Happy 2nd Birthday My Darling SR!!!

My Dear SR,

You are the light of my life.  My best friend.  My greatest companion.  My teacher and student.  I can't believe 2 years have already gone by.  You are growing up so quickly.  I still can't get enough of you.  I could listen to you talk, and watch you play, and hug and kiss you, and just sit and look at you forever.

Right now, my favourite thing to do is watch you "Role Play" with your figurines.  You play with them and make up scenarios and have them hug and talk to each other - I have seen this behaviour in much older children, but never in a child under 2.  What an imagination!

When you watch TV, you tell me who is "singing".  You recognize theme songs and say "Mike the Knight is singing" even though it's just the theme song from the Mike the Knight tv show.  When 4 Square comes on (Canadian little filler) you ask me "which square do you like, mommy?"  To which I always reply, "The blue one.  Which one do you like?" and you tell me "Green."

You have become quite the little boss.  You have wonderful manners and USUALLY use them.  The cutest is while walking through a busy place you'll call out, "Excuse me!  Excuse me, people!"  But you know when to say please, thank you, excuse me, and sorry in context...oh, and bless you!  Lately you have "forgotten" when to say please.  Mommy, sit down.  Mommy, give me the cup.  Mommy, hurry up!  Lots of reminders to use "please."

We have had to start a Good Listening sticker paper for you.  You decide when you want to listen and when you don't - I have to say, that you usually listen so well except when it's time to leave where you are and that's where we have problems.  You hate putting on your coat.  But you love getting stickers.

We are trying to use the potty - well, "we" means "me".  You will willingly sit on the potty and read your books.  Yesterday, you even pretended that you made a pee - I made a pee, mommy!  You hadn't.  You just wanted to pretend.  You will tell me that you made a poo in your diaper, but you won't tell me before it happens.  The potty takes away from your play time.  You know that when you use the potty and don't need diapers anymore you will get to wear DORA underwear.  You tell me all the time.  Obviously that's not a motivator at this point.  Today when you played with your figurines, they were all going "inside to the washroom."  It's funny how your figurines can do it, but you won't.  Suvta (your grandmother) told me you come by this honestly.  Apparently I had no interest in the potty until I was FOUR!!!  But you are starting kindergarten at 3 1/2, so you need to be trained long before I was.

Music and singing is top on your list of wonderful things.  You learn every word to songs you like, request them in the car, or just sing them.  You can change songs at any point and be in the right tune.  You also love to change the words of songs to make them silly and wait for my reaction.  "Old McDonald had a....washing machine....Noooooooo!"  You also pretend to put your neck warmer and hat on body parts they don't belong on, and wait for my reaction.

On evenings when we are trying to burn off extra steam without going outside, we go for a walk down to the lobby of the building.  You love to climb the 4 stairs, get to the top and sing your favourite songs as loud as you can.  Lately it's "If You're Happy and You Know It."  Then you go down to the concierge desk and ask if you can sit in the chair there.  Of course they always let you.  Who can resist you?

Here are two pictures from singing happy birthday to you:

I love the first one because you were trying to blow out the candle.  I can't wait to hang this one on the wall under (or over or beside) the picture of us from your first birthday.  Today, I will give you a birthday present that I've waited since October to give to you:  A Doctor's Set.  I think you will be very excited about this.  Especially b/c you are always giving Dora ear drops.  I guess when you spend so many days at the doctor's office for repeat colds, coughs, ear infections one gets to like the doctor...and you really like your doctor.  

I have now given you the doctor's set.  Tonight you said (which amazed me as we were not having a conversation):  "Open it, open it! (The doctor's bag).  I'm going to listen to my heart.  I'm going to sit on my bottom.  I'm a real doctor.  Put on my stethescope!"  YOU ARE TWO!!!  

Your birthday today was a lot of fun.  You got lots of presents and it was fun to watch you get excited about your new toys and hearing my friends wish you a happy birthday on the phone.  

And so, my darling SR, I wish you the happiest 2nd Birthday.  I can't believe you are already 2.  Wishing you a wonderful year filled with new and exciting adventures.  I can't wait to watch you learn and grow more.  I love you so much.  You're my best friend!

Love, 

Mommy