This past month we had been doing tons of Halloween inspired crafts that when the 31st rolled around, I was crafted out. I think Halloween and Easter are just two of the four Holidays where we have done tons of crafts.
Your speaking sentences so much and sometimes what comes out of your mouth surprises us. When you are engrossed in an activity, you tell us “I’m Busy don’t talk to me” If you see me getting upset you tell “Mama Relax” If you see me tell dad something in a loud voice, “Don’t yell to papa. Be Nice” If you see me push the dog out the way or call him in from barking, “Be nice to JuanGa Okay. He is a puppy”
Yes and you are speaking lots of English mixed with Spanish. You understand both languages and I am so proud of how quickly you are learning things. The good and the bad too. I say “Oh Man or Oh Crap when I can’t get things to work, you are repeating that too. If I say I can’t do something, you are saying, “I can’t do it” I think I have start saying other words instead of I can’t because I want you to be able to problem solve better than I have ever done in my life.
Your dad is a problem solver he sees a problem he finds several solutions that best fit it and executes and moves on. I hope you learn that from him if anything.
You are hitting when you don’t use your words and bored and if Pop Pop (what you call him sometimes) kisses you too much or when you see me sitting in a chair not paying attention to you. You are also yelling if pop or I are on the phone. I have to take you to the room and close the door because sometimes you yell too much that we can’t hear who is on the phone. Of course i stand outside or in the door with you once your screaming is over.
You and JuanGa love running after each other and your routine of walking him in the afternoons on the beach is sacred. You go with dad or we all go together, you throw him a coconut or ball, you roll around in the sand from head to toe, you play with Liz, and then you take a bubble bath.
You take all of your clothes off and pamper, get in the tub with the bubbles, swim with your toys, and dad and i will help with getting the sandcastle off of you.
You won’t eat until your dad is seated and sometimes you are eating throughout the day that you don’t have an interest in eating. This is the stage where you are only eating certains things and interested in what is all around you. Sometimes my patience meter is low with the screaming hitting and defiance but the other times Pop has to tell me to slow down. You are only two and not an adult.
He is right! But let’s keep that between us lol (laugh out loud)
You also are in the habit of seeing dad sit in his seat while working so you come in with the iPad and sit in your chair and you can be there for quite a bit of time watching videos of anything that has music, now makeup with tinker bell and singing videos with Angela the Cat. You watch things over and over and thing start to dance or sing the words you can remember.
We went to the Yunque this month and loved all the things we saw. You went into the Mina Falls with your dad and covered your head with a giant leaf as it was pouring when we left. We have been busier than usual so we have tried to balance crafts with coloring and iPad time, movie time, and walking outside just to keep you learning.
For Halloween Liz and Cirene wanted to have you and Riccardo our neighbor trick or treat. We went to Carmen’s apartment and you and Riccardo played in your costumes You were a mermaid and Riccardo was a Jake the Pirate. later in the evening we went down and you guys played running in and out of Cirene’s apartment because Mona Lisa was dressed as a little Devil. Paloma had a witches hat on and a little spider. Carmen gave you a little necklace of starfish to go with your outfit. We made popcorn pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and painted little oranges with jack olantern faces for everyone.
You have two months left of being two. I have to say that as you get older, you get prettier, tougher, smarter, kinder, louder, but most of all loving. Sometimes you will just say I love you mommy and papa and it melts our hearts. When you go to sleep each night your dad looks at you and says he loves you so much. He says what I always think. Sometimes you fall asleep being rocked or still taking tete at night. Sometimes you don’t want to sleep while we are ready to knock out. You are sleeping more throughout the night unless you have some growing pains or teeth pain (molars coming in)
You are playing independently if I leave things on the table for you to do or you take out.
I have learned that you will react to our emotions and if I can’t keep myself together, you will call me out on it. If I get upset or too loud you or even laught too loud, you let me know. Your dad always gives me a look of, keep it together. I know that I have to do it more often than not.
One thing I am learning from your dad is too appreciate everyday. And sometimes I don’t feel good and take it out on everyone. I shouldn’t do that because it’s not your fault or pop’s or the dogs that I don’t feel well. I am just getting older. Going to be 40 in two months and it is hitting me that I am not young any more (sometimes my behavior says otherwise.)
Your dad says we need to appreciate all these moments because they just get tougher as our parenting journey continues. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I love you very much and your dad immensley along with JuanGa. If something where to happen to me at any moment during the time you are growing up, always look for people like your dad, that stand up for themselves and others, that let others know where you come from, don’t mince words, and always look for mentors that can help you grow.
As you get older and learn to read, remember that however long I was with you as a parent, that I tried my best, that I loved you as much as I could, and that perhaps my approach to the situations your were encountering during your learning process, was what I thought was right even if your dad did a better job at handling things than I did.
We started this blog for you so you could look back at all of the things you did in your first years of life that we could remember. We are not going to remember every detail but we have documented as much as we can through here, in pictures, videos, and on other blogs.
If you don’t learn anything else from me, make sure that when you become a young lady, you date a person as dedicated to you as your dad is dedicated to me and you and JuanGa.
I am getting too nostalgic while writing this, but I love you very much Daniela Lucia. Kisses. Mom.