Dear William (29 months)

Dear William,

Today you are 29 months old.

This month, we visited the Butterfly House.

We discovered that you are kind of afraid of butterflies. At least when they are flying around in the air and land on you. Otherwise, you like to look at pictures of them in books.

 

You had another visit from your BFF Anton.

 

And we had Christmas!

 

Your favorite gift of all was your Woody doll.

 

 

You got to see all your grandparents.

Mom and Dad took a break from work and we went on some hikes!

 

You got a few dinosaur tattoos for doing poops on the potty.

William, you have been talking more this month, and that is great. I love hearing about what is on your mind. You tell me about your day at school. Most of the time I can only understand about 1/5 of the words you say, so it reminds me a lot of when someone is speaking to me in Spanish. We're working on your prononciation.

You've had a hard time sleeping this month. You don't want to go to sleep anymore. It is often 9 or 10pm before we can get you to bed. We read story after story. We sit on the potty. We sing songs. You want me to lie down next to you in your bed and cuddle with you. When I try to tell you nigh nigh and get up and leave, you grab me by the hair and say "NO... STAY, MOMMY!" It is hard to argue with that, but William, somebody has to do the laundry and clean up the kitchen and get lunches packed, etc. The whole process is very exhausting.

After we manage to get you to go to sleep, there is no telling how long you will actually stay asleep. You generally wake up at some point in the night and want to join Mommy and Daddy in their big bed (which, consequently, is not so big when all three of us are in it). I don't sleep very well when you are with us, but most of the time I don't mind. You are very cuddly and I love holding you in my arms while you sleep. Someday I suppose you will be 13 and aloof and I will long for these days.

I have asked you why you cry at night and want to come to bed with us, and you keep telling me, "I SCARED OF ALLIGATORS," which is a bit perplexing to me. I tell you that we don't have alligators in Missouri, so you don't need to worry about them. You seem to agree with me and say "ALLIGATOR GONE. HE BYE-BYE." And yet. You still want to come to bed with Mommy and Daddy.

William, I have really enjoyed spending time with you this month. I have enjoyed having conversations with you, and I've especially enjoyed your hugs and kisses. I am looking forward to all the fun things that are in store for us next month!

Love always,

Your mom