what momma writes

a letter to my child. that i will actually read to her. not just write to her. a letter that i will read aloud in order for her to know how much i love her and how sorry i am when i'm terribly mean and impatient. dear daughter, i love you. i think you are wonderful. i'm so happy you came to daddy and me - what a gift we have in you! i love your smile. it's so big and happy! when i see it, it makes me happy too! i love your gorgeous red hair. it suits you and it's fun to stand out! i love your eyes and your glasses. your eyes can look at my so deeply and i wonder where you've been before. your eyes sometimes show me sadness and sometimes share tears and that's okay too. i can tell when you are thinking really hard when i look at your beautiful eyes. i love your brain. it's so strong, analytical, curious and creative. every day you amaze me with your questions and your want to understand. i love your movement. we are all so different a...

Oh my stars, Stella, you are FOUR! I remember the day you were born and not having any idea what I was doing.  Thank God I figured it out and you made it this far... I love watching you grow every year and I love being your mommy. Even when we butt heads I'm glad I'm your mommy. You started school officially a few short months ago and you love it! It didn't take long for you to get into a routine as this being the new norm. It's been good for both of us. Even though 3 hours flies by it's nice for you to mind someone else (um, well hopefully) and for me to, well, do anything I can possibly do with 1 kid verses 2. I've seen positive changes in you since being in school; putting things away, more interest in helping and participating in homely duties and you seem to have a better understanding of community and organizing.  I'm not sure what goes on in school, but you talk about people being your friends. It's really cute to hear you talk abo...

stellakh, as you think your name is spelled... sometimes you are a conundrum and other days oh, so predictable. i guess another word for this is parenting... 1. vocabulary. i would say for your age you have a great vocabulary. we read a book about "big words" and i laughed bc you use a lot of them already: privacy, cooperate, patience, appropriate.. i try to use big words (aka regular words) around you and then i hear you say them in your make believe play or back to me like "mommy, you aren't cooperating!" i love hearing you try new words and use them in context... and sometimes... almost in context. we are on a book kick and it's awesome! the last week we read a gazillion books (ok well some over and over, but there were 2 days where just about all we did was read books!) we've started going to the library every couple weeks to get some fresh books and read with me 1v1 for an hour or so while Ana stays back. 2. frustration. this is a magica...

age 3. it's a really tough age, but i have to admit it's so interesting because of the conversation and expression piece - it's like we were kicked into high gear and all the sudden you erupted into a more mature being! 1. EYE UPDATE: my sweet stella and her eyes... we had such a great month of her seeing 3D and using her eyes together. cross-free! we got the "no surgery" go ahead and the dr. was even impressed how quickly she progressed.  BUT, then after almost a month on the dot she regressed back to crossing so back to the patch and stronger glasses RX we went. she's still crossing with the new RX so in march we will have a surgery conversation, but in the mean time we are more drawn to vision therapy. surgery, cosmetically will fix her eyes and make them straight, but it doesn't train her to use her eyes together... meaning... she won't be seeing 3D or any better or much better. she also might have a hard time reading and judging depth which if...

you are a good little girl and i'm so proud of you! such a huge change from age 2 to 3. it's pretty amazing. i love that you are growing up and becoming more independent. and again, i don't want time to stop and you to be young forever. where'd the growth for all of us be in that? everyday you are learning, listening and helping more. *directions in the kitchen *putting things away more *helping pick out groceries *wanting to sit in a regular chair moreso than a booster. *cooperating though your cooperation has increased, so has your cognition and understanding of human ways... you are also more difficult for me. those 2 year old tantrums are nothing compared to your aggravation now if something isn't "right". sometimes i just don't know what to do or how to explain certain things and the only thing, as painful as it is is to ignore you when you get like this. then finally you come downstairs weepy eyed and want a hug and say "mommy...

yes i'm still counting in months... stella, you are a little human. there are so many big changes lately i can't even keep up. we started to train you on the potty in a really relaxed way. you started showing interest again and then went a couple of times. i gave you a "treat" afterwards until i ran out of muffins, cupcakes, ice cream etc. I had to scour the house for "bad" food and then finally went to mnm's in case this potty thing is sticking. you are slowly making progress, but progress is progress. still a little freaked out about pooping. you got a new RX for your glasses at the beginning of august and it seems to be doing great! you are such a pro at all your eye dr. visits. we started tinkering with vision therapy and going to try to integrate little things into your day, but overall you the activities are a little young. your sleeping. hmmmmm. i can't say you are consistent, but there is progress. more often then not you are sleepin...

I accidentally deleted all my notes on what you were up to in the last couple months. damn icloud on the damn iphone. I love technology, but leave it to me to figure out a way to botch it up. #annoyed if you care to read how my 2.5 year old is probably very similar to other 2.5 year olds, then read on... oh my dear, here's another update. maybe you'll care someday ha?! overall, you just seem so grown up; looks, speech and activity. i know, 2.5 it's not that old, but seriously it's like developmentally something happened and you became a more independent little being.  Stella Says: "there. that's better." you say proudly after turning up the music or doing something you deem improved! "good job singing, stella!" as you run in the room to tell me you've congratulated yourself on your singing or "good painting, stella luna!" "gramma gave me that." or "dalia gave it to me." when referring to one of...

dear stella, you've now been alive with us for two whole years. it seems like longer, and yet not that long at all. you seem so old, and yet not that old at all. i guess that's the beauty in each stage. i'm embracing your two-year-old self. screw the terrible two stereotype.  your language has taken off to a whole new level. you are doing a ton of short sentences and you let us know exactly what is on your mind. some of your latest phrases include: "see ya. bye bye" as you put on a bag or purse and head towards the door. "hold ya" when you want to be held "i'll show ya" "no way. no way" "sorry, _____ " insert animal name "how are ya?" "good morning" "i luff youf, _____ " insert stuffed animal name "mmmmm. good. good. eating. mmmm" "i dont fink so" "fix it" "ahhhh steam roooooll" - steam roll goldie. "mahhhhhhhh....