{Dear Baby} 2 years 4 months

J turns 2 year 4 months in a couple of days.
I haven't been keeping track of her growing and milestones because very often, I turn on the computer, log on to Blogger, and find myself lost for words.

She's growing really quickly, with new adventures each day. But what we have been doing seems somewhat similar to the previous months.

I used to keep track of milestones.
Now, I'm not sure if eating a cookie is considered a milestone.
If walking up the stairs without any form of support is a milestone.
So I collect memories instead.

I used to take note of her first babbles. Her first words. New words. First phrase. First sentence.
Now she talks so much, I cannot keep track of what is new and what is not.

But there are some things I observed which is worth taking note of.


She speaks like how we speak to her.
This month, it is evident that a child really models after the adults, especially her caregivers.
J has been saying things that she obviously picked up from us.
"Be careful, mama."
"I'm okay."
"What's that sound? It's only a bus... Don''t worry about it."

Which reminds us to be mindful of what, and how we speak to her.

She gives boo-boo hugs too. When I had a headache, she came over with her arms outstretched, gave me a really tight hug with a "It's okay, mama."


She isn't as "friendly" anymore.
Stranger-danger.
The very friendly baby/toddler who waves to everyone in the lift, or high-five strangers in the mall, or (worse) wants strangers to carry, is gone. In place, is a preschooler who is wary of strangers and over-zealous relatives she seldom sees. J now takes some time to process if the adults she sees is "safe". No more free hugs to anyone and everyone. But once she recalls the adult, she's as friendly as can be.

Which is actually good news for me.


Which brings me to... Fear.
I always thought my baby is fearless.
She was. Until lately.
She stopped wanting to do somersaults after she did it on the bed one night, unsupervised and landed on the floor.

For a short time, she didn't want to sit on a stool because her cousin fell from one.

But both times, we kind of reminded her of the incidents while she was trying to be naughty so I wonder if she is more affected by what we said, or what actually happened.



Independence heightens.
She basically wants to do things herself.
I got her the IKEA BOLMEN step stool so that she can see what I'm busy with at the kitchen countertop. She figured that she could use the same stool to turn off the lights and reach for remote control for air-conditioner in the playroom.

She wants to bathe herself.

She tries to put on shoes by herself.

One day she got bored of waiting for us after she has put on her slippers, she took ours out and laid them out neatly.


She warms my heart every time she is not throwing a tantrum.
She balances my negativity.
She complements my silliness.

I'm so thankful for this little girl I call my daughter.