I swear you grow up OVER night, Baby Girl!! It’s crazy!

This morning we followed our regular routine where you come and tell me that it’s “wake-up time” at 6:30am and we tease back and forth about how dark it is and whether or not it REALLY is wake-up time… and we giggle.

After I set our clothes for both of us and I took a shower, you came left your TV show and walked over to me and said, “Mommi, I have to go potty.” “Great, let’s go!” You then went poopies on the potty! (Big deal!! NICE!) After adequate celebration, I went back to getting ready….

Next thing I know, I turn around and you had COMPLETELY dressed yourself – taken off your pj’s and put on your shirt, big-girl-underwear, pants, and socks!! All by yourself! CRAZY! Where did my baby girl go? You are such a big little girl…

Quite a day!
I love you, Peanut. I continue to be amazed by you more and more each day….

Growing

Checking in with your school to make sure you’re doing fine there, I asked your teacher to give me a report. This is what she wrote today:

As time has gone by, I’ve noticed that Maya has grown in so many ways. She loves being taught new things. She enjoys Circle Time and doing art projects. We worked on a “Me & Myself” theme. This project was a focus on herself and what she is able to do. During this time, Maya started potty training. She sings our song, “See what I can do all by myself” every time she goes potty. She is always so lovable that there is no way you can keep yourself from loving her. Her independence is growing. Maya loves to do things on her own. Dressing and cleaning up after herself are just some of the things she does on her own. He beautiful smile lights up the classroom every day. -Maritza

I agree with your teachers! I can SEE your growth EVERY day, and it is SO much fun. You and I have full conversations now. You love to help me do whatever it is that I’m working on – whether it’s cooking, cleaning, working on my computer, or taking a shower 😉 . You have the BIGGEST heart in ALL of the world. Lately, you have given me a TON of sweet kisses and words of encouragement! Today you sat behind me and rubbed my shoulders. Last week, at dinner, you took my face in your little hands and said, “Mama, you are so pretty!” Tonight while we were rocking to sleep, you leaned up and gently kissed my cheek about 7 times. What a sweet, lovable girl.

And you ARE doing so many things on your own. You can get dressed by yourself. You are going pee pee and (occasionally) poo poo on the potty. You decide every morning when it is “wake-up time” (sometimes, much to my chagrin); today declaring it so by turning on the light in my bedroom.

Other sweet things?
You refer to your big bed as your “cozy bed” and my bed as my “cozy bed,” while your toddler bed you call your “special bed.” You eat a number of butter and jelly sandwiches on wheat bread every morning. You LOVE to watch for the three “big trucks” (the garbage trucks) come every Thursday morning. The trash people even watch for you and wave to you! It’s very sweet. As I said, you LOVE snow! You love to eat snow… which has been somewhat problematic, as I have had to help you differentiate between “clean” snow from outside and dirty snow tracked in from the bottom of our shoes. You’ll often pick some off the floor and say, “Mama, was this on your shoe?” “Yes, Sweetie, don’t eat it.” When I leave your bedroom at night, you always grab a hold of me, look me straight in my eyes and say, “Mama, stay for ONE more song!” Even sometimes when music isn’t playing and you want me to stay, you’ll look me deep in the eyes and say, “Mama, stay for just ONE more song…” and of course, I do.

We snuggle every morning and discuss whether or not it is “wake-up time” with many, many giggles. And we snuggle every night as we watch what our family still refers to as “P.T.” (instead of TV) and as we rock before bedtime. We chase each other around the house with ice packs, and we have a blast playing with playdough.

You are growing, and it is SO MUCH FUN!! I love you Peanut Butter!