Proud Mama

Dear Madie~

Can I just tell you how proud I am to be your mama?

You are just barely 2-1/2 and you are one smart cookie. And I am not just saying that cause I am your mama. Everyone thinks so.  You have had an advanced understanding of things since before you could put words together, but now that you are talking, that knowledge is spilling out.  You just GET it.  Things that should be above your cute head are very much within your grasp.  I am just waiting for you to start calling me out on things much like an older child would do. I certainly wouldn't put it past you.  But it isn't just your grasp of ideas and happenings, it is many other things too.

You have been singing the alphabet since your 2nd birthday I am pretty sure. You have been counting to 10 as long as that as well.  You recently started a new daycare at "Betty's" house due to sad circumstances at "Granny's" house.  Betty can't say enough how "advanced" you are. How you are as smart or smarter than her 3 and 4 year olds.  See? You just GET it.  She is even going to start you in with her "preschool" activities in March because you take such an interest and follow so well when you have the opportunity to join in. Right now it's only when one of the other kids is home sick, but come March , you get your own packet! You brought home a page of coloring the other day. On it were 14 different hats.  You had colored each one differently, even coloring the little swirls on one of the hats.  And you pretty much stayed in the lines.  Was Betty impressed! You know what? So were me and your Daddy. Dad says we better start saving for Harvard.

Then there is the computer.  You don't type of course, but once we get you to one of your favorite sites (either youtube videos of songs/sesame/etc or sprout) you can click and scroll and watch your singing videos or play your sprout games.  You figure things out like crazy and it blows my mind. You can click and drag for pete's sake! Grandma just learned to do that a couple years ago.  (I am so not even kidding).

Your dad and I decided last night that we better not talk too much about how smart you are in front of you.  I don't want you to ever feel like you aren't doing a good enough job, and I don't want you to get a complex.  You are too little to be branded as anything, even good things  We just want you to be the best you that you can be.  So praise is good, saying how smart you are in front of you all the time is more of a label.  We will do our best not to label you ever.  Just be Madie, that is the best.

What else, what else? I know there is more.  You are pretty much potty trained, which thrills me and it was with very little effort on my part.  I just knew that I hoped it would happen before Baby A came, and we made it! With like 6 months to spare. Thank you for that, monkey!

You are just such a funny, sweet, compassionate, optimistic, loving, wonderful little girl.  You love life and all of the big and small wonders that come along everyday.  I wish I could keep you at this age, but I felt the same way about 1 and I am sure I will feel the same at 3, 4, 5, 6 and on.  Bu you know what? I get to have YOU. And at any age, that is the biggest gift that anyone could ever even hope for.  I look at you everyday and feel so blessed and lucky that I get you be YOUR mom.  What did I do to deserve that? Whatever it is, thank God, because I love every minute of it.

Love,
Mommy