My Quirky Girl

Dear Mia
There are so many things I love about you. Far too many to list. But these are a few of the quirks and habits of your 20 month old self that I want to make sure I never forget.

I love the way you hurry to the bathroom and look up at the sink waiting for your toothbrush when I tell you it's time to brush teeth.

I love how your whole face crinkles up when you sign "brush teeth".

I love that you insist on holding the tube of toothpaste in your free hand while you brush.

I love how, after you fall down, you come to me to lay your head on my shoulder when I ask if you need a hug to feel better.

I love that you laugh hysterically if I tickle you using only my toes. Every single time.

I love how you have to have the purple binky that lives in your crib... and only THAT purple binky.... as part of your bedtime routine. And will switch out even if you already have a different binky in your mouth when we walk in your bedroom.

I love that after our bedtime routine is done and I lay you in bed to go to sleep not only do I have to give you one last kiss but you also hold up "Mr Giraffe" and make me kiss him. Then you hand me "Binky" from your mouth and make me kiss it, too, before I can make my exit.

I love that when given the choice to pick a book for mommy to read you at bedtime, 95% of the time you choose "Goodnight Gorilla". It's clearly your favorite.

I love that sometimes I'll catch you reading "Goodnight Gorilla" all by yourself. You flip through the book, stopping to point at every page and say "nigh-night".

I love that you've discovered the joy in spinning yourself dizzy. And how you giggle, stumbling around like a drunk person until you say "whoa" and fall on the floor.

I love the way you cross your feet at your ankles. In your sleep, in the bathtub, in your car seat, in your highchair, when you sit on my lap while I read to you. It makes me wonder if your feet were crossed like that when you were in the womb. 

I love our morning drives to the sitter. I turn off the radio so it's just you and me chattering away while you eat your dry Cheerios out of your snack trap and point out all the buses. You love the buses.

I love how sometimes we sing during our morning drives and all I hear from the backseat is your baby language gibberish ....but in a singing voice and completely off the melody. It makes me smile every time.

I love that you finally let me put bows in your hair again. In fact, you now ask for them. While dressing in the morning, you point to the bow holder hanging on the wall next to the changing table and then grab a handful of your hair. Sometimes just to make sure I get the point you say "hair" and/or "pretty" (which comes out hey-ya and pay-ee but don't worry... momma understands your language). Momma has a bad habit of calling your bows, barrettes and clips "Hair Pretties". That's where you picked it up.

I love watching you develop your personality. I'm having so much fun discovering the little person you're becoming. Even on the not so good days when we butt heads and you drive me a little crazy. And I can't wait to see what age 2 brings to the table as you continue to grow and blossom.

I love you with all my heart and soul, my little snickerdoodle.
Mommy