onto number 4

dear little leah, 

today you finished potty chart #3...the one we've been working on since december 4th of last year. it took awhile, but you've been on a roll as of late. i have a feeling this next chart is going to fly by. 

plus, you're getting to be a pro at telling me when you're done {a kiss} and choosing your stickers. your eye gaze is amazing on the potty.

hip hip for persistence!!

and...hip hip for dates with dad! you earned it. 

love you bunches. 

love, 

mommy

standoff

dear little leah, 

tonight we had a standoff at dinner. 

voices weren't raised - we both kept our cool. thank goodness. i think we're both getting better at that. 

in the end, i'm not really sure who won. you didn't eat, so one point for you. but you stayed at the table until i was good and ready to let you down. you did eventually swallow the three bites i ever-so-sweetly jammed into you rmouth - even after they sat stagnant in your cheeks for well over 10 minutes each. yuck. 

you pursed your lips. you turned your head. you resorted to burying your face on the table. now that's what i call selective rett syndrome. 

i know you were tired. and possibly you were bored? maybe you weren't feeling well. i'm 99% certain it wasn't the food. i know you love lasagna. and yet there we both sat. for 45 minutes. that's my idea of a friday night. um, no. not really. 

how about no standoffs in the future? a little girl can't live on hollow bones forever. but either way, i love you. 

love, 

mommy

my little yogi

dear little leah, 

thanks for your tips on my yoga technique this morning. it was super helpful. 

love you. 

love, 

mommy

a good day!

dear little leah, 

so much to catch up on, but that's for another day. because today, TODAY, was a good day. 

i don't often write about your good days. it seems i need the therapy that comes from writing only on the bad. but i wanted to let you know that you do, indeed, have good days. you have great days! like today. there was no crying when entering/exiting the car. you ran into school and went up the stairs without hesitation. your teachers reported that you had an amazing day with no crying, sitting for 20+ minutes for art and story time, a great day in the motor room, and approximating names/answers/songs! 

i know! and it doesn't stop there.

as i picked you up for school, you squealed with delight and ran into my arms. you walked down the steps without hesitation {just with my hand} and ran to the car without crying. a. ma. zing. 

at home, we danced and giggled and played all day long. you sat in my lap a lot. i mean a lot a lot. even while i folded the laundry. it melted my heart! 

you got to play with baby bailey {who learned to walk while we were away - not such a baby anymore!}. we played dress-ups and ate cherry tomatoes {a new favorite snack} and danced our little hearts out. we even chased your bubble bug because the sun decided to show its face. finally. 

you ate dinner with ease and with a smile. you had three poopy diapers which is definitely not normal, but it didn't matter because you sat calmly while i changed each of them. you splashed like a crazy woman {happy, but crazy} in the tubby and you sat calmly in my arms as we read the dancing jellybeans. and now you're sleeping calmly in your bed - that you climbed into all by yourself.

see?! a good day all around. 

hooray for good days! 

hooray for you!

love you, little leah.

love, 

mommy