Two Years

Dear Jorie,

How can you be two years old already? I honestly feel like I was just planning your first birthday party. How can that have been a year ago already?

This last week of your first year was as busy as the entire year has been.

Jaimee and Bill had a birthday party for Zetta on Saturday. You and Zetta were the only kids there, but that didn't seem to bother either of you. You guys spent the entire time from when we got there until you went to bed tearing around playing with each other. They had an extra bike for you so we brought a helmet and the two of you attempted to ride bikes in their driveway, somewhat successfully. You even both went to bed easily around 8:30 so the adults could have some adult time around the fire pit!

Sunday we had your Uncle Michael, Aunt Becky and Cousin Wesley over to Nannie and Grandpa O's for a mini swim party. We got you guys these cool floatie things that have two bits that go on your upper arms and one part that wraps around your chest and buckles on your back. We got two of them so we could have one for you and one for Wesley. You were more timid in the water this time, but once you got comfortable I was really glad for the floatie, since you did your now trademarked "I go (insert person far away from you) now!" and then launch yourself away from me in the direction of that person. This time I let you go, and you kinda flailed your way forward a bit. You also did a lot of jumping off the side of the pool to me. The last time you jumped to me, I kind of missed and you went all the way under for a second. It seemed to shock you, but it didn't phase you in the least, as I then handed you off to your Father so you could do a few more jumps off the side to him.

Today, we stopped at Wegmans before I dropped you off at Daycare to pick up cupcakes for everyone in your "class." I also dressed you in your "Birthday Shirt" that someone got you last year for your birthday. It looked HUGE when you got it, but now, now it fits, and may even be a little snug. I can't believe how fast you're growing.

There are so many things I want to say to you today, on your second birthday. Second. How crazy is that? You have changed my life, and your fathers life, in so many amazing ways.

You are a force of nature, little girl. The embodiment of the quote "though she is but small she is fierce." You embrace everything with abandon, from running to screaming. You have a wicked sense of humor, even if we don't always understand the jokes you're telling. You have an imagination, oh man your imagination.

My desk @ work, covered w/ pictures of you.

How do I capture a snapshot of you right now, with just words and images? You are constant motion, these things are too static. Every day I wish you would slow down, so I could savor every moment I get with you, and trust me there are not enough. I miss you all day at work, even though I know you are happily playing at daycare.

We're having a small family party for you this weekend, on fathers day actually. I feel a bit bad that all the dad's are getting usurped, but I'll make sure to have little gifts for them too.

I'm going to fill out one of those "Birthday Surveys" for you this year, and every year until I can have you fill them out yourself. I found one who's questions I like, so I'm going to put some of them here.

How old are you?    2 Years Old
What makes you Happy?   Playing, running, attention!
What is your favorite animal?   All of them! Maybe my puppy Mojo.....
What is your favorite thing to eat?    Blueberries! (or as I say it bueburres)
What is your least favorite thing to eat?  Tomatoes...yuckie yuckie.
What is your favorite thing to do?  RUN!
What is your favorite TV show?   Doggies! (Clifford)
What are you really good at?  Running, jumping, hanging by my arms, talking!
What is your favorite movie? Have not watched a movie yet...
What is your favorite color?  I don't really have one, although I call everything "Pink"
What is your favorite song? Anything with a good beat! (also Baby bumble bee, itsy bitsy, and "the baby song.")
Who is your best friend? Zetta!
What do you and your mom do together?  Play! Run! Tickle! Snuggle!
What do you and your dad do together? Play! Run! Tickle! Snuggle!
What is your favorite sport?  Running!
Where is your favorite place to go? The playground!
What is your favorite book? Paddington, Little Bear & Corduroy.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A big kid!


I'll most likely have more to say about this birthday, as it sinks in that my little baby girl is actually two years old now. But for now:

Happy Birthday Jorie Bear. You are amazingly loved.

Water break!

Running with Daddy

Taking "pictures" with your phone

With your Best Friend!

Weeks 100 and 101

Dear Jorie,

I'm having an awful time finding the time to write these letters to you. The past couple of weeks have been so full! We had a memorial day cook out at Nannie and Apas with a bunch of our friends and family, there were many trips to playgrounds, my birthday, and a few walks around the neighborhood. So instead of listing off all the things we did, like I usually do, I'm just going to talk a bit about how you are right now, and then let the pictures tell the story of the past two weeks.

Right now you are a force. You are a Toddler in full effect, running and laughing and screaming and tantruming. Climbing and jumping and always always running. You talk constantly, even though a lot of the time your Father and I can't understand you. You mispronounce "truck" and "clock" and a lot of other words in ways that make us fight back laughter. You melt our hearts with full on body hugs and many many kisses.

From the moment you wake up until you sleep you are in constant motion. You've recently discovered doll houses, and I have my fingers crossed one shows up for your birthday, which is coming up way too soon.

You are stubborn little girl. And strong. Very very strong. You can hang from the rings at the play ground, and use the couch and the coffee table as "parallel bars" to swing back and forth. You seem to constantly want to be doing something, to not want to miss anything, ever.

You are a big kid, tall and muscular. I think people think you are older than you are when they see you. You love to play with the bigger kids at the playground, although a lot of the time you'll run towards them yelling "Kids!" and then stop when you get close and stare at them shyly. The exception of course are your friends, like your cousin Wesley, whom you knocked flat on his back with a flying tackle hug at the playground last sunday.

Potty training isn't going so well. You sit on the potty, but don't use it. You tell us you have to "go potty" all the time, saying "I sit potty!" but you almost never actually go. We've been showing you "potty videos" to keep you sitting on the potty for longer, and you have a few favorites, like the elmo potty song. Hopefully time will just work this out.

You tell us elaborate stories, usually about your friend Zetta. Most recent was "Zetta scream! Zetta Run! Zetta 1 -2 -3! Zetta Hide!" After which you laughed hysterically. It was adorable. But you often also tell us stories about the baby doll "Baby poop, oh gosh. Oh gosh."

You've picked up a couple of mannerisms from someone at the daycare I think. One of them is the "oh gosh!" the other is every now and they you say "EEEEnough!" It's really cute.

You've settled in nicely at the new Daycare now, drop offs are relatively easy, with minimal coaxing needed to get us out the door.

Speaking of getting out of the door, let me tell you, you do not make it easy to leave the house in a timely manner. You insist on walking yourself, although not always in the correct direction. You don't want help either insisting "I do myself!" even on the steep front steps. It's kind of like herding cats, without letting them know they're being herded.

We also turned the carseats around to face front last week, which means you get to climb up into them yourself, although most of the time that means you crawl into the car and quickly find someway to squirm to the other side of the car where one of us has to extricate you and put you back in your seat. Although sometimes you let your Father bribe you with the right to "buckle in!" yourself.

I love you so much Jorie Bear.

And now: the pictures!

Week 99

Dear Jorie,

Another busy busy week! Your Uncle Chris and his Fiancee Kim were in town this weekend, which meant a lot of visiting over at Nannie and Apa's!

We had breakfast there Saturday, Then after everyone was awake and fed we headed over to Lollypop farm to check out all the animals up for adoption and also all the farm animals! You pet a goat, and got to see a lot of Dogs, Cats, Bunnies, some sheep and a few horses. After that we headed back to Nannie and Apa's for a special pasta dinner that your Uncle Chris and (future) Aunt Kim cooked up for us, because Sunday we were running a 10K!

Sunday, Your Uncle Chris, Aunt Kim, Apa, Nannie and I ran in the Lilac 10 k! Your Uncle Chris pushed Nannie the whole way in a special running wheelchair. Your father and you cheered us on from the sidelines! It was great to see you near the finish line, I even ran over to give you a kiss!

After the run, we went home to rest for a bit, then it was back to Nannie and Apa's for dinner! You had a blast getting to see your Uncle Chris and Aunt Kim all weekend. They even asked you to be the flower girl in their wedding!

And now, pictures of all of it!

I love you Jorie bear!

Week 98

Dear Jorie,

What a fun packed week we had!

Friday there was a "Mother's Day Tea Party" at your Daycare. I left work early to come visit you in your class room and drink pink lemonaid and eat cookies with you, your class mates and their parents. Luckily for me, Jaimee was there and took a few pictures of You Zetta and me. It was great to see you playing with your friends and to see how comfortable you were there. You even made me a card and some crepe paper flowers!

Saturday morning we were awake early, so we made a trip to the local coffee shop and then headed over to the play ground. We were there early enough that we had the place to ourselves for a while, and you climbed all over everything. Soon enough other kids started showing up, and you had a blast making new friends. You played in the Sandbox, swung on the swings, and even went down the big twisty slide! We were there for a good long time, but not long enough for you! You were not happy when we decided to leave.

After a nap and some food, it was time to head up to the park to meet Nannie and Apa at the Lilac Festival! We were there to watch our friend Alex and his band perform. We got some food for Your father and Me, walked around a lot trying to find Alex, and then finally found him, and Lisa was with him! We couldn't hear really well, but Lisa came over and talked to us while we watched. It's always great seeing them, even if the location was not ideal. Then it was time to head to Nannie and Apa's for dinner, as usual!

Sunday was Mothers day! We started out the day with you and your Father giving me a huge plant of purple flowers and a cute card that you decorated with stickers. Then it was time to head to the Public Market to meet Nannie and Apa for our traditional trip to the market's Flower Days. We got breakfast and coffee at the Market, and then walked around, helping my parents buy plants and bring them back to their car. We even bought a few things ourselves. We were there long enough that we ended up getting lunch there too, Empanada's! They were delicious. After the market we headed back to Nannie and Apa's house to help Apa open the pool. It won't be ready to swim in for a little bit, but it's open now!

After that, we headed over to Your Father's Grandma and Grandpa DeGraffs, where we met up with Grandma and Grandpa Ross. We spent a long time there, we even got to see your Great Uncle Dan and your father's Cousin Dan and his Girlfriend Sam. Great-Grandma DeGraff brought out a doll house and a bunch of dolls, and you surprised me by becoming completely absorbed with them.

Some sad news this week, on Monday, one of the cats that lived at my parents house, who was my cat when I was in college, Elle, passed away. She was very old for a cat, 18 years old, and had a good long life. She was very sick, but it is still very sad for me and for all of us. I know you most likely wont remember her when you get older.

I love you so much Jorie-bear. Thank you for letting me be your mom!