Wednesday, November 10, 2010

dear annaleigh

Being your Mommy is so bittersweet.  While I enjoy watching you grow, learn, and transform into a little person, I don't enjoy that it all means you are moving farther and farther away from being my little baby.  I enjoy the elation that flashes across your face as a new talent has been discovered or mastered.  I don't enjoy that it means you push me away because you can 'do it all by yourself'.  Bitter and Sweet.

Here are a few things you do that make me so proud and happy(sad):

You like trying new foods!  Things you gobble up:  beef stew, salmon & rice, scrambled eggs, yogurt, toast & jam, grilled cheese, grapes (to name a few).

You like to 'stand' while accomplishing simple tasks such as looking at a toy or holding your sippy cup.

You love waving 'hello' and 'good-bye' to everyone, especially the elderly.

You attempt to climb the stairs at every opportunity.  You're sneaky and quick about it too!

You are getting taller.

You quit your bottle and formula 'cold turkey', by your own choosing.  Now you only prefer your sippy cup filled with cow's milk.

When I tell you "No," you look at the object (if it refers to not touching something) and shake your head 'no'.

You try to put the caps back onto the pens.  Emphasis on try.

Lastly, my favorite is when we get to the page where the baby bird "stops to think" in the book, Are You My Mother?, and you pat your head.  The reason?  Because each time Mommy comes to that page, she taps your head (in a 'thinking'-like manner).

I know growing up is a part of life.  But I don't want you to grow up.
But I do.  But then again, I really don't.

Just always remember this: I am not a kitten or a hen or a dog.  I am not a cow or a snort.  I am Michelle.  And I am your mother.
And, no matter what you say, forever my baby you'll be.

I love you,
Mommy

5 comments:

  1. sweet letter!!

    how'd you get her to give up the bottle?? I tried to give Gabriel formula in one of his sippy cups last week and he just looked at me with the saddest face and cried! LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  2. She actually became disinterested with the bottle on her own. Every time I'd feed her a bottle (eating only an ounce each time). Yet she was gobbling up her cereal, fruit and veggies. And always wanting to 'share' my meals. I'm guessing it's because we follow the book "On becoming Baby Wise". They emphasis an Eat/Wake/Sleep schedule. So, she has never needed a bottle to fall asleep...so, I guess, she doesn't see the bottle as 'comfort' but simply as a means to obtain food.

    I guess my advice (take it for what it's worth) would be to help him see the fun and joy in the other ways he can feed himself. What I mean is, when introducing something new, I always just let Annaleigh 'explore' and 'investigate' whatever it is. Like the sippy cup, I have put water in it and let her 'play' with it at meal-times or when she's actually playing. This way, it's not threatening the way she likes to do things, but gets her used to the idea. I have never 'forced' her to drink from it because it's not be 'necessary' to do so and then I'm not anxious, but relaxed. Giving it to her at random times throughout the day to see what she'll do (and trying to teach/show her like it's a 'toy'.) And she's always come into things on her own.

    I hope that makes sense and it isn't confusing and helps! Good luck. And if nothing else, take heart that a healthy, normal-functioning 21-yr-old doesn't drink from a bottle! So he'll do well in his time! He'll figure it out ;0)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the advice!

    I'm a babywise mommmy, too :) so I am all too familiar with E/W/S- it worked so well for us and I'm so thankful I was introduced to that book series! (speaking of which... I'm assuming it's almost time for the next book? pretodlerwise? have you read that?)

    Even though he doesn't need it to fall asleep, I can still tell he enjoys it. Sometimes he'll even suck on it for a few seconds (sometimes a minute or two!) when he's finished with it and I think I let him because I feel bad that we took away the paci at 6 mos- I know that is so silly to feel bad about :-p.

    Good idea about not forcing it on him... I suppose when the time comes and he's supposed to be drinking from sippy cups only, he will drink when he's hungry. He still drinks about 22 oz a day, so even if he cuts back drastically, he'll probably still be within the range of what he needs.

    Thanks again, Michelle :) Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aww...Michelle that is excatly how I feel. I so want them to grow up but I just so wish I could slow it down a tad!!! I guess thats why I have 4 so I could keep having a baby.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous11/21/2010

    How precious to hear how she is growing. I enjoy the book you referred to "are you my mother?" And how adorable that she taps her head like you, kids are such mimicks (which can be good and bad : )) What a great "just always remember this:" you said! Adorable and creative.
    Kari

    ReplyDelete

Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year - it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul. -Unknown