May 27, 2008

Dear Emma,

You are very fierce lately, growling and making scary faces at us, pretending to be a tiger or a bear.  We are supposed to act afraid and cower a little bit, and it seems to bring you a lot of joy to think that you've frightened us. 

(Never Crabby… yeah, right!)

You have a couple of plastic bugs and snakes you got in a birthday party goody bag and you like to bring them to me, crinkle up your eyes and say "Pider!", and I'm supposed to act scared.  When you come across a real spider, you actually are the one who is scared, and I have nobody to blame but myself for this.  Sometimes when I get surprised by a black spider in the kitchen sink first thing in the morning you can hear my screams all the way to Canada.   You know all the words and motions to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" song and it is one of your very favorites.

You discovered Tessa's computer and like to play the Elmo games at the Sesame Street website.  This typically involves you watching the screen and smacking me on the arm when I need to click on something or press a key for you.  Awesome fun times for you, maybe not such a good time for me.

You've discovered the awesomeness of band aids and neosporin (or Petro Carbo) which you refer to as "speshul kweem".  You come to me many times a day with imaginary hurts that need speshul kweem.  Your sad face and serious expression are so adorable, it is hard to keep a straight face.

We've been trying to teach you to pray, but so far your prayers are limited to "Jesus, Amen!" 

At lunch time you come to me and say "I'm hungwy, samweech!"  I know what you are really meaning to say is  "Dear Mother, I'm hungry.  Would you please make me a grilled cheese sandwich."  Another of your favorite things to eat is noodles, which you call "meenoos".   The other day we were watching Elmo's World and when Mr. Noodle came on you said, "Mr. Meenoos!"

Speaking of Sesame Street, we went to see "Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up" a few weeks ago.  It was magical to watch your face as you saw Elmo on stage.  You were horrified at all the two year olds there having tantrums and I realized it has been quite a while since you've had a tantrum of your own.  

Today I listened as you ran up and down the hallway singing "Jesus Loves Me" at the top of your lungs.  Your baby voice is so pure and sweet, I could cry if I think about it long enough.

Nearly every day you lose your taggie blanket somewhere in the house.  When you finally find it you say, "I pound it!" and then point at it and say, "wite dair, wite dair" or "dair it is!"   We bought a spare taggie blanket that is identical to the one you love so much, but you can tell the difference, and if we try to hand you the imposter taggie blanket you initially grab it but then pull your hand back as if it has been burned, as if to say "THAT IS NOT TAGGIE, DID YOU THINK I WOULD NOT NOTICE?"

It is really fun to read to you these days.  You enjoy books now, and listening to stories, which is a big improvement over a few months ago when all you wanted to do was turn the pages as fast as you could and then throw the book on the floor.

Before Daddy and I go to bed we open the door to your room to let in the warm air, since your room tends to be kind of chilly.  When we open the door we get blasted with an odor that is kind of sweet and really strong, so we like to call you Pungent One.  We also call you Emma Yemma Ding Dong, Runty, Runtybear, Emmybear, Little Pooh, and Little Moon Pie.

Your Auntie Lhevinne and cousins visited us, and you were so thrilled at all the attention you got from your cousins.

I love you so much and I thank God for you every day.

Love,

Mama