Our Newest Addition

My dear girl, you have definitely grown (as does your vocabulary every day).  We were very excited when you began to say the word "loquacious" on your own (Daddy's choice for your first word), and have a fantastic video with you saying it out aloud.

Your second birthday has come and gone, and you quite enjoy having "Happy Birthday" sung to you, as well as being quite proficient at blowing out candles.  In fact, you enjoy watching the birthday videos of yourself on a daily basis...sometimes more than watching your beloved Dora, Paw Patrol (the theme of your birthday this year), or Wiggles...just to name a few.

You love the outdoors, and would spend your time outside all day, rain or shine, if you had the chance. You've begun to ride a tricycle - with the help of pushing by people behind you. You also enjoy "helping" Daddy mow the lawn, as you follow him in toe with your own mower (which produces bubbles as you go).

You have a clear love of swimming, which is a great turn of attitude from your first experience in the pool (where you hung onto Daddy's neck for dear life, screaming and wanting out). Now, when we turn down Morningside, you will gleefully say, "swimming", remarking on the "college" we pass by before heading to our final destination.  I think part of the appeal is the slide you sometimes get you use when you're there in the pool, but either way, so glad you enjoy it. You will often have an audience as well, when Nanny, Nonno and Zia Seb show to watch you swim. I'm sure you also enjoy the treat they will often indulge you with after the fact at the Tim Horton's! Your last session ended the beginning of June, and you have finally graduated to "Guardian 2". Hopefully all will go well this time around as well.

Some other stories...

Mommy and Daddy had to get your bathroom renovated recently, as you are way too big for the baby bath we still had to use (since there are rust marks in the tub). So about 1 month after renovations started (just after Easter), you joyfully exclaimed "Pretty" and "Rory's bathroom" every time you entered the finished product. We were able to entice you to go into the big tub once...and then you insisted on going back to your little tub. It was quite frustrating, especially as you try to "swim" in said tub - as your legs stick out the end. Just recently (as in last Friday), Mommy was able to entice you to "swim" in the big tub. You quite enjoyed it...I just hope we will be able to convince you to do it again soon.

Mommy and Daddy (and you as well) enjoy going to Lonestar to have lunch every once and a while. You quite enjoy eating the beans, rice, chicken, cheese...heck everything - especially when distracted by people around you. You have recently upgraded to asking Mommy to make you your own fajitas (in the shell) for you to eat like Mommy and Daddy. So, suffice it to say your very comfortable with this restaurant...a little too comfortable. Especially when a month or so ago we arrived at the establishment and you looked at the sign and said, "home". (Maybe we go a little too often...)

You've had some other cute stories, like enjoying making and hiding in your little fort (made from our lawn chair cushions in the basement), you enjoy going down the slide that Nonno brought over (or any slide for that matter) in "Rory's park", running away from everyone around our property (something you need to do better with as we don't want you getting hurt), and playing at the water table in the backyard (and drenching yourself in the process). You enjoy having Daddy put the covers over his head in bed, then slowly making your way towards him and pouncing on him when he least expects it. When asked to do something, you will often say, "Not yet...SOOOON!"

Your love for Paw Patrol is hilarious. Your Zia Seb and Nonno purchased all the stuffies for you to play with, and play with them you do. You even enjoy when Daddy hides them around the room and you have to find them - which we also have a video of. Your Zia Monica and Zio Derwin bought you a small pull out couch with these pups on them, which you enjoy sitting on or laying down on whenever you have the chance, often asking Mommy or Daddy to sit with you (too small for us to do, by the way).

You received a dollhouse from one of Mommy's friends, one that is slightly taller than yourself. You enjoy putting the furniture all over the place and using your little people or Paw Patrol puppies to reenact some form of imaginative play there. Recently, after a bad wind storm, you saw some workmen repairing a roof across the street. Shortly after, you grabbed your "tools" from a puzzle you have and have begun to "repair" your own house using the hammer and screwdriver - and asking others to assist you in this task - much like the workers you observed. As you can't quite reach the top, you will often go get your stool to climb up and repair the shingles that are otherwise out of reach (you smart cookie, you).

Zia Monica and Zio Derwin got you a trampoline (to soon replace the bed in what will be your sibling's room). Since putting it together, you enjoy taking a bath, then coming out of the bathroom, fully naked, and jump on the trampoline yelling "Naked Baby". (By the way, another catch phrase you seem to have picked up out of nowhere is "What?...What the heck?" which you seem to use more than Mommy would like.)

You most DEFINITELY have a strong personality, and enjoy directing people as to what you would like (for example: sit here, play "Pup-Pup Boogie", Hey Google). You are really sweet, as every time you see a speaker now you think you can request songs to play that you enjoy, beginning with the phrase: "Hey Google". You still enjoy when people clap when you do something, and reading is definitely a big draw in your attention across the day.

Knowing all this, I was a little worried when you would have to begin to share the spotlight with a coming addition to our family. For months leading up to Mommy having a baby, you seemed to show glimpses of understanding that something was growing inside Mommy's tummy. Sometimes you gave hugs to the baby or patted Mommy's tummy. It was very sweet. Still, I wasn't sure what you would do when the day came when you would have to share the spotlight.

That day came June 21, 2018. Your baby brother, Alan, was born in the early morning while Nanny and Nonno came to take care of you. Later that morning, Daddy came to pick you and Nanny up so you could meet your baby brother...and you were ecstatic. You wanted to hold him from the get-go. In fact, when Daddy picked you up from daycare later that day, you were excited to see Nanny, then asked to go to the hospital to see Mommy and your baby brother. Since then, you can be seen patting his back and saying, "It's okay, buddy" or "You are okay, honey." You want to help Mommy feed him (even if it's just for a little while) and watch when his diaper is being changed.

It's still early days (Alan's less than 2 weeks old at the moment), but I really hope that it's a sign of your upcoming relationship.

P.S. Not all stories are fun. Over the long weekend in May, we had to repeated go to the hospital with you, as you obtained a couple UTI's. It was not fun seeing you lethargic with fever and in pain. We couldn't obtain a urine sample, so you had to have a catheter done (twice)...it broke our hearts!  We really hope it won't happen again.