Love Mommy

Dear Sydney Maeter,

I don't know if it is something about being the third, or being two, or just that your crazy! But I love you despite all the battles of independence and patience we're going through right now, your teaching me a heck of a lot. Your teaching me to be kind even when I'm on the verge of hair pulling and ears steaming because in all likelihood you truly were being joyfully innocent and lovingly creative. Your teaching me that your YOU, and you want to own that strength and independence. You are teaching me what it's like to have a wild child. You are teaching me that everything comes with a challenge. Is there some big conspiracy that says the third child has to be the biggest challenge? I mean really your 2 so what do I expect, but I mean you are a fighter lately. Everything is a battle. Getting dressed. Washing your hands. Getting in the car. Or out of the car for that matter. You are obsessed with being chased so of course EVERYTHING IS A GAME OF CHASE. Diaper changes. Baths. Getting to the car. Pretty much anytime I ask you to do something and your not holding my hand is a chase. It's so frustrating and scary and embarassing. But you love it despite what Mom thinks and I know to you its a game and I know because of that big old grin on your face every stinkin time!

But even with all the battles of being two you are still irresistible. You have a BIG personality. A WIDE vocabulary; and yes your favorites are poop and butt (fortunately we are over the [private part name] stage the day you learned you didn't have the boy one it became your favorite word to use in front of strangers, remember when you told our neighbor "Mom has a ..." yeah well I'm not sure those neighbors will ever think we are normal). But my favorites are when you randomly are at the store and start going by each aisle saying "inter-esting" or "in-credable". And your curls and smile and welcoming, friendly "hi" invite conversations from a wide variety of people we have long talks while checking out at the store and long talks with people while we're waiting in line to get food, and long talks while were at the doctor. Anyone that says hi back you start a conversation with you introduce yourself, you ask them their name, you tell them who your sisters are, you tell them what we're doing, you ask what they are doing, and on and on it goes till they are out of sight. It makes for some fun and sometimes awkward conversations, "you like cats? Oh my mom hates cats. One time my dad ran over a cat...", I wont lie often I smile, laugh and cover your mouth as we leave, as if to say to this stranger "haha shes embarassing me, lets try and forget this happened". And considering your love for storytelling it's more than likely that what ever your saying it isn't true, and makes me look like a horrible mother. 


Sydney your SO full of life and light! You love to help. You love babies and dolls. You love to tell people "I have crazy hair". You love to poke eyes, yours and other peoples. You love belly buttons.  You love "ruffys"=dogs and all animals from afar, and are scared to death up close. You want mom close always, and dad makes a good second. You love to suck your thumb. You love back and belly scratches. You love brushing your teeth. And you love ... well this list could be endless because you are you and you have a big list of ever growing loves. My favorite of your loves is your love to laugh and tease and make up stories all in the efforts to bring a smile or laugh to others. You and your sister, Piper, especially have a truly special bond. You are the most caring and patient sister there is! You LITERALLY NEVER get mad at your sister. She will pinch, pull, grab, slap, fall, or bang on you all day and you 100% LOVE IT! You laugh and smile and stare at her and kiss her and hug her and squeeze her and cuddle with her and play with her and you just make me melt! You two are destined for a great friendship. Which I caught glimpses of early on when you whispered "your my best friend" in her ear when she was just days old. But I never imagined coming up on a year later you'd be just as much smitten with her as you are now. Even when she makes a big mess all over you with your danimals because you bring it in to share with her and she totally attacks! You just say "ohhhh baby ohhhh baby" in a super deep voice as you talk to her and try to calm her down. It makes me laugh and smile the most seeing you two together! 

You do have a shy spell in you that only comes out when your in a new place or sometimes when your siblings aren't around. Especially at church. When it's just you, you get all shy and thumb goes in mouth and you grab your little shirt in the usually twirling/rubbing fashion. It always makes me snicker a little seeing you this tame and shy little thing when in reality Sydney, you have THE MOST PERSONALITY in our family!!! And we love it, crazy and all!

Love,

Mommy