18 Months: My Fairytale Come True

Alina,
On Saturday, you turned 18 months old. Yesterday, we learned you are 26 pounds and 33inches! Already wearing a size 2t {this pretty pink shirt is a 3t!}, your closet has more vacancies nowadays. All your 18month clothes are packed away, practically still new since you didn’t wear that size for long. As your Auntie likes to say, you’re a giant!

To celebrate your one year and a half, the family ventured out to Mount Charleston, which is about 45 minutes away from our home. We had lunch in a sweet little lodge and, of course, took pictures of you. It had never occurred to me that you might be in awe of the surroundings. The tall trees captivated you. So did the leaves and twigs. Grammy set out to find you the perfect pine cone, and you loved that too. You are a city girl, Alina, but you love the great outdoors too.

I can’t begin to remember what you were like one year ago, at six months. And to be honest, I am having too much fun to worry about missing your baby stage. You are my best bud, Alina. We do everything together, go everywhere together. And although I’ve been told that every Mom needs a break from their kids, I can’t imagine leaving you for very long. Okay, maybe dinner and drinks with a girlfriend would be nice, or a night with your Daddy where we don’t have to wake up at 6am the next day would be great, but not much longer. I never imagined motherhood being the perfect job for me; alas, because of you, I have found a purpose. Because of your life, I am learning how to fully appreciate mine. How do you begin to thank someone for a gift like that?

While I was editing these pictures today {Grammy was there to point and shoot the ones with me in them. Thank you, Grammy!}, I couldn’t help but to look up at your Daddy and give him a big kiss. I have a healthy, beautiful daughter, and am blessed to spend my days with her, because of him. You have an amazing Daddy, Alina. He loves me, and you, so much. Your favorite type of kiss is our family kiss. With your arms wrapped around our necks, the three us lock lips and end with a big muuuuah! You love family kisses just as much as your family loves you! The day you turned 18 months, I realized that I am living exactly the life I have always dreamed of living. A fairytale come true. How do I begin to thank your Daddy for giving me this opportunity?

You, my little lady, are one smart cookie. We have regular conversations throughout the day, although sometimes I am not quite sure what exactly you are saying. But you are patient and just keep repeating it {over and over and over} until I get it. What a sweetheart. You love music and dancing. You love to repeat the numbers as I count; my favorite is when you say “quatro”. Although you still use a few signs to reinforce your message, you started saying two/three words together this month too. The first time you said “I love you” my whole world stood still. We were at the grocery store with your Auntie when, with a huge smile, you said the thing I had been waiting to hear since the day you were born. Auntie and I both started crying in the middle of the dairy aisle.

Your hysterical laughter is the best sound I have ever heard… especially the kind that has your little hand covering your screaming mouth and your body hunched over in near convulsions. What on earth makes you laugh that hard is beyond me. But I love it.

You have become attached to certain dolls and toys. You still sleep with your beloved Wocket, but she is now joined by Woo Woo, the pink LA Angels rally monkey your Abuela sent you. You will be getting a special baby doll for your second birthday from Mommy and Daddy, but I hope you can hold out till then! In fact, you love all your toys and always manage to sneak one or two with you on our way out. Once a week I take 12,000 toys out of my car. We started to leave a book in your crib, which gives us an extra half hour or so when you wake up. But, my darling, sharing said toys are not your strong suit. We’re working on it though and everyday you become a little more willing to share the things you love. Like this adorable pink bunny, which usually sits near your crib. She was given to you by my dear friend Milonne.

You like to help Momma around the house. You “clean clean clean” and even help me sort the laundry. Also, my dear sweet Angel, amor de mi vida, its time for the slow process of potty training to begin. Please be sweet to your Mommy and start using the toilet like a big girl. Buying diapers is getting really old. Since you tell me when you are about to “poo poo” or when you have “pee pee” in your diaper, running to your changing table the whole way, your Dr. suggested we ease you into the training. But its been a month now since we brought down your pretty pink throne and had you sit on it anytime I potty, and I am not so sure how to go from there. Oh nelly, why I am I stressing out over this whole ordeal? I’ll be glad once its all said and “done done”!

The world is a big and beautiful place, mi vida. There are so many wondrous things I want you to experience and learn. I know not all of life will be perfect, or even pleasant. I know there are people out there that will hurt your heart. But, as your mother, I am choosing to see the beauty in the world and in those we keep in our lives in hopes that beauty is what your eyes see too. Keep the beauty. Understand and experience, yet let go of, the ugly. It will only drain you of all your greatness. Keep smiling and loving, keep laughing and shouting. Keep learning and asking questions, like you already do so well. For as long as I am blessed to be of this earth, my life is purposed to be your mom. That will never, nor ever ever, change. And they lived happily ever after….

Te querio por siempre y despues de siempre,
Su Mama