Dear Ana,
Today you turn twenty-six months old. You are probably wondering where your “twenty-five months” letter is and the truth of it is that I was trying to stop writing these letters every month. It was starting to feel like more of an obligation and I didn’t want it to feel forced. I know. I’m sorry. But I found that I kept thinking of things I wanted to say and share with you and I couldn’t find any other way to work it in. It wasn’t worthy of an entire post to itself and was generally longer than the 140 characters Twitter allows, so I was stuck. Then it happened: I realized I really missed writing to you each month. So here I am…again with the monthly letters. I hope when you are older you will have the same satisfaction in reading them as I do in writing them.

I guess the biggest thing to happen lately is that you are suddenly into all things princess. You discovered the Disney Princess empire and you embraced it with wide open, satin covered arms. We exchanged one of your birthday gifts you already had and I let you pick any toy you wanted. When you spotted that Cinderella Barbie it was like you two were meant to be together. You only had eyes for her. We left the store and you couldn’t open it fast enough. We brought that doll with us everywhere for an entire week. Then you realized there were more princesses. Cinderella was your gateway drug and she lead you to Ariel, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White.

More than just playing with the dolls or watching the movies, you love to dress up like a princess. The timing could not have been more perfect when a friend of ours gave you all her old dress-up clothes. You still need help getting them on, but once you are dressed you easily embrace your princess role and ask the nearest person, “you want to go to the ball with me?” and then you spin in circles and “dance” around the room.

Right about the same time the princess phase was developing, the ballerina phase began as well. I’m not entirely sure where you learned about ballet, but one day you informed me you were a ballerina and off you went twirling and jumping around the room. I decided to investigate my options and was thrilled to find a “Tip Toes” ballet class for two year olds through parks and rec and instantly signed you up.

Your ballet class is quite possibly the cutest thing I have ever seen. The way your teacher is able to hold the attention of TEN two year old girls is beyond me. But you simply love it. You run, jump, and spin all while wearing a tiara and manage not to trip over your tutu along the way. Then at the end of class you take turns hugging your teacher and all your new ballerina friends then frolic off to look at yourself in front of the mirror…err…I mean, to “practice on the barre.”

As well as ballet, I also signed you up for another round of swimming lessons. Since this is your third swimming session, I wanted to spice things up a bit so I signed you up for an evening class that you can do with Daddy. The two of you get so excited every Tuesday and Thursday as you get ready for class. I thought it would be a good idea for you and Daddy to have more things you do together. I love spending time with you, but I often feel like I am taking all the fun stuff and leaving Daddy with the leftovers. So swimming lessons will hopefully be the first of many daddy-daughter outings.

Now that you are two whole years old, we have been trying all sorts of new things lately. A couple weeks ago we went bowling with our MOMS Club. With the aid of ramps to push the ball down and metal “bumpers” blocking the gutter, you did quite well! In fact, there were a few times where your score was ahead of mine (I didn’t get to use the bumpers)! I was very impressed watching you carry the heavy (6 or 8 pound) ball from the ball return and place it on top of the ramp. You didn’t care how many pins were knocked over but you sure loved watching the ball “pop” up from the ball return. It was standing there that you discovered the fan and I soon lost your rapt attention and more frequently found you hoovering over the fan letting it blow air in your hair. Oh well, what was I to expect of a two-year old attention span anyway?

Since your art class ended, I have been trying to occasionally do some crafty sort of things. It’s hard for me, getting all messy and creative, so I apologize for not doing it more frequently. I try really hard to keep from inhibiting your creativity and try to just let you have fun…it was just easier to do when it wasn’t at MY house. So we have done lots of coloring and very recently introduced play dough. You didn’t quite understand the appeal at first, so I picked up some “tools” and you had a blast squeezing, cutting, pressing, and rolling the dough.

While I know that you are still relatively little, I understand that you are growing up. So a couple weeks back we got shifted and got transition services from https://onestopselfstorage.com/ and now I started digging out all the stuff I’ve been collecting for your “big girl” bedroom. I opened up the under-bed plastic storage bin with your quilt and pillows and you instantly climbed into the box and curled up in the blankets. You thought it was your new bed! While it was adorable (and I had to take pictures) I would never make you sleep in a plastic box. So to explain it to you, I brought you into the office and put your blankets on the “guest” bed in there and showed you where your big girl bed will eventually be. Now, we still have to do some shuffling and rearranging in the house before it will be official (Daddy’s office is moving into the media room so the office can become your big girl room, leaving the nursery as it is). You are very excited about it all, but my heart breaks a little thinking how quickly you are becoming a big girl and are no longer my little baby. Apparently it’s not enough that each time I slip up and call you “baby” you keep telling me, “Mama, I’m not a baby, I’m a big girl.” But no, you have to go out and show the world as well.

All my love,
Mama

Dear Ana,
Today you turn twenty-four months old. It’s hard to imagine it, but two years ago today I was sitting on the edge of my bed, hunched over my giant belly, trying to paint my toenails through labor contractions because I did not want to give birth to my daughter and not have the decency to try and look presentable. While I was concerned with my appearance, your father was frantically running around the house making sure all our electronics (phones, camera, video camera) were all charged so he wouldn’t miss a single thing about the day you were born. Funnily enough I don’t think there is a single shot of my perfectly painted toes. Oh well, you can’t blame a girl for trying.


I know I have been saying this to you all along, but this month your personality really exploded. You have started doing things I didn’t expect for months or even years! The one that first comes to mind is that you have started asking “why?” to everything I tell you. Regardless of what I say, your response the majority of the time is “why?” I wasn’t expecting this phase for at least a year, so way to catch me off guard on that one! The hilarious thing is that if I don’t answer quickly enough you answer, “because!”


Like any child your age, you can be a little demanding and bossy, but more often than not you are incredibly supportive and enthusiastic. You are always encouraging me and saying, “It ok, Mama, it ok.” Or when I tell you about our planned outings or activities for the day you are constantly telling me, “that be fun!” Often you even follow it up by putting your tiny hand up in the air and shouting, “high five!” And nothing melts my heart more than when you are sitting on my lap and reach your hand up to reassuringly pat me on the cheek.


But your mothering instincts don’t stop at being my own personal cheerleader. You are always trying to take care of everyone around you. The other day I was in the kitchen and I kept hearing you say, “I get off all the poopies.” Assuming you were just recalling your most recent diaper change, I didn’t think anything of it. Then after hearing you say this over and over a few more times, I peeked around the corner into the living room to see you had emptied the better part of a box of baby wipes “cleaning” your baby doll’s bottom. There you go again, always being a little mother!


Aside from developmental milestones, the big news this month is that you are now an international traveler! Your Daddy was asked to speak at a conference in Milan, Italy and he invited us to come along with him. We decided to extend the trip to include Rome, Florence, and Pisa. Not knowing how we could adapt to dealing with a toddler in a foreign country, we brought your Grandma Nana along so she could lend a helping hand. But for the most part, very little help was needed because you were such a hit in Italy. Those Italians sure do love babies! Everywhere we went they were always picking you up to give you a hug or kiss, stopping in the middle of the street to say, “Ciao, bella!” or even slipping you extra pieces of candy with dinner.


But it wasn’t just the hospitable Italians. I have to give credit where credit is due and admit that you are one SUPER TROOPER. You were always on your best behavior, despite being in a foreign land, where you didn’t know any of the places we stayed, recognize any of the foods we ate, or even understand the language they spoke. You were naturally curious, and occasionally shy, but always polite and used your manners more than I could have ever imagined. The people we met were consistently shocked to learn that you weren’t even two years old, as you told everyone you met, “I’m Ana…I be TWO in Dis-ember.”


I readily admit that we took full advantage of your generous attitude. We packed too many sites into the handful of days we were in Italy. We rarely ventured back to the hotel for your afternoon nap and as a result, you often fell asleep on your father or I. This came in handy several times as you were known to fall asleep in the (dull) museums and us adults were then able to wander through at our leisure. You would occasionally open your eyes and upon seeing that we were looking at yet another old church (or statue or monument), would allow your eyelids to close once again and slip away to a peaceful sleep.


We haven’t ever really messed with your sleep schedule too much, aside from daylight savings, so we weren’t really sure how you would adjust to the change in your schedule (not to mention jet lag). You have always been a pretty consistent sleeper, napping just like clockwork. So on one of the first nights we were in Italy when you started to fall asleep at the dinner table, you could understand our shock. You were in the process of putting a cracker in your mouth when your eyes rolled backwards and your head started to lull to the side. Your Daddy thought you might be having some type of seizure or stroke because this was something we had never witnessed before. Once we realized you were falling asleep, I just encouraged you to finish the food in your mouth then slid you off your chair and onto my chest where you slept for the remainder of the meal.


That wasn’t the only sleep-related first we encountered in Italy. Upon waking up one morning in Milan the first thing you said to me was, “what happened?” since nothing had happened I just reassured you that you were sleeping and everything was ok. You then told me, “the doggy got wet…on hims glasses.” Since I KNEW that obviously didn’t happen, I quickly realized you were dreaming and told you so. To which you replied, “I was watchin’ a movie.” I giggled to myself and realized that to a two year old that’s probably the best way to explain a dream when you have no idea you weren’t awake but were actually sleeping.


While our time in Italy was packed with cultural and historical things that held no significance to you, we also tried to find activities that would interest you as well. We discovered several parks and playgrounds in Milan and gave you a few opportunities to try to break through the language barrier and make some adorable little Italian friends. We even visited the Museum of Natural History to let you look at all the animals, where you spent the majority of the trip with your nose pressed up against the glass in amazement and awe. Because of you we balanced our stuffy museums with urban parks, our strong cappuccinos with creamy gelatos, and our brisk walks with leisurely cab rides. You allowed us the opportunity to actually sit back and enjoy the country as it was intended.


It has been an amazing two years, my sweet girl. You have changed my life in the best possible way. You have completed our family and brought me happiness I never imagined possible. There is no one I would rather devote my time, my energy, my life to than you. As I watch you grow up and slowly unveil just a hint of the spectacular person you are to become, I can’t help but glow with pride and a sense of accomplishment, reveling in the fact that I made you. You make me so proud EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. And while I may not always say it, because sometimes words and stress and life get in the way, please know that I am always thinking it, and I don’t ever want you to forget. Happy birthday, Ana!


All my love,
Mama

Dear Ana,
Yesterday you turned twenty-three months old. Your birthday is quickly approaching and this is a fact you are not oblivious to in the least. Lately you have become OBSESSED with birthdays. When you aren’t singing “happy birfday to Swiper” you are telling me all about your birthday party:

Ana: Mama, I have a birfday party.
Me: That’s right. It’s coming up. What do you wanna have at your party?
Ana: Um. Birfday cake.
Me: Of course. Anything else?
Ana: Um. Birfday hats.
Me: Sure. We can do that. Is that it?
Ana: Aydenowen!!

This last part is frequently changed to whoever is your favorite friend at the moment. Apparently all you need for your birthday to be complete is cake, some party hats, and your best buds. Sounds good to me!


Being the little charmer that you are, people are always stopping us to say how cute or well-behaved you are. The first thing they ask is your name and in true little girl form you have to assert your independence and therefore have started to answer the questions yourself, telling them, “I Ana.” Then anticipating their next question you chime in with, “I be TWO in Dis-ember!” More often than not, people are shocked that 1) you know how old you are and 2) you can speak so well for not even being two years old. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: you continue to amaze me.


Sometimes the fact that you are a nearly-two-year-old-prodigy goes to your head and you have been known to show off a little bit. For example the other day we were playing at the park when two little boys (I’m guessing about three and five years old) came over to the play structure where you were climbing. They were playing hide and seek and the younger brother peeked over the edge and shouted, “Where is you?” to his hiding brother. Wanting to play too, but always striving for perfection, you ran up behind the little boy and shouted, “Where ARE you?” Clearly illustrating the “correct” way to find someone who was hiding. Like I said: SHOW OFF.


Several weeks ago you were the flower girl in your Aunt Darcie’s wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and you played your part wonderfully. Leading up to the event I kept talking about “my sister” so much that you started telling people that you has a sister. At first I was a little concerned that you had developed some sort of imaginary friend but upon further questioning I solved the mystery. You started out by telling me your sister was little… and you loved her… and liked to kiss her… Then you informed me your little sister’s name was Amalia (your friend Everett’s new baby sister). It sounded like Maria when you said it so it took me quite awhile to figure this part out. I think all the “sister talk” made you want a sister too and the only person you knew who had a little baby sister was Everett. If you’re lucky, maybe he’ll be willing to share until you get one of your very own.


Here in the Bateman household, we love fall. We love the changing of the seasons, the falling leaves, the cool weather, the pumpkins and especially Halloween. And you are thoroughly enjoying all the activities we set up to celebrate this amazing time of year. I was really excited how involved you wanted to be in each activity, particularly when it came to pumpkin carving. You climbed right up beside me at the table and plunged your tiny arm into the sticky, slimy pumpkin, just as I had done. You laughed out loud in glee upon discovering what was inside the pumpkin. You delighted in the large slippery seeds and helped me (mostly) clean out an entire pumpkin before tiring of your role in the process. You slipped away to catch up on some Dora the Explorer while I did all the intricate carving, but quickly rejoined me for the exciting unveiling of the finished pumpkin.


I showed you the pumpkin I carved especially for you and asked if you could tell what it was. You looked up at me in disgust and informed me it was a pumpkin. I laughed and showed you the design I carved and asked again. This time you paused, and studied the varied shapes and slices, then muttered, “Umm. A car?” I knew it was a little tricky to identify in the daylight, so we took you down to the laundry room, lit the candle, and turned off the lights. You instantly shrieked out in delight, “It DORA!!”


Seeing how excited you were about your Dora pumpkin, I carved an Elmo one as well. This time you were much quicker at identifying the carved character. Anytime we were returning to the house from our daily outings you would shout, “Pumpkins! I see my pumpkins! Hi pumpkins!”


Then after all the excitement of pumpkins we got to celebrate Halloween. I was really excited because of how excited you were to go Trick-or-Treating. You wore your lion costume like a pro, even giving a nice “rawr” upon request. You said “trick treat” when asking for candy and whenever you forgot you filled in with the ever acceptable “candy please” making me the proudest mama of all time. You were completely in awe of the total strangers that were just giving away candy and probably would have trick-or-treated all night if it weren’t for the fact that you are a tiny littler girl who requires lots of sleep to maintain your pleasant nature. Lots and lots of sleep.


Oh honey, you know I only tease you because I love you. And how could I not? There are just so many things about your personality that make you totally and completely lovable. I love the way you are suddenly obsessed with Rice Krispies cereal and insist upon eating it for breakfast–“at the BIG table”–every morning. I love that you beg me to “sing Rock-a-bye Baby and tickle me” every time I try to put you to sleep. I love that for a week straight you counted like, “1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 9.” Every. Single. Time. I love that you think it’s hilarious when you ask someone, “What’s your name?” over and over again. I love that you say “cheers!” and chink your glass at least once during every meal. I love when you burst into song and sing one line on repeat. I love that you want a vacuum cleaner for Christmas. I love that you understand the library is a wonderful place. I love when you ask for a family hug. But most importantly, I love you.


All my love,
Mama

Dear Ana,
Yesterday you turned twenty-two months old. We’ve been pretty busy lately so the date actually snuck up on me. In fact I didn’t even realize it was the 9th until I opened my weekly email from Baby Center and they announced, “Your child is 22 months old.” But even more shocking was the little postscript at the bottom of the email informing me, “In two months, your toddler will turn 2 and you’ll graduate to the ParentCenter newsletter, My Preschooler This Month!” Preschooler? PRESCHOOLER?!


One of the things that has been keeping us so busy is the sheer fact that it’s fall. My favorite time of year. Very soon you will discover all the wonderful things that come with fall: pumpkins, the leaves changing color, Halloween, crisp autumn air, burning candles, wearing sweaters. I digress; I just love it all. The other day I decided we would go out and plant some allium bulbs. I thought it would be fun to be outdoors, get our hands dirty, and several months from now I could share with you the softball size purple and white blooms that would surely delight you. I explained what we were going to do and you seemed pretty excited, particularly about getting to have your very own shovel. You were having a great time until about five minutes in you leaned over a little too far and fell into the (barely six inch deep) trench I just dug. You stood up, decided gardening was not for you and insisted, “Wanna go inside now.”


I am consistently amazed at what a person you are becoming. Complete with your very own thoughts and opinions on just about every matter. In the last month you have really started expressing your emotions. You are always telling me, “I wuv you Mama” and wanting to give your Daddy and I hugs and kisses. When you’ve been crying and I ask you what’s the matter you simply say, “I sad…need a tissue.”


You got sick a couple days ago while your babysitter, Steph, was watching you. Luckily Daddy was home and rushed down to help: stripping you out of the soiled clothes and cleaning you up. He later told me that as he was cleaning you, you looked up at him and said, “Juice come out mouth….make me sad.”


With learning how to express emotions, you are also learning how to manipulate them. Playing to our weaknesses and turning on the sweet, innocent charm to get the things you want. Anytime you’ve just gotten in trouble or done something bad you shrink down a little and softly whisper, “Hi Mommy.” I’m sure you would even bat your eyelashes at me if you only knew how.


More than just sharing your feelings and getting yourself out of trouble, you are always keeping us entertained with the things you say. For example today at lunch you took a bite of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and declared, “It my favorite!” Totally out of no where. In fact, in the past you were less than impressed with the childhood staple. These are some of your more frequent expressions lately:
“Where are you, Mommy?”
“Hi friends!”
“I wan’ choca’ milk. Choca’ milk p’ease?”
“I did that!”
“I hold you, Mommy.”
“Shhh! What that?”
“I hear kids!”
“Wanna watcha movie?”
“Daddy workin’…office!”

Several of your playgroup friends started preschool this year and as a result there has been a lot of discussion involving school. A couple weeks ago you asked me to help you put on your tiny back-pack and you climbed on your bike and informed me, “I go school!” Soon enough, my dear, soon enough.


In lieu of school, we are taking another class through the parks & rec. This particular class, “Creating Together,” is a parent participation art class. I wanted a way to let you be artistic and messy, but not necessarily in OUR own home. This was the perfect solution. I was a little worried when you walked up to the homemade play dough, touched it and promptly walked away proclaiming, “it yucky!” But you came around when you spotted the paint and even let me help you to finger paint…once you realized it would wash off of course.


All in all, I would have to conclude that this has been another amazing month. As we get closer and closer to you becoming a preschooler (a chill went down my spine as I wrote that!), I feel like our time–just YOU and ME time–is slipping away. You are growing up faster than I could have imagined. I want to spend every minute with you, filling our days with fun outings and exciting adventures. I love that fact that you have truly taught me to live in the moment and never take anything for granted. I can promise you right now, I will never waste an opportunity to wrap my arms around you and remind you that you are the most important thing in my world.


All my love,
Mama