Beatrice at 21 Months

Dear Beatrice,

Today you are 21 months old, and it’s been quite an interesting month for us all. You are an amazing little creature, Bea.

Some things have stayed the same, and other things have changed tremendously this month. You finally conquered “Dada” at 20 months, only to have it change right into “Daddy” this last month, something I know your father really enjoys. Half the time you now call me “Mama” and the other half is “Mommy”. And “Olivia” is finally coming together for you. A four-syllable word or name can be pretty difficult, but you’ve come quite a long way.


Selected new word of the month that I like: vitamin. Two selected new words of the month that I don’t like: me and mine. Why these?

You’ve become accustomed to having your vitamin every morning…whoever came up with gummy-vites should be a millionaire, because if you had your way, you would eat 10. It’s a habit that I hope you have forever because having you take your vitamin makes me feel a lot better about your health, like I am preventing what could be another cold. I am hoping that those have helped you through the last month.

As for “me” and “mine”, well I know you didn’t pick these up at home. When you say “me”, it’s never just once but about five or six times in a row – “me, me, me, me, me, me” – and I’ve seen you do it on numerous occasions like when you are at the top of the slide ready to go down. Are you wanting people to watch you? Do you want their attention? Or, are you just stating that it is your turn? I don’t think anyone would be able to cut in front of you once you are sitting and ready to go down the slide. And “mine”? I have just about had it with that one. I keep telling you that people need to share, which I assumed daycare would teach you since there are others there. But, when you see Olivia with a toy that may be hers or may be yours, you will take it away. Sometimes you are nice in my “you need to share” attempt and give it back. Other times you will get angry and start crying. Just yesterday you did it to test me, attempting to take away something from your sister four times. I hated to see you in tears, but I want you understand that the world would be a better place if people just learned to share things.


There’s another milestone that you did that amazed me this month. You said your name. It sounds more like “bweat – wos” right now, but I know it will get there. Last night you even said “Bea” which was clear, right after I said your name. You are saying so many different things, but some of it is very hard to understand. I can sense your frustration when I can’t understand and keep asking you to repeat. Then we both kind of give up. We’ll get there, I’m sure.


I think we also had a major accomplishment in the health department. You were sick, maybe once, the entire month. I say “maybe” only because it was a very mild runny nose. No fever, no coughing, nothing else. Other than that, you are getting teeth like a madwoman. I see molars, fangs, almost a full mouth of teeth. You also started picking your nose. We are slowly learning how to deal with such issues, but it does take some time, especially when you don’t like anyone touching your nose.


I’m summing up this last month to be quite a learning experience for us all. As each day creeps by, I see something new and amazing about you. I think to myself, “did she just do that?” No way. I want to hold on to you with everything I’ve got to make you stay little. I continue to learn with you and see the world in different ways, and for the most part, I am enjoying watching you grow into your own, with your own personality. I hope you keep dancing and singing and laughing because those are the most enjoyable parts about you that I love.

I love you more than any words I could write.

Love,
Mama (Mommy)