Brea

My little Brea,
You amaze me! You're speaking in full sentences now, and you'll say anything and everything that comes to your mind. It cracks us up! Lately it's been hard for us to understand some of what you're saying, but I think because all of a sudden you'll talk about things that aren't around. You'll say abstract things. Where as before you would tell us what you needed and wanted, and most of the things would be visible. Now, you might be telling us about what you saw outside, or in your room. I love it! You're also singing a lot more! You can sing the ABC's and Twinkle, Twinkle all by yourself. You can count to 10, although I don't know that you couldn't do more. It's easiest when you have things to count, then you'll do it by yourself. If we count with you sometimes you wait til we say the numbers first. You recognize the letters in your name, not 100% of the time, but I don't think it's a coincidence any more. You've been naming them for a long time, several months, but for some reason I didn't think you really knew them. You may very well have! You're getting better at your colors and can name most of them most of the time. You had your first haircut, which was a breeze, and a dentist appointment. They just looked in your mouth and brushed your teeth. You needed a little bit of encouragement, and finally with the bribe of a balloon, you did all they asked of you. We also changed your bed into a toddler bed and now you'll wake up in the morning, around 8:30, and play until 10 before asking for us. It's pretty fun to listen to you on the monitor, reading books, talking to your animals and dolls, opening and emptying all of your drawers, rubbing things along the metal vent in your room, buzzing the door stopper, and pushing buttons on your musical toys. And daddy loves the extra sleep you give him! I tried to potty train you one morning, but you didn't like to take your panties off. You would keep sitting on the potty so you could get an M&M, but you wouldn't try and go for two of them by going potty. We went to Build a Bear and you made a bear for your sister, talking into the sound box for her, and I made one for you. You picked out panties for your bear to wear, and I was hoping you'd be really excited about Teddy and take her to the potty with you. You also picked out a pink bathrobe for her. But the next day when we put your panties on, you didn't care much about the bear at all, or the potty. Maybe someday you'll like Teddy, and hopefully you'll want to use the potty. You had one accident in your panties, and when you went down for you nap, I put your diaper back on and haven't taken it off yet.

You have been absolutely amazing to Bryn. You're very thoughtful of her throughout the day and ask to see her, hold her, kiss her goodnight or goodbye. You put blankets on her and give her pacis or toys when she's sad, tell her "it's okay" when she cries. You'll also tell me and daddy when you hear her, saying "sister crying." You're so sweet! Daddy and I were talking and we decided that you can't teach someone to care the way you do, and to be thoughtful and considerate of other people's feeling the way you are. You're an amazing little girl, a two-year old girl no less. I can't believe how well you share! When you have friends over, you'll let them have your toys, and I've taught you to cheer for them when it's their turn. So little Roman was on your jumping zebra the other day, and at first you were looking like you might want him off, but then you started clapping and saying, "yay Ro Ro!" I can't believe that a)you learned that so quick and put it to use on your own, and b)you have such self control! Don't get me wrong, it's not always a breeze with you, but you have such amazing qualities in your personality that it is such a joy being with you, even when you're not on your best behavior.

You really like to be in control of most things right now. You like to pick which direction we walk, tell me if you want to sit or stand, what you want to drink, what you want to do, play, or watch on t.v., when you want to eat, and you like to change your mind just to see what happens. Daddy and I don't care much either way, and we try to let you think you're in control by offering you choices. But sometimes I think you figure that out, and it frustrates you. Then you'll throw a tantrum just to throw it, because you can and because it wasn't one of our choices. And sometimes you just can't have your way, and so the tantrums come. Everytime we go outside on a walk, we look for all the puppies we can find, search for flowers in the winter grass, count mailboxes, and then play tag in the common area. You never want to come in, and you'll spend about 5 minutes on the floor by the front door crying when we have to. I just let you have your moment, and soon enough you'll come closer to us and your crying will die down to a couple pouts and fake sobs. Then I'm able to distract you and we can have fun again. The trick with you is to let you have your time, because nothing will make you happy until you're ready for it. I still have my secret rule that your nap isn't over until you wake up happy. The few times daddy or I have broken it and gotten you thinking we could cheer you up ended up with temper tantrums, lots of high pitched "no's", frustration and you back in bed. It only took about 5 minutes of alone time before you were back to normal, playing happily in your room, and excited to see us again. If we wait for you to be happy, the days are a breeze!

I love everything about you, your tempers and your laughs, your frustrations and your dancing. I couldn't ask for anything more.

I love you,
Mommy