Sloan is Two!!

Dear Sloan,

Sweet girl, you are actually 25 months now, and I am so glad to finally be writing this snapshot of what you’re like at this age. You are remarkably physical and so adept at climbing, scooting, running, and kicking a soccer ball. This summer I had a child at the park run over and exclaim in fear “Your baby is climbing the ladder,” and I replied “I know! That’s her 100^th time.”  You love to be challenged physically and are brave and fearless.  This summer you would jump straight into the pool and run straight into the waves. We let the waves knock you down once, hoping it would deter you, but you just laughed and carried on.

Daddy took you and Ella Kate to Coolidge Park recently, and he was amazed by how far up a tree you could climb.  You love big slides, and the park really is one of your happy places.  You particularly like it when Ella Kate pushes you in the big kid swings because she does an “underdog” and pushes you entirely too high. The first time she did it, I was so afraid, and you smiled and laughed so big, enjoying every minute. Speaking of laughing, your laugh is amazing. It is one of the best things about you, and it seems to come from you so deeply inside of you. Ella Kate is a pro at getting you to laugh.

Being outdoors is your preference, and you absolutely loved your first trip to Woodland. Your favorite part may have been the 4-wheeler rides.  You also get to ride in the bicycle trailer Daddy bought, and as long as the rides aren’t too long, you really enjoy that too. You got a Strider balance bike for your birthday, and you are enjoying it. You’ve been riding a scooter since you were about 14 months old, and you’re so good at it.

You like knocking down towers that we create and you laugh every time.  You have a few favorite books, and you used to cry when Brown Bear Brown Bear would end. Now you’ll bring me a favorite book and pat where you want to me to sit down. You also will say “doh” and get a cutting board/mat and head to the table when you want to do Play Doh.

You love Bertha “May” your Mother’s Day Out teacher for the last year, and now you even run for the door to head to MDO saying “May, May.”  Bertha May is so sweet, and I am so very thankful you enjoy MDO so much.  Your friend and our neighbor Isla is in your class, and in fact, her name was one of your first words ever.

You’re saying a few phrases now, and it’s so fun to hear. Ella Kate was upset one day and you came 
over to her, patted her back, and asked over and over “What happened?”  Another morning Daddy came into your room alone to get you out of your crib, and you said “Where’s Bubba?” Bubba is your nickname for Jackson, but you can now say Jackson very clearly. In fact, a few weeks ago you were on the tire swing and you yelled very loudly across the entire park “Jackson! Ella Kate!” as if you were summoning them.  You love it when Jackson takes you upstairs to his room or when he takes you outside.

You are a wonderful sleeper, and we usually get you out of your crib around 7-7:15. If you wake earlier, you’re content to be in your crib and “talk” until we get you. You sleep in a sleep sack and with your puppy or bunny, and you love to suck your thumb. Remarkably, you still only suck it when you have a lovey or are in the carseat for a while. You nap around 1:30 until I wake you up at 3:30. You love your nap sleep, but when you were younger we learned that you would nap as much as we let you and then want to sing and talk in the middle of the night.  Bedtime is at 8:00. We sing a song to you every night (Dear Jesus) and give you your lovey, and you’re always happy to go to bed.

This last year was pretty eventful for you with chronic ear infections, including an ear infection that was staph and required two oral antibiotic and two days of shots. I am so glad we were able to get tubes for you and that since then you've barely been sick at all. 

You are a pretty good eater and seem to like grazing, and when you’re finished at the dinner table, you start throwing your food. Right now, you love to eat pouches with fruit and veggies, chicken noodle soup, homemade energy balls, your morning “bar” (Nutrigrain bar), smoothies, and yogurt.

Your personality is really starting to shine, and it is delightful to see. You like having my lap all to yourself and often push your siblings as hard as you can to move them out.  With the pandemic that began last March, you have had so many changes. You were used to having me all to yourself during the school day, and then suddenly Jackson and Ella Kate were home all the time (and never leaving) and then needing constant help with virtual school (and on their Ipads which you wish you badly you could have but you aren’t allowed to touch).  I’m sure you also missed our playdates and trips to the parks.  With you only being one year old at the time, it was beyond your understanding.  When we finally broke strict quarantine and began playing outside with the Clarks, you entire face lit up with excitement. It was so precious to see.  You also began to love to be held by Laurahelen and wanted her attention as much as possible.

Although the pandemic is still ongoing, we were able to celebrate your second birthday with a few friends and with some separate family gatherings and you enjoyed all the sweets. You were so precious trying to blow out your candles. We are excited for this third year of your life, and we all love you so much.

Love,

Mommy