Melting Hearts

Mina is the most charming, funniest, cutest baby I know. I know I'm biased okay, but she's really hilarious. I used to read that nothing can prepare you as a parent for the love and joy that your children can bring into your lives. All I can say is they were right.

For every innocent joyful laughter, every request for a "kish" complete with both hands on my cheeks. For every request for a hug complete with a pat on the back. For every smile, for every new expression, new word learned, new developmental milestone crossed...for everything there is an exponential burst of just amazing feeling. She is joy encapsulated. She is wonderful, and loving. I am glad of all of it because it means I must be doing something right, right?

She is developing at warp speed and surprises me everyday with the phrases she can complete. She can express herself so well and according to the books she is months ahead of schedule. Most toddlers start with 2-word phrases at age 2 years of age. She can speak in 3 and sometimes 4 word sentences at 18 months.

She loves dancing, she loves singing, and watching videos of herself. I need to take her outdoors more often as we don't always go on our morning walk anymore. I used to take her 3-4 times a week but I'm sure we'll get back to that as the weather progresses. She goes to two toddler classes which end next week. Meaning I have to sign her up for something else soon.

She eats like crazy. I see no evidence of a stop-i'm-full signal. If she sees something new she will eat it. I have to really firmly tell her no a lot. And hide food. Oh boy, that is no joke. I'm trying not to worry. A parent can always find something to worry about. She's in the 50th percentile for weight actually so there is no reason to worry. Her favorite food group is carbs but I'm glas she likes healthy stuff too like cheerios, apple, and carrots. Broccoli has to be cooked exactly right to be accepted, not too hard, not too mushy. Same goes for zucchini and squash.

I'm kinda stagnant in introducing new and healthy foods to her like, I don't know, legumes and such. I tell myself I have no time but I know I can find the time if only I organize myself better. But her diet is at least pretty good most of the time. She gets her portion of fish, and meats, and fruits and veggies. She eats a bit too much rice still in my taste but I've decided not to worry about that. Once we are living on our own, we'll have much more control of what goes into her tummy, and rice will be curbed to no more than one serving a day. She does like noodles though.

Well, if you've stayed here this long, I should reward you with a video of the charming one.

Here she is in her dance class for toddlers.

The BIG errrr....TWO-NINE

Okay, so I'm not quite the Big 3-0 yet. To be honest, I'm okay staying 29. Or even my current age (for two more days) of 28. Really, I'm okay. I'll stay that way if you please. You, being the collective universe, father time, mother nature, the fountain of youth, etc. etc.

I always thought I'd be one of those people who would age gracefully. I would look at wrinkles as a sign I've smiled too much and lived a lot. I would never be one of those people who lied about their age, or admitted their age with regret. I never thought I'd care, but it turns out I'm as flawed as the next human being. I do care very much. Maybe if I'd done everything I wanted to do, I'd actually be looking forward to planning a 30th b-day looming a year from now; and be a pro once I got to a point of time to start gathering 50th birthday party ideas. The problem is I feel like I haven't done much. I wanted to go to Paris by my 30th bday party and that's probably not gonna happen. I promised myself that trip when I was 15 years old! I was also supposed to go white-water rafting, and sky-diving. I'm supposed to be fitter than ever, and rich. Yes, I know money isn't everything but my imaginations always had me living a fabulous life. I'm supposed to be published already, or at least with a fluorishing career I could be proud of....

I better stop. My life may not have turned out the way I imagined it to (I mean, I was in High School when this fantasy life was planned) , and maybe time is passing by too fast, but I am happy and have much to be grateful for. Kids, this is Mom being self-pitying and being an ageist. I mean, 29 isn't old. It's the new 19...riiiiiight?

I won't be celebrating big for my 29th, and I'm not holding out on a special 30th. Woody will probably still be in Iraq, so I don't think he'll be able to throw me a 30th suprise party. I refuse to get depressed over something that shouldn't be depressing. I'll just browse this website on unique party ideas to mark the special time. What could I do different? Maybe a trip to Hawaii, and a few special friends to hopefully join me in an intimate luau on the beach. Everyone has to have a lei, or a Hawaiian shirt/clothing. I'd be really fit from working out hard and steady for a year (haha!) and I'd be in a fabulous sarong and bikini top. My cake will be a mango cake, and a Hawaiian ukelele will be playing Happy Birthday by a Hawaiian dude.

Or who knows, maybe Woody WILL be back by then, and then we're off to freaking Morocco and Paris like I always wanted!

Note to Mina

Hi little girl,

I sure miss your Daddy. I'm not sure if I'm doing a good job balancing school, spending time with you, and keeping up with everything else. I hope I am. You're smiling a lot, not losing weight (not gaining a lot of weight either though), you're happy. I try to get you some fruites and veggies everyday, although you're still getting a lot of rice in your diet. That's ok, one step at at time. We go to a dance/movement class called Toddlers Tango, Babies Boogie, and you love it! We also go to a gym class on Saturdays which you do ok with. Next time, we're putting you back with Ms. Jenn's gym class though. There's something off-putting about this teacher.

You just love watching any type of videos on the computer, but most especially videos of yourself. We're cranking out videos at a rate of two per week, and you lap it all up. :)

You enjoy crackers and cookies now, and repeatedly ask for them for breakfast. I have to say no of course. Note though that I only give you organic crackers. We don't have any cookies in the house, but you usually get one or two from your Lola's (Papa's sister) house on Sundays.

You're bored with your toys already, and really have no favorites, although you still find joy in the newest one, a finger bunny puppet.

You talk a lot, and regularly say 3 word sentences. You can identify a lot of objects from pictures, like pigs, cats, elephants, socks, spoon, airplane...a lot more hun. I can't remembe them all. I think you're smart and gifted and I along with everybody else, pretty much adore you. I better follow up with a sibling soon so you won't get completely spoiled.