my birthday

Dear Della,

Yesterday, we celebrated my birthday a little early by having our family over for brunch. You were most excited about seeing Michael, and he seemed most excited about our bedroom ceiling fan.

You helped me open my gifts and promptly took away the items you liked the most. The flower sachets went into your closet to make your clothes smell good. The soap, that you correctly identified as the Eiffel Tower, went in and out of the box until I put them away not wanting them to turn to soap dust.

In the evening while we watched Spiderman 2, in between bursts of "Peta Pawker is Spidaman!" and "why, why, why", you mentioned that I did not get any toys for my birthday. "No, I didn't get any toys", I responded but left it at that. You proclaimed that you were going to ask Santa for toys. I think that is a great idea. Besides, if I got toys for my birthday, I probably wouldn't want to share them!.

Love,

Mama

the birthday girl

Dear Della,

Last week you turned 2 years old! You would think I would take this time to poetically mark this memorable milestone. I am not a writer and my company probably doesn't want to pay me to do it and you don't like it when I work on the computer so you are not getting much.

But, when I think back of the past 2 years, a couple of noteworthy things come to mind. The first is the amount of processing I have done revolving around you and me. I mean at first it was all about sleep (for the both of us), when to feed you, how to stop you crying. Basically, how do I take care of you? Then, it moved into how to take care of you while still taking care of me. Who am I now that I have this amazing little thing that relies so much on me? How do I fit ME into your life? Your first birthday marked a milestone of being able to actually keep you happy and healthy! I have always equated it to getting my sea legs. Now, that time seems so long ago as I feel more grounded with this emerging life. Now, I process about how fun you are, how cute you look when you dance with your bottom shaking, worry about your words, hope you don't wake too early, embrace every morning when we snuggle. I could go on and on.

Which leads me to the second thing that comes to mind on your second birthday. I am completely unable to put into words the visceral emotions I have for you. And even if I did, I know you will not understand it unless you have your own little one (utterly cliche, I know). I have never cried so easily as I do when I think of you. I think you are the most beautiful and most lovely and most entertaining person ever! Your dad thinks so too!

I look forward to watching you grow, my sweet girl.

I love you,

Mama

PS-Compliment to Aunt Phae for the lovely picture!

oh, christmas tree

Dear Della,


Tonight we decorated our Christmas tree that we cut down over the weekend with all the Baldwin family. At the farm, you had such a fun time running through all the trees and splashing in the mud with your cute lady bug boots. Too bad we didn't have the camera.


While I was getting down all of the decorations from the attic, you and Dada started on the tree. He worked on the lights while you helped your self to the ornaments. It was like you were an old pro. You started putting the ornaments on all by yourself without us even showing you how. I guess all the holiday propaganda has soaked in already. This is a good thing because I am not a fan of putting ornaments on the tree. I always unwrap them all while Dada hangs them. I tried to filter some of the ones going up tonight but Dada was on to me. He looked at the tree and said, "Aren't there more ornaments?". I guess it a good thing that I enjoyed watching to two of you having so much fun.






Last year, Gran gave you your very own tree which is about a foot and half tall. I got that out and told you it was yours. You began decorating that tree as well. After while, you went up to it and said "Della" then pointed to the big one saying "Dada".




Getting you to bed tonight took a little longer than normal. You enjoyed watching Rudolph (who doesn't though?) and looking at the Santa musical thingy. After we said it was time to go nigh, night, you went up to the big tree to give it a hug (a prickly proposition) and a kiss (maaahhh). Then you did the same thing to your tree. You are too cute, my friend.



Love you,


Mama

lamo mama

Dear Della-

It is Halloween today and I just dropped you off at your school. We had a fun ride in as you used your snake to shield your eyes from the sun. Normally, you scream like a vampire when the sun hits your eyes which would have been appropriate for today. You were also singing and saying things like "Yeah, wee wee beebee" (baby).

But, my fun came to an end when I realized ALL the kids in your class were dressed up for Halloween. At first I thought it was just the teachers, but then a dinosaur ran up to me, a skunk said "Hi Della" (Amelie) and there was a chicken, lady bug and so many others. I felt so bad! Teacher Jackie made me feel better by saying you were dressed up with the stars on your shirt.

When I was leaving, I noticed the sign on the gate saying, "Don't forget to wear your costumes tomorrow!". Well, you weren't at school yesterday so how was I supposed to know?? I suppose you will always feel emptiness surrounding dressing up now.

Mama

hoboism

Dear Della-

It is Halloween season and you have not begun to fully grasp what this means. I have shown you the house up the street that maniacally decorates their yard but you were only moderately interested which is fine with me.

Last year, you we dressed you up like a monkey which went over very well. My coworkers coined you Drunkey Monkey. This year Dad decided to have you be a Hobo. I was sceptical at first but supportive. We found clothes for you at Value Village some of which you will continue to wear even after the festivities. Who knew that I would find such cute bargains?

On Friday, Dad's office held trick-or-treating for the employees children. I picked you up early from daycare then went over to see Dad. Got you dressed in your overalls, complete with hand sewn patches, a flannel shirt, a hat from the JLo collection and your boots. We put some makeup on your face to give you that unshaven look and Dad even got you carnations to wear. Dad also painstakingly cut a branch off the maple tree, sanded down the knots and ends to protect you from yourself and put on a bandanna at the end to hold your stuff. Just so you know what a great Dad you have, he even dressed up like a Hobo himself. Whatta guy.

You had fun going from office to office with your friends, Sophie and Marlee. Sophie showed you how to pick the candy and you picked up on it quickly. You liked to choose just the right one and put in your bucket that I got from a kid's meal at Jack in the Box. Classy, I know.

I think you enjoyed the stairs at the office just as much as the candy gettin' just to put it in perspective for you. I know that next year and each consecutive year will bring more excitement to this holiday. For now, I am just happy that you have not figured out what "candy" really means to a kid. Your dad and I know the power candy holds, as do our friends, since none of your candy made it through the weekend.

Mama

New format

Dear Della,

Today your mom moved the blog over to Blogger. It is going to give us some better options for posting and it's FREE!

I have been eating a lot of Halloween candy this month. Some of my favorites are Runts and Twix. My friend Grayden is going to be a Power Ranger for Halloween. I remember last year you were a monkey. I remember when your mom bought the costume and I thought it was SO cute! What are you going to be this year?

~ Jen*