Developing

Dear Catalina,
I'm sitting here holding you on my lap while you sleep (hence the picture). You have decided that you are dead set against sleeping for more than a about 45 minutes by yourself. It's challenging, but I have to keep reminding myself that you are only going to be little once and I should just enjoy this time with you. Hopefully we're not permanently hurting your ability to sleep alone as you get older.

You haven't hit any major milestones since I last wrote (other than eating a worm the other day out in the garden --which was really funny!). You continue to develop your walking and communication skills--quite slowly but that's ok, and you've even crawled a little bit here and there. Your opinions about the ways that your life should go are getting stronger (read you have your bratty moments), but we're trying to gently guide you away from having too strong a reaction to not getting your way. You still love your daddy and give mommy a hard time, but there are now times when you prefer me. You have recently discovered the moon and you take us out every evening to look at it. The joy you get from seeing the moon is awesome! A couple other things you enjoy are our Buddha statues (Buddha is one of the clearest words you say!) and making a motion like an elephant trunk every time you see an elephant. So funny the things you pick out!

I worry almost constantly about you. Logically I know your fine, but I am paranoid that we aren't stimulating you enough, feeding you enough, or getting you to sleep enough. Its so hard to be a parent! I hope that you grow up realizing that we're doing the best we can--you mean the world to your dad and I.

I guess I don't really have much else to say. Just wanted to check in.

I love you to the moon and back!
Mommy

A year ago...

Dear Catalina,
Its your first birthday! Happy Birthday, Sweetheart! I can't believe it's been a year. At the same time, it seems like a lifetime ago that I was sitting in the hospital, all hopped up on adrenaline and hormones, unable to sleep even though my mind and body had just been through this crazy wonderful roller coaster! Ironically, I find myself here, one year later, completely unable to sleep, listening to your breathing next to me. What an experience this whole motherhood thing has been!

Today we had a birthday party for you. To be honest, it was more for mommy and daddy than for you--we haven't seen many of our friends lately--but you were the star of the show. Several kids were here and we had brunch and a piñata. The piñata was ripped open rather than beaten because the kids were all too young and lacked the strength, but I think it was still entertaining. You were so tired by the time everyone left, poor thing. You held it together remarkably well though.

So I wrote a post a few days ago, but it somehow got lost. Sorry. This technology is a little imperfect. I think I was marveling at how it seemed that you woke up a few weeks ago and decided to walk, talk, and sign all at the same time. You are learning words so fast (granted, only mommy and daddy really know what you are saying), but its amazing to watch. So far you sign for all done, more, flower, tree, bird, fan, milk, and a modified butterfly. You say ball, balloon, bird, onion, roof, hat, awesome, bat, light, fan, and I'm forgetting some others (lack of sleep I guess). You walked about 20 feet the other day which is your record so far. Still no crawling for you.

One of my favorite times with you is the morning. You almost always wake up with a smile. You are talkative or cuddly, or sometimes both. Daddy used to set the pillows up in a mound, lay you on top, and we'd shout, "steam-roller girl" as we set you to rolling down the pillow hill. It was really hilarious. You used to laugh too. You always want to talk about the fan when you wake up--you always have. I guess its still a marvel for you. So funny. This morning I awoke before you and was debating about sneaking out of bed, but you snuggled up close and wrapped your little arms around my neck. Oh, that is so precious!

Ok sweetie, I'm going to post this so I don't lose it. I will add pics later. Happy Birthday, Darling. I love you oh so much!
As always,
Mommy