What have you been up to: 33 months

I am pretty delighted with how Christmas and the lead up to it went this year.

I want our family to be about staying home and making things for ourselves - cooking and making and singing and talking.  We did all that.

I also want to surround us with friends, to get together, to go to community events, to welcome extended family, friends and neighbours into our lives. We did all that too.

And you are really coming into your own these days,  Imitating everything we say, yes.  So, you'll say things like "I'll stay here for "the time being"). But with your own character and personality shining through.

You are so confident now.  Full sure of your abilities (Daddy: I don't know how to do yoga.  You: I'll show you).  And after gazing in amazement at all the happenings at the Winter Solstice Parade, you strode off on your own joining the crowd without a backwards glance (don't worry, we were there by your side).

The Burning of the Clocks Solstice Parade

You are very sure of when you need help and when you don't and very forcefully state your views.  Last night you sat up in your sleep to declare with passion "No, I won't, I won't do that").  Who knows what awful things, like putting boots on for going outside, we had been insisting on in your dream?

You often seem to live on your own planet, spending much of your time pretending to be baby hedgehog (with me in the supporting role as a rabbit) or "swimming" under the dining table.  But then you'll say something that sounds so grown up like "Darling Mammy, is this disturbing you?" or "Thank you Daddy for the dinner, and thank you Mammy for the dinner)".  Of course, much of the time you just baldy demand "I want....I want..." but you do at least know how to ask politely, even if you often don't remember. 

NCT Christmas get together - your arm appears in the corner..

As for activities - you've been singing and playing the musical instruments a lot (I think you love the Christmas songs, especially Jingle Bells), imaginary play as always, secreting things away in bags and other nooks and crannies, making dens for yourself (especially "hedges" for baby hedgehog), talking in tongues (your own made up language), telling stories (Venice features a lot), asking a lot about different letter sounds (so I've started introducing homemade sandpaper letters - very softly though), counting, using mathematical language (whole/half etc), puzzles, books, helping in the kitchen.

You were so thrilled when Nanny Linda and Grandad Rob came to visit.  Grandad Rob is a big kid really, and when we made play dough in the kitchen, he hovered until he spotted a gap. And then he was IN!  And there was no stopping him - demanding food dye, rolling and cutting out trees and reindeer with high excitement!

Sometimes you seem so mature. Like when you are telling me to calm down, stop shouting and use my words. My little guru. I swear I am sometimes only calling, not shouting, not that I deny letting out a yell now and then, unfortunately.  Some yells are justified I feel  - the ones when you climb on my head and nearly yank my hair off my head. Ha. 

Other times of course you act what you are.  Just two.  A bundle of raw emotions and strong, passionately held opinions and expectations. And I need to remember this!

Love Mam x