a solstice

My Jo Bug,

You just turned three! You are so good at telling me how old you are, too. You say, “I am free yeaws owd.” very proudly, baby girl. I recently read the letter I wrote to you last year on your birthday and it’s amazing to me how much has changed!

Let’s be honest, this year was a tough one for us, wasn’t it? Your sister was born and took so much of my attention and you had to split my affection! I’ve been tired and worn when you wanted to play and I’ve been impatient with you when it wasn’t your fault. I’m sorry about that, Jo Bug. You have really done fantastically with the transition; you have never tried to hurt Rowen in any way and you always understand when I can’t tend to you because she needs something. You are such a good big sister and Rowen’s lucky to have you. You did have a few weeks of randomly waking up in the middle of the night. Daddy and I think you were just dealing with a lot of emotions you couldn’t express and needed some extra love. We are still surprised how well you transitioned into being a big sister as a 2-year-old.

Nowadays, you love making Rowen laugh and helping me teach her new things like signing “more” and waving. Though you don’t like it when she cries. You’re at that age where it’s satisfying for you to tell her , “Stop Wowen! NO!” very firmly with a shake of your finger. You do love saying good night to her and giving her a kiss and hug. Rowen likes it, too. You think it’s so funny to get in Rowen’s face while I’m changing her diaper just to tell her, “Wowen, you have a stiiiinky diapuh!” and watching her laugh at you. You’re so good at bringing her toys when she is bored or upset. And you always make sure someone knows if Rowen has dropped a toy out of her reach. Sometimes you will ask to play with her and the two of you will play for an hour alone in her room. You love helping give Rowen a bath. You’re quick to get your stool so we can stand at the sink together and play with Rowen in the sink. You don’t like to be without each other and it’s so fun watching you grow up to be true sisters.

I guess it’s no surprise you’re such a good big sister since you are growing to be such a good little caretaker! You thoroughly care for all of your special stuffed animals and baby dolls, bathing them and making soft beds with blankets around the house for them to sleep in. Their favorite sleeping spots are apparently your bed and Mommy’s closet; I always find someone sleeping there! I was really happy to find a bath tub set for you to use with your animals and you bathe them all the time! They always get cuddles after bath time and songs before bed. You like having little charges to care for because you are such a sweetheart.

You loooove your daddy! While he’s at work you like to talk to him on the phone and you’re constantly asking me if it’s him every time the front door opens. Last week, you even wanted to make him a card. When I asked you what it should say you thought about it and replied simply, “I wuv you!”, then you were so pleased to decorate it with stickers and crayons. When Daddy gets home, you would play with him all night if you had a choice! You love to play around on the floor, doing your special flips and tickles and tunnels. And you love to build blocks together. I’m honestly not sure which one of you is having the better time.

The older you get, the more I realize how much you are like your Daddy. Your thinking processes are already so similar! You are very interested in the way things work. You are most certainly an introvert like him; you really appreciate time to yourself. You’ve got a sweet tooth just like Daddy and you even look more like him every day! Lately you’ve been singing a lot of songs from Daddy’s current music like Keane, Fleet Foxes, Zee Avi, Adele, Amos Lee and Alicia Keys (though “Count On Me” will always be your favorite and you still ask for it a lot). It’s pretty fun for us to hear you randomly break out into song and Daddy especially appreciates your song choices. You guys are going to be buddies for life, I just know it.

One of the biggest changes this year has been no more diapers! You potty trained pretty easy, big girl; it was done in 2 weeks. Thanks for that! You are even good at using public restrooms. A couple weeks ago, we went to the bathroom together and you announced very loudly to the whole bathroom, “You peed in the potty! Good job, Mommy!”.

You sleep in a big girl bed, which you love being in! You’ve never been hard to get to bed, we tuck you in and you go to sleep. You stay in bed for naps, too, even when you shared a room with me and Daddy for a little while. Every morning, you wake up and we use the potty, then I hear you read books to yourself in your room for the next half hour. You read the same books almost every day; your current favorites are “No David!” and “Zoe Gets Ready”. You also like to make up your own stories and recite books from Mom-mom’s house from memory. It’s pretty impressive, big girl.

Most of the time, you’re compliant and pleasant and sweet. Once in a while you get a little sassyThis has been the year of “Noooo, I dooon’t!” as a response to everything from “What do you want for lunch?” to “Jolie, come here.”  When you get frustrated, you like to hit the floor or throw your bear around, which can be pretty funny to us. You usually come around on your own and lament, “Ohhh, poor baaayaa!” as you retrieve him. We’re all learning how to navigate your toddlerhood with you. I know we’ll all come out unscathed.

As cheesy as it sounds, you are teaching me daily to live in the moment and to enjoy life. You affect my decisions, present and future, and I will be a better person because of you, I’m sure of it. I’m convinced you will be a powerhouse, sharp as a tack and so smart. The kind of woman will you be? She’s who I want to be. I feel like I already know her and she is beckoning me to join her pursuit of changing the world. Let’s do it, baby girl. I love you!

…Rowen’s in the tub!

The chub, the grin, the cleanliness…it’s almost too much.