dear amelia

(picture taken by grandma sue, thanks for the extra!)

to my dear amelia,

there are many, many things i love about you: the way you smile. the way your eyes sparkle when you are being a wee bit naughty. how your dimples mostly only show when you are laughing a big, hearty laugh. the way you walk off in a huff when things don't go your way, swinging your arm & giving everyone a snarl & furrowed brow. you stand up for yourself against not just your sister but all other kids (& adults!). that you have learned to share, already. the keen interest you show in loving on all animals, especially our mostly ignored griswold. the way you tell me where to put your numerous hair accessories & then smile in the mirror, pointing all of them out to me--again. that you sing yourself to sleep most nights, in your tiny, tired voice (with an empty bottle still in your mouth, you talented child). how you have figured out most puzzles we put in front of you. that you have learned to shake your body to all types of music (except country! my girl...).

so recently you have started to potty train yourself. this has caused numerous frantic moments on my end. but just yesterday, two days after you turned two, you proudly brought in the potty bowl (yes, spilling it on the carpet while you walked) to mommy & daddy's bedroom holding the pee bowl above your head with a huge grin on your face. then you quietly said: pee pee. you rejoiced over your pee pee reward of 2 m&m's & have been pulling off your diaper or pull-up more often than even before (you've been doing that for awhile now, pulling off that diaper, *sigh*).

i know this is just one example of milestones you will reach before we anticipate or have even given thought that you would soon be approaching said milestone. there is your ability to put 4 year old level puzzles together & now your ability to potty train yourself, to eat soup with a spoon at month 13, to pull yourself up a climbing wall before age 2...to bring yourself into this world 3 week early (thank you so much for that one!). to enjoy talking about poop with adeline & your daddy well before you realized truly how funny it is.

even though you reach most milestones early you still *love* to be carried around on my hip (or, if a grandma is nearby, on her hip) & snuggled with throughout the day. sometimes we still just sit & rock on the big, cushy rocking chair, not saying anything (if i do talk or sing, you will put your hand over my mouth & very seriously whisper "shhhhh"). just rocking & cuddling. i love these moments.

then there are the moments when you SQUEAL. & i say squeal but i mean breaking some sort of noise barrier in space with your ability to hit opera-level vocal notes. i'm not sure if there is a word to fully describe this sound but this happens at any time of day, whether you are mad or happy or sad--it's just always a possibility, your super squeal-shrieks. often the first time i hear it at that certain moment it scares the bejeezus out of me, making me jump & turn faster than i should. that response usually instigates another round of this noise...

your mood expressions are now epic in my mind. you have the cutest angry face ever! & the silliest happy face...but each mood is fully pronounced on your face or body movements. again, showing everyone where you stand on a topic. i think in your quiet moments you are faithfully studying body language, trying to learn ways to communicate without talking (although you have mastered language quite well, but when you talk that generally prompts your sister to start talking--nonstop--not letting you get a word in). by the time you are an adult it is possible you could make folks cry just from one look. (maybe even before then). (& btw, i think this is a stoneburner family trait, just ask your grammum about that).

i know you will do some mighty things in your life--you have that spunk & sticktoitiveness that it takes to climb mount everest or fly in space or be a parent or a yoga instructor or a veterinarian. whatever it is, i know you will give it your all, with your quiet but determined spirit.

i love you & your daddy loves you & your sister loves you & griswold simply adores you. even in the hardest parenting moments with you i will never forget what a blessing & joy you are (now for pete's sake, put something on your bottom before you pee all over the place again.)

xoxoxo
love,
your mama

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age 2

age 1

newborn

a few weeks from birth

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just had to throw another fun one in here. this is her being funny for the camera but instead looking a bit drunk...