshow of photos, complete with "moosic" (how he did it, I have no idea because I wouldn't even know how to do it.).  The photos were of our life in California, when you were a tiny baby girl and Bode was your age - nearly 2 years old.  We sat and watched it together. You and Bode shouted out your respective names whenever your faces appeared. Inside, I got very, very sad.  It is easy to forget that you were once a beautiful little baby girl, who didn't speak like you do now and certainly did not move like you do now.  And we never knew what kind of personality you were going to have...until now. Now, we are getting a glimpse into the little fire cracker you can be, and the sweet little girl who loves everything, too.

You:

- walk up and down the stairs unassisted (and get mad when we try to help you or 'shield' you on the stairs),

- would rather eat meat than any vegetable or sweet,

- will tell me exactly what you don't want to wear,

- love bubbles and bubble baths,

- like to color,

- still get into all the cabinets, pull out stuff, and "rearrange" things,

- can sing, "Rain, rain, go away," "Row, row, row your boat," and the  "ABCs" (kind of, getting there),

- love wearing lip balm (usually destroying  half my lip balms in a week's time), 

- love wearing sun glasses ("sungrasses, mommy" you'll demand), indoors or out, 

- love saying, "No!" in this girly, coy way (that makes your daddy laugh), 

- have your daddy wrapped around your finger ("She's so damn cute," he'll mumble, after you've given him 2 seconds of your time), and

- say, "Oh! Thank you, Mommy!"  in the sweetest little voice ever.

You adore your big brother and watch him intently all the time.  You two will play together when I am making dinner.  You still love hanging out in Bode's room. You like being able to climb up onto his bed, sit there and play or read.  You both have the best time during bath time. You love seeing the bubbles pile up,  to jump in them and cover Bode's head with water and bubbles. You both will lie side by side in the tub on your backs, kicking furiously and laughing hysterically. (I don't particularly love this part of the bath.)

Your birthday is almost here. I don't know what we will do to celebrate it this year. But it will be special, because you are (almost) two, and you are you.

love,
Mommy
xo