This is one of those time I wish I hadn’t waited 2 months to write. Because in a month and a half, you, my ‘Siah son, seriously changed! You were still sweet in these first pictures. Hehe. No, I’m kidding. You’re still sweet (here as I’m writing in the beginning of September), but you have developed more of a…er… personality. 😉 But more on that in August’s post…
This has been a fun age, just like I remember it being for Adela. You’re a little rocket now, but earlier this summer I took you guys outside by the kiddie pool frequently and you would just sit and chill while your sister played. By the middle of the summer you were pulling up on everything and had become a speedy little crawler. Your feet and your hands are boy size. We wonder if that means you’ll walk sooner than your sister did. But your head is still pretty big in comparison to your little legs. We’ll see. You are definitely, definitely all boy though. You plow ahead with things more quickly and more determinedly than big sis ever did.
You are adorable and sweet and cuddly when you drink your bottles, which you refuse to hold yourself. It’s all about being served when it comes time for liquid refreshment. It’s not that you can’t hold the bottle, you just don’t want to. You want your blanky in between your pointer finger and thumb so that you can rub it back and forth across your check while you enjoy your bottled beverage being held by somebody else. It’s cute. You also only like to lay on your back facing outward, away from whomever is feeding you. You don’t like being cradled. But you do like being belly to belly with me with your head on my shoulder. It’s nice to have a cuddly baby. Adela had to grow up a bit before she liked being held the way you do when you’re tired.
The only thing you say with any kind of regularity is still “dadadada.” You love him and you love your sister. You think she is hilarious. You laugh at her more than anyone. But Mimi was probably the first one to get you belly laughing for an extended period of time. She started fake coughing one day when she was visiting and you couldn’t stop laughing at her. We were all in stitches. You don’t laugh when I cough. Not sure what it was that struck your fancy, but it was like comedy hour in your room for a while there.
And a funny little quirk… you like to put things on your head. Give you a string, it goes on your head. Give you a necklace, it goes on your head, give you a piece of clothing, it goes on your head. Plastic bag… goes on your head. Just kidding. 🙂 But really, I understand know why they warn you so often about giving plastic bags to babies. You would definitely put it on your head, my son.
We made it to Big Bear lake once this summer and spent some time with Mimi and Papi and Tia Kristy (who we got to see a few times this summer) on their boat. That baby life jacket was no bueno for you my Jo. We had to keep you in an upright, on your feet, position in order for you to be able to move your head at all. That thing is so uncomfortable for you. But it was nice to get on the water anyways. And your sister had fun feeding the ducks and blowing dandelion seeds for my camera.
Adela, you are exhausting, cute, difficult, sweeter than cotton candy, a little unpredictable, inquisitive and as affectionate as ever. I love you and you’re growing up always. If I had to pick something about you that surprises me it would be how reasonable you are. I think I forget you’re only 3 because of it. You act out and have your moments. But you aren’t needlessly strong-willed. Generally you can be reasoned with. I really like that about you. And I’m also very proud of you for how obedient you are. In general you listen to me and do what I say. Now, that’s not 100% of the time of course. But in general, you are obedient. Those are 2 really big positive traits for a really little girl!
The exception is when you feel like, for whatever reason, you “can’t” do something. You tend to decide you can’t do things before you try. “I don’t want to!” and “I can’t do it,” are more common than we’d like. We’re teaching you to say “I’ll try,” and “I need help” instead. You’re getting better. We don’t expect you to be able to do everything, baby. We just want you to give it a go. You’re learning that that is how you learn.
The thing you’re struggling with more than anything these days seems to be a sort of distractedness. I guess that’s probably normal for being three too. I have to tell you everything multiple times. I can see it go in one ear and out the other. And I can see it eventually click. It’s not that you’re being disobedient. It’s that you’re thinking about something else the first 2 times I ask you. It can be exasperating for your efficient, doesn’t like to repeat herself, Momma. I pray for patience. There is a lot of repeating of everything these days. You also don’t give up easily when you’re told no. You like to say “please?, pleeeeease??, PUH-LEEEEEASE???” when you aren’t getting your way. And you say “Momma??” about 3000 times per day. Exaggeration? Slight. But I’m telling you, it’s more times than I would have thought possible. I hate that I get irritated by it. Makes me feel guilty. But I constantly have to remind myself that someday you won’t find my attention and my company as exhilarating as you do now. I love you so much and I wouldn’t change a thing, but it’s still hard. I get worn out.
But the smiles far outweigh the weariness. Because you’re so darn cute. You are exceptionally polite for a little one. You say please and “gank you” most of the time without reminders. You’re tending to tack on “later” or “right now” to most of your sentences. You’re beginning to gain a sense of time and days of the week, that certain things happen at certain times on certain days. And I get such a kick out your little exclamations, things that are obviously picked up from your adult companions. Many times I don’t realize how often I say something until you start saying it all the time. Things like “oh right!” “perfect!” “of course” and “actually…” Cute.
You love singing and are starting to actually carry melodies… starting to. Still working on that. But you do this really cute thing where you flutter your eyelashes when you’re singing. It’s like you’re internalizing it or something and it comes out through your eyes. And you make up songs frequently. Here’s a little song you sang your brother. I wish I could write down the melody too, but I don’t know it. It was beautiful. It really impacted me. I love to hear you sing your songs.
“Don’t cry, siah
Everything is perfect
I’m holding your hand
You don’t need cry
I’m signing you song
This is the ‘Siah song
Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry”
You’ve developed your coloring skills quite a bit this summer. You’re finally using more than one hue when coloring your pictures. And you’re starting to get the concept of coloring different things different colors.
We dance together after every movie you watch. It started with the song after Tangled and it has become every time after every movie. We freestyle it up. I love that you come get me wherever I am when it’s time to dance.
Putting you to bed continues to be one of the sweetest times of the day. You love to be read to. You love to cuddle. You love to pray. And every time after we’ve gone through the whole routine… EVERY time… you ask, “Can you stay a whittle bit wonger, Momma?” and I say “Just for a minute.” And you say “thank you!” and we cuddle for a couple more minutes.
Here’s one of many prayers you recently prayed:
“Dear Jesus, Please help everything be perfect. And help people not die. And thank you for beautiful pictures we can draw. And for things like music. And for comfy beds and for family. Aaaaamen.”