6/52

A little late this week, but better late...

This week, Wild Irish Rose:

-- You finally walked in the snow!!! And loved it! A major breakthrough and I couldn't be prouder of you. It was just like it "clicked" and you saw that you were safe and watched how Emmaline loves it. Whew. 

-- We had a blizzard, your first. You enjoyed watching the snow and were un-phased and happily ate and played as if it were nothing.

-- Valentine's Day came and went without much fanfare from you but you did learn to shout "canny!" when you see a crinkly red package. Ehem.

-- Favorite song, A Tisket, A Tasket. Preferably sung by your older sister. 

-- You have zero interest in potty training (dreadful phrase) but love to listen to me read Once Upon a Potty over and over again. You especially like the picture of poop in the potty. 

-- You finally learned how to climb down the stairs. Yay!

-- You like to pretend you are a "pinchess." It is ridiculously cute. 

This week, Emma Bean, 

-- You enjoyed the blizzard. You said it made you feel cozy, like Little House in the Big Woods. You helped us shovel afterwards too. 

-- We went to the ocean when the weather warmed and you fished for "mackerel." You definitely have your Boppa's love for fishing inborn.

-- You loved every minute of Valentine's Day. Your favorite part was either getting a flower as a present or dancing with your cousin Penelope in Nonni's kitchen. You couldn't decide.

-- Your favorite story of the moment is the original Peter Pan. We're reading it aloud at night and we're both savoring all the big and interesting words. You stop my reading to make me define them. 

-- The story you told to me while I snapped those last two photos was about a prince lost in an ancient forest and how a wandering minstrel upon a white horse saved him. It was dramatic, sweet, elaborate, nuanced, and ultimately happy. Much like you, my sweet. 

5/52

My smart and sweet girl, this week:

-- You discovered that your new favorite word is "gusto." 

-- You made a plethora of Valentines with a deft hand and a storm of red glitter. You continue to impress me with your creativity and focus while completing projects. 

-- Your favorite story (redux) was Stuart Little. Favorite song, Suzanne by Leonard Cohen. 

-- You insisted on tasting sriracha. You were not a fan. But you do love sweet potato kale tacos. 

-- You danced with your little cousin Penelope. It was the sweetest thing ever. 

This week, Noodlebug:

-- Your new-found independence retracted slightly and you wanted to be held, rocked, snuggled, worn by either mama or daddy a lot. The push-me-pull-you of toddlerhood. 

-- Your favorite story (by far) lately is We're Going on a Bear Hunt. You almost have it memorized, clever baby. Favorite song, The North Wind Doth Blow. 

-- You got a "boo boo" by clunking into the table but you wore your shiner with pride. You are a tough bug. 

-- You continue to smoosh food in your hair at almost every meal, so your new hairstyle is a "top knot" and your head tends to smell like sunflower butter or tomato sauce or banana or cheese. I will probably tease you about this someday. 

-- You climb onto the stool in the bathroom to "washa hands" several times a day. It's really cute. 

4/52

This week, my "wild Irish rose": 

-- You spent the first full day perfectly happy without being strapped to me in the backpack. Bittersweet. 

-- You pretended to be a "supow-hewow." 

-- You were so very very happy that we had a strange thaw and all the snow (which you HATE) melted away. Once the wind calmed and the sun came out, you played hard in the mud. It should be a fun spring!

-- You really started to speak in full sentences: "Mama, Emmaline play dow (doll) a' me in a' playroom." You like to observe and report to me what exactly is happening in the house as we go about our day. 

-- You continue to show me your impressive memory: you will say, "Mama, dance a' Cracker" (ha) and then hum almost the entire Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy correctly. You know a lot of songs and titles of book by heart. I recognize myself in you more and more every day. 

This week, my Bluest of the Blueberries:

--  You went ice fishing for the first time with me, Aunt Lauren, and Uncle Jonathan. We did not catch any fish, but you were a great sport and enjoyed "skating" in your boots all over the ice. You helped collect firewood to build a fire on the ice and helped Jonathan pull up the lines when we were done, un-phased by the process of killing the bait fish. 

-- You enjoyed the late January thaw immensely, playing outside in the sun for a full five hours, building the first fairy house of the year. 

-- You loved going to the beach on a rainy, windy day. 

-- You slept in a couple of times. It was fun to watch you so still and peaceful. 

-- You begged, again, for a dog. And dislike, much as I did as a child, the phrase, "We'll see." 

-- You really got a kick out of playing with Tess. She got you to laugh hysterically while you played ball together. You are such a joyful and playful child. I love that you will play with anyone, of any age, and enjoy yourself. That's a talent I hope you never lose, my love. You are anyone's and everyone's peer.