a day in the life

Dear Della,

So , right after I put you to bed tonight, I expected to sit down to jot out a quick letter to you about the several funny things you did tonight. It was way layed by the fact that I tried to turn on the TV to have a little background action while I wrote to you and the volume didn't come on the set. Fast forward twenty five minutes later and here I sit. Tired.

You sat on my lap tonight while at dinner and made a grumpy face out of the blue. While looking at a flower on the table. "What", I asked and you. "I am angy at you for breaking my delphinum."

The other day, while at Portland Nursery, you picked out a pretty blue Delphinium that we planted. I rolled up the hose that we had used to fill your pool but did it the lazy way. Over the top of the plants instead of around. If it had been you doing this, I would have been upset. But, I was tired and in a hurry. Of course, it broke of the flowering stock. I apologized to you and put it in a glass on the dining room table. You are still peeved.

I love you,

Mama

PS - I just finished this post today, 6/6/08, as I guess I was too tired to finish it the night I started. Yesterday, you saw that your Delphinium has some new buds on it. Just like I tried to explain to you that it would but to no avail. You just kept asking, "Why?". Because of gravity, Della. (Thanks Scott)

a fun day

Dear Della,

This past Thursday, we had a fun day together. You are definitely becoming more playful with me.

Several times during the day, you enjoyed the fun of hide and seek. It is really the first time you really hid somewhere other than behind a blanket or coat. You really had fun behind Dada's pants in the closet and the little closet door in your room (that leads to a heating duct) provided a good five minutes of giggles!

We enjoyed being cool in Mama's green sunglasses which wasn't the first time you have worn them. One picture is from when you were only 2 weeks old! What a difference 2 years make.

You have found that acting like a cat is fun. You were crawling on all fours and meowing. You said, "Gow Gow, Mama" for me to join in which I did. We crawled from your room to the living room and while crossing the dining room floor, I hoped it wouldn't go on for too long for my knees sake. The next time we crossed, I stood up and walked while you crawled. Then the time after that, you ran across too to get to the rug. I guess your little knees are as sensitive as mine!

We also enjoyed drawing outlines of your body while you laid on your drawing table. We would then make eyes, nose and a mouth for you. Even a few days later, you are still requesting that one.

Thanks for making our day so nice!

I love you,

Mama

the baldwin family singers

Dear Della,

Last night, I went downstairs to play on the computer. It didn't last long before Dada helped you find me. Normally, you want to sit on my lap while I'm at the computer so that you may watch slide shows of pictures of yourself.

Tonight, though, Dada entertained you. He began playing his ukulele and you started playing yours (Dada's old, inexpensive one). You also tried your hand at the harmonica. You have picked up the mouth harp (I'm cool 'cause I know music lingo!) pretty quickly and it sounds good.

Dada was singing his songs with all the lyrics as "Yaaa, yoooo". This enabled you to sing along with him. I enjoyed the music and the singing.

Thank you Della and Dada!

Love,

Mama

M to I to the L to the K

Dear Della,

So you know will understand why you are the spelling bee champion, here is a conversation between you, me and Dada last week in the evening:

Mama, "Della has drunk like 4 glasses of milk today. So, I have been mixing H2O with her M-I-L-K".

Della whips her head around, "O????"

Dada, "Do you want some M-I-L-K?"

Della, "Ya!!"

It is all about the motivation.

Love,

Mama

sleepin' together ain't all it is cracked up to be

Dear Della-

Last night, at about 3a, you woke up crying and calling out, "Mama?, Dada?" which, in it self, is not abnormal behavior for you. You usually wake up in the middle of the night wanting reassurance about once a week. We tried calling back to you with, "it is still ni-night, Della", but to no avail. Dad got up and did whatever it is that he does while I went back to sleep.

Some time later (time loses reality at 3a), you really let us know you were unhappy and seeing how it was my turn, I managed my way to your room. I picked you up to find your whole front wet so I changed your diaper and clothes in the dark. You pointed repeatedly to our room which I interpreted to mean you wanted to sleep with us. After justifying it with you by saying that you couldn't sleep on wet sheets, off we went. I thought it would be nice to have your warm body sleeping next to me.

The reality was that you insisted on sleeping on my belly but could never find a good position. Down, up, turn your head, nose right next to my neck, flip around, none of it worked. After, I am guessing, about 1/2 hour, I assume you finally went to sleep because we woke up at about 7a which felt pretty good. But, I hope we are not doing it again anytime soon. I love the idea of sleeping next to you but it is not good for any of us. Besides, this is how you looked after waking up this morning.

Actually, it was crazy hair at at school today...

Mama

PS-We had fun carving the pumpkin with you tonight and appreciated your help trying to clean it out with the spoon.

holding hands

Dear Della-

We had a lot of fun this weekend doing a variety of things like getting pumpkins and going to OMSI (thanks to our friends, Katie and Gwynne) to watch an intense film on Dolphins (intense in that the screen was HUGE). My highlight was seeing you holds hands with your cousin, Michael, and Marlee. Here is a picture of you with Michael. You have become quite a hugger/kisser and like to give loves to other little people.

While at OMSI, you kept saying "buhbye" but once we starting watching the dolphins that quickly turned to "whoa" and "eeeeee" when the dolphins were talking to eachother.

I also wanted to add that you are now officially obsessed with "Bop" which is your version of Mary Poppins and you have started walking around with your 2 fingers crossed. You are also enjoying "Gow, gow", "gaw, gaw" and "wah, wah" for cat, bird and dog and boy do you like your apples.

I love watching you grow, my little squirt.

Mama

Grapes taste good

Dear Della,

I hear you and your parents are picking grapes this morning. Did you enjoy the time outside in the sun? Did your mom have you wear a harness?! This morning at the bus stop my hands were freezing. I didn't think I would need to wear my gloves in October, but I guess I do. I saw some gloves at Walmart for $.79. That's very inexpensive. They are probably very poorly made.

I think you are a lucky girl to have a country outing with your parents. Did you eat somewhere special for lunch?

I'm listening to Ricky Martin as I work. When your mom reads that she might roll her eyes!

~ Jen*