2 1/4

Monkey,

Every day your structured word waterfalls take me on a incredible journey through your thoughts and imagination. You bless me with saying out loud many of your feelings and thoughts. It enables me to peek into your character as if I was looking into a diorama showing the interactive theater show called "Monkey's life".

The primary set of the show would be our living room filled with countless bright colored props: your toys. Toys, toys, toys. You have so many. January and February were Duplo months. But bouncing further into 2008, you also gained interest in other things like your Little People school bus, your many toy cars, drawing, doing crafts with mommy and reading books. The arrival of this somewhat hesitating spring has taken you to many joyful trips to the playgrounds in our neighborhood.

The main character of the show, you, is growing into a young, handsome, funny and intelligent boy. Me and your dad are characters too, but we are also responsible for the set, the props and the well being of the main character and his sister. Yes, your show has gained a adorable little character, your baby sister Roo.

You are still the star of your own show, but you and her are a bit like Bert and Ernie. Together most of the time, known for the laugh - until - you - pee - your - pants - funny - conversations (though at this point still one way - conversations), sometimes a little annoyed with each other but overall, you seem to have bonded really well with her.

Sometimes the show takes you to an outside set, like toddler soccer and swimming with mommy or daddy. The toddler soccer class is more about playing and interacting with mommy and daddy than it is actual practice. You enjoy it, but wish there would be more exercises with a ball.

Days with you are filled with fun. You're quite the comedian. Your jokes and monologues remind me of the Sahara dry humor your daddy has. Must be the genes.

Your character loves more than it dislikes.

You love giving gifts and receiving gifts.
You love eating deserts.
You love your bath. But hate the shower.
You love to eat fish. But refuse to eat beans and leafy veggies.

You love me and your daddy.

You told us that a few weeks ago.

And I think that triggered spring.

I love you too little Monkey. I hope to be part of your show for a very long time.
Mommy

(Letter to Monkey, 2 years & 3 months)

Playing with your toy cars on our self-made road.

The end of a wonderful era

It was bound to happen.

Inevitable.

It's a sign of growth.

Of a youthful spirit ready to discover the world.

Instead of napping.

*cries*

I think the Monkey is done with napping.

*cries even louder*

For the last few day putting him to bed at his nap time has been difficult. You won't believe how many times he can climb out of his bed and run into the hallway and be put back to bed and run out his room and put back to bed and... well you get the picture.

(Can you pass me a tissue?)

Today he crowned his new bedtime routine by saying to his dad after he put him back to bed for the 15th time (obviously in denial): "teasing daddy".

But we won't give up. Besides from being sad over losing my two hours to relax, most of the time he really needs that nap. We'll try to move his nap time from before lunch to after lunch... and if that doesn't work... we'll just have to accept the fact the Monkey has definitely outgrown the baby era.

Cross fingers.

Happy birthday big guy

Big Tim, you were born exactly two years ago. Up until the birth of your baby sister, you were still mommy's baby. But now, I have to admit, compared to your tiny sister, you are a big boy. And a big brother. And I am so happy we celebrated your birthday two weeks early, so you at least had your own party. Because you deserve nothing less. I hope life will turn out to be one big party for you.

Love, mom

PS: you totally rock those new firetruck rain boots! I am happy you agreed to at least not wear them in bed.

Happy early birthday and two year letter

We celebrated Tim's birthday yesterday. His birthday isn't until January 30th. But that's my due date and I really did not want him to miss his birthday party. We decided on a small party (as that's all I can handle at this point in pregnancy). So we invited close family and just a few friends. But man, he got SO spoiled! He now has a complete Duplo village. Little People drove into our house in a school bus and our living room is no officially a parking lot. I'm thinking we should charge by the hour.
I even got myself to bake two pies (with help of my 8 year old niece and darling husband): a white chocolate banana layer cake and a spice and honey bunt cake. Mmm. Leftovers anyone?

Before eating the cake, we all sang happy birthday. He was surprised and looked at everyone with a big question mark, but he so loved it. Ahh, my heart melts again.

Early birthday party means early quarterly letter. Just in case Tim's sister is born a little early. And she can come now, because this birthday party really was the one mental block I had until I want to go into labour.

Tim's two year letter

My dearest Tim,

You're almost two. Your quarterly letter is a bit early. Your baby sister is due on your birthday and I don't want to risk missing this letter. You already grow so fast, and it's hard to remember all the things you do and have done. These letters help me to remember, and I hope one day you'll enjoy them to.

I still get all warm inside when I think of you. You're the sweetest little boy on earth. You enjoy everything, adapt very well to almost every situation, are always happy and cheerful, you sleep well, eat everything - you ate Pecten jacobaeus shells, salicornia and asparagus for Christmas dinner! - Your favorite is fish but you also use your many teeth to chew on fresh veggies. I'm embarrassed to say, I only noticed one tooth I knew was coming: your first. You woke up a couple of nights because the thing was giving you pain. All your other teeth and molars? I have no idea how and when you got them. All I know is that we brush a full mouth of teeth every evening.

You have started talking. You started doing it when we went to Lissabon, just two months ago. You started with mommy, daddy, car and Lala (the name of your favorite Telletubby). We heard you practice those words in bed. For a while you combined your words with your sign language. But now? You're a waterfall of words and everyday you learn a few new ones. You like to describe what's happening "mommy breakfast, daddy breakfast, Tim breakfast". That's right my dear, you have learned to say your name a few days ago. You've been saying it proudly ever since.

I have never seen you throw a tantrum. I believe that's pretty unique for a two year old. That's not to say you haven't started exploring your boundaries. You like to say 'no' and do things you're not allowed. Like throwing things at the cats and chasing them. But when I get down on my knees and gently ask you to stop, you usually stop and give me a kiss and a hug.

You adapt very well to changes in your life. Moving to our new home hasn't had much influence on you and smaller changes like going on international vacations haven't seem to bother you either. There is an upcoming change that will be huge for you. The birth of your baby sister.

I am sure you'll love her and everything will work out just fine. But the thought that I have to divide my attention between you and your baby sister breaks my heart. I know how much work a little baby requires. How much time I will have to spend with her, comforting her, nursing her. I am worried her crying will wake you up. I am worried she'll turn your life up side down and I am worried you won't like it and be sad about it. I am worried about breaking your little heart, which has brought me nothing but beautiful moments.

I would say you're perfect, but they say there is no such thing as perfect on earth. Maybe God made an exception when he gave us you.

Love always,
Mom

Let's hear it for the boy

Remember Tim had sand phobia? He was PETRIFIED to touch it!

Last week, out of the blue, he started playing with the sand at the playground. And now it's his favorite thing to do at the playground.

I am so proud!

And now I totally have that Deniece Williams song stuck in my head.. Whoa, maybe he's no romeo
But he's my lovin one-man show Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa... Let's hear it for the boy......

This is a sign

SURELY this is a sign.

I have been teaching Tim to not touch OUR books in the book closet. However I have made an exception when he grabbed that potty training book. So far for consistency.

Gina Ford gives a few conditions on whether to start potty training. According to those (+ 18 months, aware of doing pee or poo, etc.) Tim is ready. However, I am not sure if I want to try yet. He's still so young. But it's either now or a few months after his little sibling is born. Because potty training when a big change is about to happen, is not a smart thing. For those with potty trained children: when did you start potty training your toddler? How did you do it?

Did I just...

Cameron: It's an allergy.

Chase: There's no rash. It's must be his heart.

Foreman: Those theories don't make sense. It's neurological.

House: Oh stop it. Isn't it obvious? Mommy tried to kill the baby. Test for poisons.

OK. I plead? Guilty.

Yesterday I was brushing my teeth. And Tim went along to the bathroom and did his sign for teeth brushing. No harm in a little bit more extra brushing the teeth (as he really doesn't do a good job). So I gave him his toothbrush, put some toothpaste on it, and gave it to him. He was delighted. Than I put back the toothpaste. Went on brushing my teeth. Looked back on the bathroom sink and saw two tubes that very much looked alike. One tube with baby creme called "weather and wind creme" and the toothpaste. Ehm. Stone to stomach. Did I just...

I am 80% sure I gave him toothpaste. I'm not completely sure because the substance of the creme and the paste are very much the same. And as I frantically smelled and snorted both the creme and the paste, I really could not identify the difference in smell either. (But after the snorting, I did see pink striped elephants in gigantic balloons flying through the bathroom, that was AWESOME!).

Normally the creme isn't even on the sink. FreezeM put it there because he build a nice new bathroom closet. So not everything was in his place yet.

Dr. House. You are right, as always. It was the mommy who poisoned the innocent child. I won't even lie. So punish me if you will. Don't call the police: a gentle slap on the behind with your cane will be great punishment and will teach me to take better care of my baby.

I think he'll be just fine. I downed a bottle of after shave when I was like 3. And I'm O.K. Although a very manly perfume scent emerges from my pores when I am in a steam room and my poo smells kind of musky.

Mommy, daddy, ball, breast, woof, toot toot

Above the vocabulary of our 1.5 year old breast pinching baby. What? He thinks breasts and round butts are hidden balls. He will squeeze them and will scream BALL! with a big smile on his face. He did it too my mother in law, while she was changing his diaper. And the same with me now a couple of times. I hope he realizes it's cute at 18 months, but at 18 years... I am not sure his big blue eyes will be enough to safe him.

This morning I decided to explain that breasts are not balls.

Tim (squeeze): BALL!
Me: No honey, that's a breast.
TIM: BALL!
Me: No, breast.
TIM: BALL!
Me: BREAST!
TIM: BALL!
Me: BREAST!
TIM: BEAST!
Me: Almost honey, almost.

It's really my fault. We have been doing hide and seek with the ball: hiding the ball under our clothes. I hide the ball under my shirt, Tim finds it, Tim hides the ball under his shirt, I find it.

Just hope he doesn't start squeezing breasts at the supermarket.

Watch out Beckham, here comes Tim!

Tim says 3 words:
1. ball (with a very long a and without pronouncing the l: it's more like baaaaaaaaaaa)
2. mamma (which means mommy)
3. pappa (...daddy)
Only the first word he uses throughout the day.

Tim? He ADORES the baaaaa and soccer. He kicks his ball. Every day. The entire day. Ever since he could walk, just days before his first birthday. When I hide the ball, he looks for it ('Baaaaaaaaa'?) When I give him another toy, he plays with it for 10 seconds, only to go back to kicking his ball. I have given up my many attempts to get him into other games and toys. I'm sure he'll be into other stuff when he's ready. So now I devote my days to cheering proudly of my little soccer player. And chasing balls.

A little movie to show off Tim's amazing baaaaaal kicking skills:

Funny fact: we (as in "we the parents") are not into into soccer. Or any other sport for that matter. We only watch the European and World cups. And smile when we hear about our young Dutch team winning the Euro cup twice in a row.

Do sheep behh or mehh?

Happy Father's Day to all dads out there! I hope you had a lovely day, just as we did.

We spend the (rainy) morning at home. As it cleared up, we decided to go to the petting farm in the afternoon. Their website said the farm was open today. When we got there: it was closed. Luckily, we could come close to the little lambs. But (bad) mommy forgot to bring carrots and endive (which are the only two things you are allowed to give the animals). But in spite of mommy's error: Tim had a blast.

Look out daddy, he will bite your finger!

The two cutest men in the whole wide world.

Nice earrings! The latest Otazu?

Don't be afraid little one. Lambs behhh but they don't bite.

Mommy, look at all the lamb poo!

Now tell me, do sheep behh or mehh? We have this book with pictures of animals. It features a sheep and a goat. Now which one behh's and which one mehh's? You got to help me out with this one.