Change over Time

Dear Vinny,

I was gone most of last week, and in that time you have grown tremendously.  You're bigger physically, but more striking is the way that your speaking ability has expanded.  Your sentences are more complete, and you're using articles.  This is something new in your development.  I never cease to be amazed by the big changes that take place over the short times that I am away!

Love,

Mama

Potty Progress

Dear Vinny,

You have now pee-peed in the potty twice!  But more importantly, you're starting to recognize the signals from your body. Last week, during an evening bath, you told me you needed to pee, so I took you out of the bath to sit on the potty. Unfortunately, I didn't leave you on the toilet long enough, because you peed right after I put you back in the bath, but I was pleased that you seemed to know that you needed to pee. Similarly, on Saturday night you said you needed to go poo-poo, so I set you on the potty and a little tiny something came out. I was really proud of you for that.

Love,
Mama

Swimming

Dear Vinny,

We traveled to Evansville, Indiana last week under sad circumstances.  Sadly, your great-grandma Mary passed away the previous weekend, and we went to Evansville for her funeral.

We were staying in a hotel with a pool.  On Friday evening, I persuaded your Grandpa John to borrow some swim trunks from one of his brothers and help me take you on your first swim, in the hotel swimming pool. At first, you didn't quite know what to make of the swimming pool, so we just sat you on the side and let you kick and splash. But after you saw Grandpa get in the water, you decided to try it too. Mostly, Grandpa and I just held you and jumped up and down in the water. We also let you "swim" between us by passing you from person to person. You had the greatest time, and cried a lot when it was time to go. The next morning, you were asking to go swimming again. This tells me that I need to sign you and myself up for baby/parent swimming lessons!

Love,

Mama

Important Breakthrough

Dear Vinny,

I am pleased to report that you pee-peed in the potty for the first time tonight.  It was just a tiny trickle, but it definitely happened!  I am so proud of you!

Love,

Mama

Fun Day Together

Dear Vinny,

Today, we went shopping together, to give Daddy a chance to take a nap. You really like to talk to people and you flirt with everyone you encounter. You also thanked the salesperson helping us, who remarked that you are very polite.

You are amazingly polite, and just about always thank people for giving you things. I suppose that's because Mama and Daddy always thank you and you've just picked it up from us.

Then, this evening you and I cooked dinner. You really love to cook. We whipped up some pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs. You helped me with the pancake batter and the scrambled eggs. We cooked 5.5 eggs because you were really excited about the eggs and I mistakenly allowed you to hold one. You then cracked it against the side of the bowl (just like Mama) and then crushed it in your hand (not like Mama).

Something else you love to do is to take the wrapper off the butter. I have to watch for pieces of wrapper that you might have missed.

I have to also be extremely vigilant the whole time we're in the kitchen together. You can get into things before I know what happened. But I do enjoy cooking with you nonetheless!

Love,
Mama

Long Lapse

Dear Vinny,

It has been quite some time since I last wrote a letter to you.  I'm sorry that I've been so busy with other things.  I will try to fill in some of the gaps here.

First, we had a wonderful birthday party for you the weekend of October 17-19.  We invited your four grandparents down to spend the weekend all together at a cabin at Big Ridge State Park.  We all had a really good time and you were the center of everyone's attention.  Your grandparents brought you a lot of presents, including a Vinny-sized table and two chairs, a submarine bath toy, and a whole new fall/winter wardrobe.  We had a nice birthday party for you, complete with a chocolate cake with raspberry filling made by me, and party decorations supplied and put up by Grandma Marvis.

We took you trick-or-treating on Halloween, which you enjoyed, but you didn't quite understand.  We dressed you in a park ranger outfit that we had bought for you at the Grand Canyon.  You thought that the purpose of knocking on doors or ringing doorbells was to enter people's houses, so you did, several times.  I had to chase after you many times, and I got to see the interior of some neighbors' houses.

In November, you spent a week with Grandpa and Grandma, while Mama and Daddy went to Austin, Texas for Mama's supercomputing conference.  You had a good time with Grandpa during the day.  The day before Mama and Daddy left, we all went and saw your Great-Grandma Laura who had just turned 100.  While you were there with Grandpa and Grandma, Grandpa took you on a trip to see his mother, your Great-Grandma Mary.  He said you really enjoyed the trip, pointing out all the bridges that you saw.

We stayed home for Thanksgiving so it was just the three of us for Thanksgiving dinner.  You have become fascinated by the mixer, so I took the opportunity to have you help me make rolls for Thanksgiving dinner using the mixer.  You got a big kick out of turning on the mixer, except for the time that you turned it on high and the flour was thrown out into your face.  "I finished!" you declared.  Unfortunately, the rolls burned, so I whipped up some cornbread instead.  You ate only cornbread and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner.  You are a huge fan of cranberry sauce.  That's my boy!

You love going to the children's museum here in town.  Aunt Laura and Aunt Anne renewed your membership to the museum for your birthday, which was just wonderful of them, because you love that place.  The major highlights include a room with nests recessed in the floor, which you can push buttons and illuminate (it's the push-button/light combination that you love!); a room full of trains and an elaborate model train layout that you love to watch; and an exhibit about Appalachian life with various instrumental parts playing "Turkey in the Straw" at the push of a button -- you particularly enjoy the string bass part.  You have been known to run down the hall squealing in excitement.  If you could live in the museum, I think you would!

The first weekend in December, we took you to the museum twice, and in the evening after it closed we took you to see the outdoor train garden there illuminated with Christmas lights.  Although it was really cold, you enjoyed the trains a lot and were very disappointed to leave.

You've become interested in the potty (which you pronounce "polly") but you haven't yet figured out when you need to use it.  You really enjoy watching the "Elmo Potty Time" DVD, and sitting on the toilet reading the Elmo potty book complete with buttons to push that make various sounds.  And speaking of television, you really love the show "Oswald."  Your love of Oswald has eclipsed your love of "Jack's Big Music Show" and "Lazytown."  You've also started watching "Blue's Clues" sometimes, which led to the following funny incident.  Daddy was playing a computer game, and suddenly you started shouting, "A clue!  I see clue!"  We didn't know what in the world you were talking about until we saw a pawprint in the game.  You are a very observant boy!

Another thing that shows your advanced powers of observation is that today, when we were watching Oswald say goodbye to his pet fish, you said "I feel sad Oswald" -- Vinny-speak for "Oswald is sad."  I was impressed that you noticed Oswald's sadness and possessed that kind of empathy for him.

For Christmas, we went to Kentucky.  During the week before Christmas, we were at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and got to see your Aunt Rachel, Uncle Scott, Cousin Byron, and Aunt Laura.  Also we saw your cousin Maya, Aunt Vaughan, Uncle Austin, Aunt Kristin, and Uncle Andy.  You also got a chance to meet Mama and Daddy's friends Carrie and Chad, and their kids Alex and Annika, and to jump on their bounce house in the basement.  You really enjoyed that jumping.  You also enjoyed helping Grandpa cut down and decorate a Christmas tree.

On Christmas Day, we went to Granny and Granddad's house, and got to have dinner with them and Aunt Ginger and Uncle Johnny.  Then, Aunt Mary and Uncle Wayne came for a visit too.  You had a great time with all those relatives, and your presence gave great joy to them too.

You got all kinds of presents for Christmas.  From Mama and Daddy you got a big boy bed, although we haven't set it up for you yet.  It's a twin mattress, plus sheets, a blanket, and a comforter, and some decorative pillows.  The sheets, comforter, and decorative pillows are an underwater theme, with sea creatures playing musical instruments.  It seems like the perfect theme for you, because you love fish and music.

From Grandma and Grandpa, you got a fish tank.  We also haven't set that up for you yet.  They provided the tank and accessories, but we need to get some fish.  Aunt Laura and Aunt Rachel's family both gave you some books.  I know you will love to read them, because you are an avid reader.  From Aunt Ginger and Uncle Johnny you got some more Curious George stuff (book and video), to go with the book and Curious George stuffed animal they gave you for your birthday.  And Granny and Granddad gave you many gifts; your favorite one was a set of eight bells upon which one could play tunes.  But you prefer just ringing them as fast as you can.  Fair enough.

Your vocabulary has expanded a lot.  You are pronouncing words better and better, and you are forming more advanced and complicated sentences.  You are very polite and basically always say please and thank you.  Also, when you ask for things, you generally say "I'd like some [whatever], please."  You're repeating more and more of what Mama and Daddy say to you, such as "Let's do it!" and "That's a boy!" (which is Grandpa's influence, not ours).

Every day you bring such joy into my life, sweet boy.  Thank you for all your love.

Love,

Mama

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Dear Vinny,

Today is your second birthday! It is hard to believe that you are two years old already, but when I look at you I know that you are. You're still a very happy boy, and your powers of speech continue to amaze me. Speaking of amazing, you are amazed by a lot of things still. You see something interesting, and you exclaim, "Oh, wow!" How I love to hear you say that!

Today we went to Chuck E. Cheese with Tia and Uncle. You enjoyed the pizza but you also enjoyed running around the restaurant and looking at all the blinking lights.

We brought some frosted brownies to serve as a cake for your party. Daddy gave you the candle to lick, but you didn't understand that you were supposed to lick it, and took a big bite out of it instead. I don't think you enjoyed the taste of wax very much, but you wouldn't let me get the wax out of your mouth. You just chewed it and swallowed it.

For your birthday, Mama and Daddy got you an iPod Shuffle because you love to listen to music so much. You've been listening to Daddy's iPod a lot, and you will even sit for 15 minutes at a time, just listening. I loaded it up with your favorite songs.

It was a lot of work giving birth to you two years ago, but the joy you have brought into our lives was well worth the effort!

Love,
Mama

Drawing Developments

Dear Vinny,

You have been scribbling on paper for quite some time. You sent Granny a "signed" Easter card before you were able to sit up on your own, and for every holiday and birthday since, you've signed cards. You also love to draw on paper, the floor, whatever you can make a mark on.

But until last week, as far as we knew, it was just scribbles. But then, you drew something and told me what it was: an airplane. Amazing!

Your favorite artistic subject of late has been thunder and lightning. You also love to draw the moon (still one of your favorite things), and you've drawn pictures of Mama and Daddy as well. None of them look quite like what you're intending (yet) but in time they will. You are an accomplished artist already.

Love,
Mama

Toddler Tunes

Dear Vinny,

You are one big music fan. This is at least in part because your parents are musically inclined.
But in addition to being predisposed to enjoy music, we've exposed you to a lot of music in the 22 months since you were born. (You might argue that we exposed you to a lot of music in utero, too.)

When I put you to bed, I always sing at least one song to you. Every night, we read (sing) Down by the Bay, which you absolutely adore, and then I sing "Can't Help Falling in Love." Despite my voice's bad reputation (my singing was once mistaken for the sound of someone being strangled by a snake), you seem to enjoy it. Personally, I think that I may not have the best voice tone, but thanks to my perfect pitch, I'm never off-key.

You love Jack's Big Music Show, and from that show you and Daddy learned about the renowned children's singer/songwriter Laurie Berkner. Daddy bought a couple of Laurie Berkner CDs and put them on his iPod. You can't get enough Laurie Berkner. Your favorites include "I'm a Mess," "Under a Shady Tree" (which you refer to as "Twee"), and "Running Down the Hill" ("I-I-I-Wunning" -- from the lyrics).

You've always been fascinated by the piano. In February, we got it tuned, and you watched the piano tuner intently. When the man tested his tuning by playing, you had to sit next to him and watch, and cried when it was time for the piano tuner to leave.

You love to play the piano too. You will actually sit on the piano bench and play for several minutes, which is remarkable, given the attention span of a toddler. You do more than just pound on the keys; you sometimes appear to be picking out a tune of some sort. And when you find a sound that you like, you repeat it before moving on to something else.

Something that's been interesting to watch is your musical development. You don't really sing yet -- you haven't figured out how to make your voice change pitch -- but you definitely can distinguish singing from speaking. You also seem to have tunes going through his head: you'll break out with "I-I-I-Wunning...daaaw Hiw" (for example), even when you haven't heard the song for quite some time.

You sometimes sing along with music -- you especially enjoy singing along with the "Jack's Big Music Show" theme song. It is incredibly cute to hear. You know to lengthen or shorten syllables with the rhythm, but like I said, you haven't figured out how to change the pitch of your voice yet. You also clap to the rhythm of songs, and dance too. It is so cute when you dance. You jump but you haven't figured out how to get completely off the ground, so it's more like springing up to your tip-toes and back down.

In a few years, I would like for you to take piano lessons, because one thing I regret is that for all the musical talent and skill that I have, I don't know how to play the piano. I'm looking forward to the further development of your musical talents!

Love,
Mama

Words, Letters, and Numbers

Dear Vinny,

You have been saying more and more interesting sentences. Just yesterday you said to Daddy, "Open trash door, I throw away trash." When you're hungry, you'll say (for example), "Want some yogurt-toast" (that's toast with yogurt instead of jam).

You've also learned how to turn doorknobs, which means that you can leave your room if you'renot tired enough to take a nap. (Or you could, until we installed the child-proofing on the doorknob inside your room.)

You're getting a lot better at feeding yourself. You get more than half the food in your mouth when you feeds yourself, which I call a success. But you do enjoy rubbing the yogurt (for example) into the tablecloth or your clothes when it drips or misses your mouth.

You can recognize all the letters of the alphabet. You don't know the order yet but we've been practicing the alphabet song with you. You also know your numbers, although again you don't quite have the order down. I like to count things with you. For example, we'll be playing with a truck and I'll ask, "How many wheels?" You'll usually "count" the wheels, although the wheels are actually a means to an end. The goal of counting, in your opinion, is to get to ten (or sometimes, twenty). It doesn't really matter if you skip a few numbers or go out of order. Once you get to the target number, you celebrate. So usually, the reply to "How many wheels?" goes something like this:

"One, two, four, five, seven, eight, ten, yay!"

Close enough.

Love,
Mama

Back Together Again

Dear Vinny,

I was gone for a long time and I'm glad to be back home with you and Daddy. I missed you both lots and lots. While I was gone, Daddy took you to see Granny and Granddad, who really enjoyed getting the chance to see you. You went to the park to watch birds with Granny, and you got to play with Granddad and his trains.

Daddy said that you really started speaking in sentences regularly while you were at Granny and Granddad's. I was surprised when I saw you how much more you were saying. At dinner last night, you said to me, "Mama, I missed you all day!" I tell you that same thing when I come home from work every day, but I hadn't said that yesterday so I was really impressed when you said it!

I missed you all day, every day, too.

Love,
Mama

Vocabulary Development

Dear Vinny,

You are fast learning more and more words. Sometimes your pronunciation is not quite right, however. For example, when it's time for a siesta, you tend to say, "Map!" And when you've found something very precious that you want, you say "Nine!"

Daddy bought you a very nice toy setup with a fridge, microwave, stove, and oven, which you refer to as "Chicken!"

Love,
Mama

Dentist Follow-up

Dear Vinny,

Daddy took you for your follow-up appointment with the dentist on Monday. The dentist said your tooth was fine but that we needed to take away your binky because it was damaging your bite. So we did, but it has been very hard on all of us. You've had trouble sleeping through the night because that's when you've had it for the past several months.

I've noticed you cramming your hand in your mouth a lot more, which must be because you're missing that binky sensation. I'm so sorry that we have to do this, but it's for the best, my sweet boy.

Love,
Mama

Mommy or Mama

Dear Vinny,

When you first started talking about us, you called your parents "Mama" and "Dada." I thought that "Mama" was so cute that I decided I preferred it over "Mommy." Daddy likes being called Daddy, though. So he encouraged you to change to saying "Daddy."

But I'm keeping "Mama," so I guess it would be more consistent if I signed these letters with that name. So from here on out, I will.

Love,
Mama

Your Antics

Dear Vinny,

Despite your sore mouth, you continue to be cheerful. You seem to have come down with a bit of a cold, but it hasn't dampened your mood.

This afternoon, instead of napping, you were singing. Here's a transcription (courtesy of your father):
blug-bo-blug-bo-goobar-goo.... dug-do-dug-do- hi-hi-hiyea yo yo hiyea yo yo hieyeah dooo gooo blug goobar goo

You have a wonderful sense of humor and you tell me what's particularly humorous by declaring it "Fuuunny!"

One of the most hilarious things is to peer through the handle and bench of your toolbench. "Ahsee-ooo!" you announce. "Fuuunny!"

Another hilarious activity is when we touch our feet and wiggle our toes. "Giggle giggle giggle," you say. You also love to smack my belly and watch it jiggle, beep my nose, or pinch it and hear me say "Ga-HOO-ga!", and point out my eyebrows (which you pronounce more like "eyeball," but you're definitely talking about eyebrows).

You're extremely ticklish in the armpits, so it's easy to get you to laugh that deep, belly laugh of yours. I love hearing it!

You love the book Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. I have read it to you many, many times. You bring it to me and say, "Wead? Hand?" It is impossible to say no to you, even though I don't like it nearly as much as you do.

You have an amazing vocabulary, and know the word for just about everything you encounter. I enjoy watching your development!

Love,
Mommy

Dentist Visit

Dear Vinny,

Yesterday morning I took you to the dentist. This dentist was recommended to me by my dental hygienist, who saw him when she was a child. He seemed very nice.

It took me and the nurse to hold you down so that Dr. Bob could look at your tooth. You were pretty upset with the whole deal. Your tooth is probably going to be okay.

When he was poking around at your tooth, some off-white ooze came out of it. He didn't think it was pus, but gave you a prescription for antibiotics nonetheless. You and I went to Kroger to fill your prescription and stock up on other things that we needed. While there, we bought some Father's Day cards for your Daddy and your grandfathers. We also bought some peroxyl and gauze, to clean your mouth with as the dentist ordered. You don't like it when we do that; it must sting quite a bit.

You're sleeping through the night again and much more cheerful than you have been for the past few days. I am glad that you're healing up and my negligence didn't cause permanent damage.

Love,
Mommy

Pain in the Tooth

Dear Vinny,

I feel like the worst mother ever.

We were having a pleasant morning, horsing around on the bed, you and I. Daddy was in the other room starting his breakfast.

You were tumbling on the bed and I was trying to keep you from tumbling off. But I misjudged the distance and you fell right off the bed. You tumbled a full rotation and landed on your face!

You were screaming! I grabbed you and held you to my chest, trying to calm you down. At that point I saw the blood coming from your mouth. I thought you'd bit your lip or something so I tried to get a better look, but you were screaming bloody murder. I finally got a glimpse and saw that your left front tooth was jammed halfway back up into your gum. I called to Daddy and told him that we'd better take you to the doctor. He called the doctor's office and they told us to take you to the emergency room. So we decided to take you to Children's Hospital.

I tried to hold ice to your mouth but the pressure really made you hurt. We finally got to the hospital and saw a doctor, who said that your tooth would eventually descend on its own. He also told us to follow up with a dentist to make sure your growing permanent tooth bud hadn't been damaged. We were to take you home and put you on a diet of soft foods for the next week.

I am so sorry that this horrible thing happened to you. If I had the power, I would gladly have suffered that injury rather than you. I love you so much I can't bear to see you hurt!

Love,
Mommy

Your Latest Obsession

Dear Vinny,

Lately, you have discovered the moon. You are now officially obsessed with it.

After you first became aware of it, you looked up one evening, saw a streetlight, and shouted with delight, "MOON!!!"

Even now, you are very fascinated with the moon. You want to go outside and look for it, even when it's daytime or when the moon is not up.

Anything moon-shaped, whether a crescent or a circle, immediately elicits the exclamation, "Moon!"

The other night, when you were getting sick, you were absolutely inconsolable. Then Daddy looked up the object of your infatuation on Google images. You stopped crying and looked at the pictures.

I wonder whether your fascination with the moon will continue into adulthood. It will be interesting to watch!

Love,
Mommy

Updates

Dear Vinny,

This past weekend, we went on a hike in the Smokies. Daddy carried you in the backpack carrier. The weather was just beautiful and so was the scenery. After the hike we drove on a scenic loop before returning home in the late evening.

Then this week, we went out to dinner with Mommy's friend Bruce. You enjoyed meeting him, despite the fact that he has a beard. Maybe you're getting over your fear of bearded men.

Lately, a ten-year-old girl from down the street has come over to play with you a lot. You two play in the front yard together. You love it when she picks you up and twirls you round and round, and when you chase her. A lot of times she has a dog or two with her, and you absolutely adore the "oofs."

On Thursday night, you were whiny and cranky and we didn't know why. We thought it could be your two-year-old molars, which are coming in. But the next day you spiked a fever and Daddy took you to the doctor. You had a very sore throat, and you were moaning in pain for most of the day, which probably explained how you felt the night before. But this morning, you seemed fine, just in time for Mommy to come down with it. If Daddy's lucky, he won't catch it. I bought him some orange juice when I picked up some ibuprofen for you on the way home from work yesterday. Hopefully that will help him.

I'm glad you're feeling better and hopefully I will feel better enough to celebrate Mother's Day tomorrow.

Love,
Mommy

Nineteen Months!

Dear Vinny,

Today you are nineteen months old! In the past month, your vocabulary has expanded a lot and you have gotten much more skilled at walking.

Something amazing is that you know the word "triangle" (when you say it, it's more like "nangle") and can successfully identify triangles when you see them. You are also learning your color words, although you haven't connected the words with the matching pigments. Likewise, you know a lot of numbers but I don't think you've yet made the connection to quantification.

Over the past month you've developed a fascination with the moon. You're always wanting to go outside and see the moon, even when it's not in the sky or it's a new moon. Lots of times, you've been overheard to say, "Mama, Dada, moon!" -- the three most important entities in your life.

Love,
Mommy