Friday, November 23, 2018

Two and a half!

Dear sweet Goose,
You are TWO and a HALF! We sang "Happy half birthday to you" and put a candle in your toast to blow out. And now when anyone asks how old you are, you say "two and a half!" Your other big thing to share with everyone, all the time, is "I'm not a baby!"  I call you "baby" sometimes, as a term of endearment; you always correct me. Sometimes you wake up a few hours after you've gone to sleep and start crying and I'll come to you and murmur, "it's okay, baby, mama's here" and you will murmur back in your half sleep "I'm not a baby!" Today the train conductor said "hello, baby!" to you as you got off the train and you looked at him like he was dumb and said "I'm not a baby." So, you are consistent!




SO clearly not a baby! Nearly a grown up!

You have really started to assert your independence, clearly following your own agenda despite what Daddy, your babysitter and I are asking. Another frequent phrase we hear from you is "I listening now!" which is almost always in response to us depriving you of something you want because you haven't been listening. For example:
Me: Goose, please get down from the couch like that, we don't jump on the couch
You: jump jump jump
Me: Goose, I don't like that, you're not being safe with your body!
You: jump jump jump. I AM being safe
You: I want a cookie
Me: Goose, you may not have a cookie since you're not listening or being safe with your body
You: jump jump jump.....I listening now!

You don't like to be rushed and scolded me a LOT when I half pulled you across the street so we could get across in time with the light. You told me I was being super mean and hurt you (I really didn't hurt you at all!!) and did not like it!  I love that you assert yourself! But it scares the shit out of me that sometimes you don't feel like crossing the street in a timely manner

Also along with your dancing to your own drummer: you pick out your own clothes now. You have a favorite pink and white striped skirt that you wear almost every day.





You also are very particular about which shoes you're going to wear, which coat you want, how you want your hair done and what accessories you want to bring with you every time we leave the house. If it's completely up to you, you'd be completely laden with a backpack, a purse, a stroller, a wand, a baby (or two) and a phone. As you can see from the above pictures, we usually end up with one or two and that seems satisfactory.

You love hearing stories, love the library and love cuddling up with me and your sister and listening to what she's reading. Right now it's Little House on the Prairie, and while the narrative goes over your head, you ask often about Mary, Laura, baby Carrie, Ma and Pa. 

You also love signing and often sign to yourself as we're walking down the street or trying to fall asleep. The last rainy day we had, I was crabby about the weather and was grumpy to have to go outside to get where we were going. And you just started singing softly "Oh! It's a rainy day! Oh! Rain rain rain! Oh! I love to find puddles!" and instantly my mood brightened and the rain seemed more fun.

You continue to bring joy to all you meet. Keep listening to your own drummer, dear Goose.