15 Months
Dear Roo,
In the whirlwind of coming home from our trip (and preparing for our next adventure, next week!), I almost let a month’s birthday letter slip past me.
But don’t despair. I only almost forgot. How could I let this month pass us by- with all that’s happened? For one, we went to Maine. Which was so much fun. Something about the adventuring, or the lack of distractions to fight over, or friends to see- it brought you and Sophie together. Suddenly you are a team. I remember feeling closer to my sister when we were away together. You two are amazing, standing at my feet chanting, “Gummi, gummi!” Together, you emptied every cabinet in our Maine cottage. Tonight you had on pink and purple tutus, chasing each other in circles trying to steal the other’s balloon. John looked at me and said, “Something’s going to happen because this is just too good.” I find myself treating your new relationship with kid gloves. It seems so new and fragile. I have to remind myself that your bond is much deeper than anything a few tears could break. It’s now and forever, and it’s so incredibly special to watch it take shape.
Besides discovering Sophie, you discovered apples in Maine. Apple was one of your first signs and first words- “Ap-ful.” We were walking at WoodenBoat one day and found a crabapple tree. You couldn’t stop saying it and signing it and gathering as many as your tiny hands could carry. It’s like it was put there for you. SOphie found butterflies, you found Apfuls. I pulled half a dozen of them out of your mouth, all sour with tiny teeth marks. It was a thrill.
I won’t soon forget you standing on the Town Dock in Sedgwick, looking out to where our boat will be next summer. It’s like a light went off and suddenly you signed and said, “Boat! Boat! Boat!” Your first boats, in the Benjamin River. How appropriate.
My other favorites are “bobby” for body (with a raise of the shirt), and “booby” with a milk sign, in any number of public places (now I know why people call it “Chichi” and “Cook” and “Lulu”). Box and duck, ba-oon (balloon), da (dog), ah-choo, down, up, shuuuu, bath- so many words I’ve lost track. New ones everyday.
You are something else, sweetness. Cuter than the day is long. Happier than happy begins to say. So smart, so funny, so immensely full of life. You are becoming one of the big girls so quickly. Sophie leads you all over town, holding your hand. One of my favorite memories of our trip to the Children’s Museum was seeing you and the two Sophies crawl into bed in the Japanese house, all tucked into a sleeping bag on the bamboo tatami mats. It was a giant playhouse to the three of you, and you were truly playing with them, amusing them as much as they were amusing you. You walked out holding onto each of their hand’s, giggling all the way.
The glee on your face was something you could bottle and sell as an anecdote to any depression. It was perfection.
Thank you for being my beast. Happy birthday!
Love, mama
