Life With Two Kids

Dear Lila,

When Daddy and I decided to have children, we always knew that we would have at least two. We both have siblings and life is so much better when you have that built-in friend for life. I know Uncle Tony and I fought a lot when we were growing up but I don't really remember the fights now so much as the board games we played together (Trouble, Guess Who?, Operation), the elaborate story lines we made up for our Barbies and Ninja Turtles and the hours we spent in our backyard swinging on the swing set or facing off in baseball or badminton. I love having a brother who has the same childhood memories that I have and who shares the exclusive knowledge of just how crazy our parents are. So I'm glad you will have the same thing with your brother.

A family with two kids is great for the kids. If the parents are busy, there's always someone else to play with and talk to. But a family with two kids is not always great for the parents because it can be hard juggling two kids. At least, it has been for me, especially since Daddy often works so late and I'm on my own with you and GuhGaw most of the time. There was one night when I had fed you both dinner, brushed your teeth, bathed you and dressed you in your pajamas by 7:30pm. I was just silently congratulating myself for getting you guys ready for bed ahead of schedule when you suddenly threw up, Connor stepped in your vomit and I had to shower you both a second time. So much for going to bed early.

Another time when I was getting you two ready for bed, I opened your brother's top dresser drawer to get him a pair of pjs. You, again, suddenly threw up and when I turned to tend to you, GuhGaw jumped up, banged his head on the bottom of the drawer I had left open and started crying. I turned to soothe him and when I did this, you fell backward, hit your head on the floor and started crying, too. It was all I could do to not start crying myself. Oh. my. GOD.

Then there are our trips to the parks and playgrounds. Sometimes you toddle in one direction while your brother runs in the opposite direction, or I'll be helping you walk up the stairs to the slide and your brother will go behind the bathroom or a climbing structure where I can't see him. Playground time means fun time for you guys but Mommy equates it with seriously-stressed-out-how-do-I-keep-an-eye-on-both-of-you? time. *oof*

So yeah, life with two kids has been challenging. But at the same time, it's been fun, heartwarming and rewarding, too. I love seeing how much you and GuhGaw love each other. One time, you were tentatively walking across the living room. Connor held his arms out and told you to walk over to him, you did, fell into his arms and then you guys tightly hugged each other. Another time, you and him were sitting in bed together and he was "reading" his Cars book to you, saying "Once upon a time, there were a lot of cars." Once when you were crying, I heard GuhGaw tell you, "There are no scary monsters. Mommy is right there." The other day, you got mad and kicked the table, so Connor reprimanded you and put you in timeout. After a few minutes, he pulled you out and said, "You know I still love you, all right?"

And of course, having two kids means I feel two times the amount of love. I feel like the luckiest person in the world when both of you crawl into my lap, smile up at me and hug me tightly :)

Love,
Mom

Shoe Fetish

Dear Lila,

This month, you learned how to walk more confidently, cheer when you're happy or excited about something, feed yourself with a spoon and pat a spot with your hand when you want me to sit there. You love looking at books and still eat a lot, which is why you're in the 90th percentile for height and weight. Also, you have developed an early love of shoes! When I showed you your new flip flops today, you started panting and immediately held your feet up so that I could put them on for you!

Love,
Mom

15-Month Mark

Dear Lila,

In terms of baby milestones, the 15th-month stage is one of my favorites. The first year is full of sleep deprivation, breast pumps and poop explosions and the two-year-old phase brings on tantrums, whining and straight-up crazy but the 15-month mark is the sweet spot in between those two difficult parenting chapters. At 15 months, you're becoming more independent, starting to understand so much and becoming a really fun, social person. (You're also still growing at an amazing speed and already wearing size 3T clothing!)

This month, you learned how to do so many new things: give me your first kiss, blow kisses, point to your head or nose or stick out your tongue when asked to, wipe your mouth with a napkin, blow your nose, tap your crotch when you pee or poop, hold up your feet when I pick up your shoes and identify objects, such as dinosaurs, in books. You give me a big stretch when I go to you in the morning and say, "Morning stretch!" and are still not walking much on your own but get around by scooting around on your knees. I actually decided to stop breastfeeding you this month, which gives me some freedom back but makes me a little sad, so I love the other ways we can bond, like when you sit in my lap, rest your head on me and call me mama and when you hug me tightly and give me your sweet, wet, little kisses :)

Love,

Mom

Attention Hog

Dear Lila,

Connor hurt his leg while playing tonight and started crying, so I held him and comforted him to make him feel better. You saw this and started pretending to cry so that I would soothe you, too. Geez, attention hog much?

Love,
Mom

Chair Climber

Dear Lila,

Lila, so timid when it comes to walking on her own yet so brave when it comes to climbing on chairs.

Love,
Mom

First Steps!

Dear Lila,

You recently learned how to drink from a cup on your own, to rest your head on my shoulder when I ask you for a hug and to tap me when I ask you, "Where's Mama?" And today, you learned how to walk!!! 

Around 7pm, I put you down on our living room floor. You stood on your own and I backed away, squatted and held my arms out toward you. I encouraged you to come to me and you were hesitant but had a big smile on your face when you reached for me, as if you knew how momentous this occasion was. And then you did it! You took seven steps on your own until you fell into my arms! You had such a big grin on your face and looked so proud of yourself. Go, Lila! 

Love,

Mom

Here Comes Trouble

Dear Lila,

It's no secret that Daddy and I consider you "the good one" because you are usually quiet and well-behaved and that we consider GuhGaw "the bad one" because he is, well, usually not quiet and not well-behaved. But you've exhibited a few "bad one" behavioral traits recently:

-When Connor wouldn't share a toy with you, you slapped his head
-When you didn't get what you wanted, you threw yourself down on the floor and cried
-You learned how to climb onto the couch by yourself
-You learned how to crawl under the safety gate on the stairs

Uh-oh.

Love,
Mom