22 Months – Growing up so fast that Mama can barely breathe

Dearest Torsten,

Unfortunately, this is the second time I’ve had to write this post, because Zoundry Raven, which is now really not on the list of my favorite blog editors, ate all of my changes and wouldn’t let me save.

This means, practically speaking, that I am not going to write it all again – not because I don’t love you, but because I want to be caught up with Torsten posts.

This month has been much less of a change than the last because we’re been getting all settled here, but it’s still been a change.

See, you’ve been spoiled for a while now, having both Papa and Mama with you during the day for a couple of months, and this month, that came to an end as Papa went back to work.

Now, Papa is wildly happy with his job, and that makes everyone happy, but for you and I, there’s been some adjustment period. Mama hasn’t had to be home all day with a toddler with no outside assistance since her own little brother was three, and that was almost thirty years ago, so it doesn’t count as recent experience. The days are sometimes hard to fill, and you are much busier and much more capable than you were before we started with Sherice that it’s just a whole different ball of wax.

And, of course, Mama is going to have to go back to work soon herself, something she has some mixed feelings about (like every Mama does). On the one hand, I think it’s really important that Mama gets to do some things that are important to her and broaden her own horizons – it’ll make me a better Mama too.

On the other hand, I will miss a lot of things.

I will miss your smiles and cuddles and snuggles all day.

I’ll miss your huge belly laughs, and the way you said, “More! Again again again!” when you want Mama to do something again that makes you laugh some more.

I’ll miss your silliness…

And playing hide-and-seek…

And I’ll miss our walks to the store every morning, Mama carrying her Little Red Riding Hood basket, and you pushing your stroller until you get to the big street (at which point you climb into the stroller so we can cross), buying a big grainy roll for each of us to eat on the way home.

I’ll miss tricking you into going the way I want to go by running ahead of you and hiding just where you can see me, and your squeals of delight when you “find” Mama.

I’ll miss it all, I promise you.

Of course, that is not to say that just because Papa is gone all day, you don’t get to do things with him too. You and he are both thrilled to death about being able to take bike rides again, and most afternoons and on the weekends, the two of you are on the bicycle and off to nearby parks and castles and lakes and forests. “Papa bike? Helmet on!” is a popular refrain at Haus Grothoff.

Most importantly this month is what a character you’ve become. You tell us what you want and what you don’t and when you want it, and it’s all good.

And you know how to be silly on purpose:

(N.B. You know that tooth you broke? It’s your right front top tooth in the above pictures.)

You’re changing so fast, and our baby is almost completely gone now. Of course, you’ll always be Mama’s baby, but let’s face it… now that sometimes, out of the blue, you decide you want to pee on the toilet of your own accord and we’re not even potty-training, it can’t be long before you’re up to big kid status.

But I have to remind myself that even if you look older than two, you’re still not even two yet, and there’s no point in rushing it. It will go fast enough, I know.

Love you to bits, Super T…

- Mama