Dear Adrianne 2/26/12

Adrianne, Adrianne, Adrianne... It's been some sort of week with you, young lady! As with many other stages you've gone through, you are hitting your terrible twos a bit early.

The tantrums are one thing. The deliberate attempts to disobey your parents are another. But you know what, it doesn't even truly upset me. Even if I act strict, like I'm mad, I'm not really angry with you. I hope you will understand that when this phase passes. The thing is, I know it just means that you are growing up, like every other toddler does. Maybe it even shows how smart you are because you are developing this new sense of independence so early. It really impresses me, to be honest.

Speaking of what impresses me...you spoke your first sentence today! We were having dinner at Nonna's house and you said "Nee-nee wan juice" as you were pointing to your cup! We were floored!

So many things you do are just amazing. I love how you sit at your table now, coloring and narrating to me what you are drawing. Mostly you draw Papa or Ro-Ro. I am always watching you in wonder. It's even more amazing to think of how young you are, and how much more growing you've still got to do! I think you will do great things in this world, baby girl. And I am already so proud of you.

Dear Adrianne 2/16/12

I love how you favor the Prince over the Princess in your castle toy set. You like to seat him at the little table all by himself and then you wait on him with your kitchen toys and felt food and feed him and make him drink his tea.

It's so amazing watching you develop your preferences and likes and dislikes! You have a few Youtube videos that you will not let us stop watching.

First off, we have "meowstep."



You love this song, for whatever reason! You sing "meow" along to it and you always have to point out the potty in the video. Always.

Then, there's the wolves.



I don't know why but the sound of the wolves calms you down. Sometimes you make me play this audio over and over and over for hours while you sit quietly coloring at your craft table.

Finally, your new favorite song:



You refer to this song as the "poop" song because in the first couple of seconds there is a field of flowers with cow poop falling in the corner of the screen. But I just adore the way you stare mesmerized at the screen while you watch this music video and dance your cute little toddler dance.

You have weird tastes, baby girl. But I love that about you!

Dear Adrianne...2/8/12

{This will be the start of a new "series" of posts if you will, dedicated to my beautiful little girl, who I hope will someday be able to look back on how fondly I devoted myself to her and her little brother through these letters which I will publish here.}

I am so proud of you lately for being such a perfect and brave big sister. I love the way you cradle baby Rowan and how you try so hard to take such good care of him. It makes me so happy to know that you already love him. I know you will work very hard to look after him as the two of you grow up. I remember what it was like as a little girl, the feeling of having little boys to watch over. I felt so protective over them, and so proud to be their big sister. One of the greatest tasks was being assigned "bus buddy" for my brother at school. I had the great responsibility of walking him to class, and of course I also had to visit him in his class to check up on him whenever I could grab a chance.

You've been handling the big change very well. You certainly got a little disconcerted not to be the center of attention at all times anymore and you've gone through a couple of phases to show it for sure. But I am always amazed at how quickly these little phases of yours pass. You relapsed in potty training for a couple of days. You started throwing terrifying tantrums at the prospect of going to bed for a few nights. But always, these things pass and day by day you behave more and more angelically. You are simply amazing.

I'm starting to wonder whether or not I have a true genius on my hands with you. You are just so smart, I love bragging about you whenever I get the chance. "Oh, yeah, my little girl is potty trained. Yep, and she draws with a perfect writer's grip." Am I too proud? =) Well, I don't care if I am.

With love,
Mom