A letter for my girl... {July 14, 2012}

Reagan,

I wanted to write, to let you know all of my favorite things about being your Mommy.  To always remember how our life is right now.  Things will be so different once your sister comes in a couple short months, which you, Daddy and I are so looking forward to.  I hope that she is a clone of you...  I cannot image wanting anything more.

You are such a sweet little girl.  I really am proud of everything you've become, and deciding to stay home with you after you were born was one of the best decisions we ever made.  I cannot image missing out while I work a full time job, even if it means we don't have our dream house.  I've always tried to work my sessions around Daddy's schedule and do all my computer work when you're asleep at night.  We always try to visit Daddy at work since he misses you more than you can believe while he's there.  He comes home for his lunch break everyday to see you, and immediately you pounce on him.  The minute you're together it's all out play, hide and seek, and jumping on him is your favorite.  "Pay wif me Daddy!"  Basically the opposite of me.  From the minute we wake up, you and I are always 'todehvah' and have a pretty good routine : ) 





You've always slept through the night in your own bed since you were 3 months old, but the last 6 months have been a little different.  You started waking up in the middle of the night and getting in bed with Daddy and I.  Every. Single. Night.  Some nights it drives me crazy because you flop all over the place but Daddy loves it.  Poppy says your Daddy did that to him as a kid too, maybe that's why he likes it.  I tried really hard to convince him that we need to get you stay in your own bed, but he disagrees which cracks me up.  I told you a few times that if you flop on me (especially since I'm pregnant) I'm putting you in your bed and now you are like a magnet to him.  I have to say, waking up to see you two 'tootsie todehvah' is the best in the world.  Occasionally you're belly first across his face, but he doesn't mind : ) 

Bedtime is my favorite.  You LOVE bath time and barely still fit in the kitchen sink, which my back is thankful for.  It looks so funny when you want 'high water' and curl up in the sink to soak.  You love watching baby pictures of yourself on the digital picture frame and have me tell stories of when you were little.  While listening to soundscapes and lullabies play on Pandora.  I've always carried you to your room wrapped in a towel afterwards, but recently had to call it quits on that (being 7 months pregnant.)  You're always frisky and play for about 15 minutes before the clock strikes 9 and you run to the bathroom to dry your hair and brush your teeth.  Oh!  I am so proud of the weirdest thing... you just started to spit!  Not a day in your life have you been able to spit anything out, even a yucky bite of food.  So you graduated to the 'big girl' minty toothpaste now that I use, and are so proud of yourself. 

Daddy and I take turns reading in bed to you, (Daddy always first) but lately you have been wanting us to be in the bed when you fall asleep.  We've done this for the last couple months, but broke you of it last week. For now, Daddy sits in the chair while you fall asleep.  Whew.  I do love laying in bed with you, but I knew this wouldn't work once your sister's here. 



The cutest word you say is 'besept' (except)  I wish you would say it 5 times a day.
I don't worry about correcting you, I love the way you say things.  I'll be sad someday when you can pronounce your k's l's and g's.

You switch your s and p's.  Example, spot = psot.  We love it, and when you sing 'the itsy bitsy psider went up the water psout,' it cracks me up.  Psecial and psadeddi (spaghetti) are other fav's.
Your sm's have even turned into ps's too.  Something isn't 'small' it's 'psall'
kiss = tiss,  sprinkles = psintals,  smakerel = psatarel,  spoon = psoon

I have to say... your school work can be challenging some days lately. If Daddy is in the house, forGET it! You are extremely smart, (or rather... psart) reading any book in your sea of a collection, writing great, and comprehending 1st grade work problems just impresses the heck out of me.
BUT... if Daddy is anywhere around... you automatically become completely distracted and say "Mommy, maybe if I run around for a setend (second) I will be able to fotus adain (focus again). Ugh... I dust tan't fint (think) right now!"
It drives me ABSOLUTELY bonkers!
I do get firm, with both of you, sending Daddy out of the house and all but force you into your chair. It's hard for me, because I don't want school work to not be fun, but yet I don't want to let things go and give in. I have a feeling I will battle this for years to come, like anyone teaching I guess. It's only once in a while though.






You have a new obsession with Curious George. The show, books, anything with him. You've been planning your George 4th birthday party for months.

You still won't blow your nose, just like Daddy.

You have a new attachment to your 'Pidawet' and Curious George stuffed 'amiwhals', they sleep with you at night.

I love the way you renamed Chick-Fil-A, "Happy-face-on-Chiten" because the logo looks like a chicken smiling.

At least once a day a stranger comments on your pretty blond streak in your hair.

Christmas music is your favorite.

Two nicknames I usually call you are Biscuit and Babe.

You like picking out what you want to wear for the day.  Always matching, besept, you've started to want socks with your sandals.?  You try to rationalize with me how "it mates sense mommy, betause den I tan see my sot toyor (sock color) and it won't hide in my shoe!"  You also try to convince me to let you wear a pair of socks on your hands and call them mittens.  No matter the temp outside.

When we come home, you tell me to be quiet so we can surprise Sissy and tiss her.  "Get ready, setty, doe!" and we run to the couch and tell Sissy we missed her.






You still think whole veggies are gross, but will down a whole jar of any baby food veggies put in front of you.  I've never heard of kids your age doing this, but I'm just thankful you eat vegetables everyday. 

We love baking cookies and have started cupcakes more often now.  Always boxed mix plus something added and homemade icing.

Just discovered a love for hot dogs.

You want peanut butter and jelly everyday.

Pancakes are your favorite breakfast.  I cook every morning (french toast, eggs/bagel, oatmeal for something quick) but never cereal. 
Never want milk on your cereal, more of a snack.

You won't eat chicken fingers or popsicles, which are two things I thought all kids loved.?

You used to not like Nana's pulled chicken bar-b-que, and called it 'Nana's yucky stuff' ~ now you love it, and still call it 'Nana's yucky stuff,' just with excitement. One of the few meats you will eat.

Every Sunday night we go for family dinner at Nana and Poppy's.  After Poppy says blessing, you started correcting everyone at the table that you don't say Amen, it's A-woman. 
Cracks us up!



Ever since you started using the potty a year or so ago, you always say you need 'pie-vacy.'  We have to leave the room and you call us back in when you're done.  You love when Daddy makes an entrance, "I-I-I-It's Da-a-a-ddy!!!"





For your 3rd birthday you got a wedding dress from aunt TT and it has been your favorite dress up yet. At least twice a week, you put everything on, diamond shoes, veil, bouquet, and marry your Daddy.  You make him stand in the other room, and have me sing the music as you walk down the 'isle.'  I also officiate.  Daddy gets on his knees, you say your I do's and kiss.  But the most important things in the ceremony are the rings and dancing.  As far as you are concerned those two things have to happen or you're not married.









We spend our mornings at home, making breakfast and doing school work usually.  You've liked picnics a lot lately, even if they are in the car, and then we run errands and have fun in the afternoon. 

Your favorite places to go in the mall are:
The rides, Barnes & Noble, Gymboree to watch the TV, the girl section in Macy's, and sometimes the playground as long as big kids aren't there.  Starbuck's to eat the whipped cream off my mocha frappachino.   Abercrombie, aka "the dancing store," because of the loud music.  You dance like crazy as long as no one is watching.
Your other favorite stops are Kid2Kid, Hobby Lobby, the puzzle store (Learning Express), BuyBuyBaby, and 2nd and Charles.  When we eat out for dinner, you think the waiters are called "bringers" and the chef is a "cooker" or rather "tooter".




You have been completely excited to be a big sister.  A few times a day you talk about how she will love to play with a certain toy, how you are going to teach her about whatever you are learning, or how she's going to look so 'tyute' in your old clothes.  You love going to my OB appointments with me, and say you don't want to talk to any one "besept Dohtah Bartawee" (Dr. Bartley).  I didn't know how to respond when you asked me how your sister was going to come out of my pot, but explaining that Dr. Bartley was going to help me, just made her a rock star.  Last week you talked her ear off about your recent beach trip, your favorite princesses and dress up clothes.




You are one organizing fool.  I've never seen a 3 year old want to clean like you do, help with laundry, and "separate" everything.  You helped put away laundry once and stuffed Daddy's socks all in a tiny drawer that wouldn't close.  He left it open until he used enough to close it, just because you had done it.  : )  You group your pop beads together for example, by color and shape, and basically anything else you can think of.  You can't stand for anyone to make a mess (except toys), and doing the incorrect thing stresses you out.  You come by that naturally I have to say.  Because of this, everything you watch has to be fast forwarded at some point. 





You love your Loving Doll House and set them up so princesses and Little People come to visit.

Surprise birthday parties are your new favorite.  You make a pillow cake, with blanket icing and sock psintals (sprinkles). We wrap your toys as presents (in blankets most of the time), and set up your stuffed amiwhals as guests.  Thrills you to death.

Every time Daddy leaves for work, you make SURE he gives you a tiss and a hug through the window.





Reagan, I am so thankful you were sent to us, and for the chance to be your Mommy.
I love you baby girl.