Girl’s Life

Happy 22 month birthday, Sophia!

Yesterday you turned 22 months old, and I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that it’s almost time to celebrate your 2nd birthday. I still often call you my baby girl, but I can see clearly each day that you are quickly turning into my big kid.

This month was full of activity and chances for you to learn. There were weddings and birthdays, Father’s Day and 4th of July. You soaked it all in and had a blast. You are a kid who definitely loves parties, activity and all things summer. You love the sun and playing in the water. And you love how long it stays light outside because we’ve been letting you stay up later at night (8:00pm bedtime? Crazy, I know!)

I talk often about your independent spirit. And let me tell you, kid, you are becoming more independent and unexpected every day. I mean, seriously, just look at that clown nose. Your dress-up box is bursting at the seams as we keep adding new beads, purses, hats and tutus every day. Girl, you definitely have your own sense of style, and I just hope you hold onto that for a long time because I can tell already that it suits you well. Friends will be drawn to your goofiness and will stick around because of your sweetness and loyalty.

You communicate with us all the time, and you pretty much never want to stop talking once you start. This past month, your vocabulary and pronunciation abilities grew like crazy. You have started talking mostly in sentences, and those conversations are both hilarious and sweet. Like the time I came into your room and found you reading your books. As you finished one of your favorites, you closed it and sighed happily to yourself, “I like that one.” Or when you were rubbing the dog’s belly and exclaimed sincerely, “I love this doggy!” It’s really cute to hear you express your opinions and preferences. But as the fun conversations and real words become more common around here, your cute mis-pronunciations of words are starting to get inched out. Here are some of the toddlerese words you have been using to describe the things in your life (many of which have been replaced this past month by the correct one, which is genuinely really cool but also makes me a little sad): meh-sin (medicine), hey cap tah (helicopter), pahla (panda), snah-mee (snowman), nana (banana), nogurt (yogurt), hecktango (rectangle), tryfly (butterfly), meal (mail), heh-hand (headband).

You are a whirlwind of energy and fun, and yet an uncommon and wonderful break from the stresses of life. You are peaceful and turbulent, serious and silly. You are my sweet daughter, who, at only 22 months, continues to teach me new things each day. I love that we are learning from each other, and I love to watch you grow. If you promise to keep squealing in delight, I promise to keep tickling you, making monster faces and turning on the sprinklers to full blast. Thanks for the laughs and love.