Baby Ninja Warrior

Dear Mackenzie,

Some recent behaviors:

- You went from calling me "Mamamamama" to just "Ma." Now when you want me attention, you just chirp out a perfunctory, "Ma!"

- When you are unhappy about something, you cross your arms and stick out your bottom lip. I can tell that sometimes when you do this, though, you aren't really grumpy about anything but you just want attention.

- Speaking of attention, you have started falling down on purpose so that I will come over to you, help you up and give you a hug.

- You hate brushing your teeth and put up a good fight to avoid it. You clamp your lips together and press them against my arm so that I can't get the toothbrush in your mouth! You will brush yourself if I let you hold the toothbrush but you always swallow the dollop of toothpaste right away so that doesn't work.

- You love baths and eagerly run to the bathroom when I say it's bath time. It's so cute when you scrub your belly, legs and feet by yourself! When I drain the tub, you know bath time is over and dutifully start taking all of your toys out of the tub and putting them back on the ledge. 

- When you hit or scratch one of your siblings and I tell you to say sorry, you go over to the hurt sibling and hug him/her. Then you smile at me as if to say, "I did it! Are you proud of me?"

- You don't like the "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" song anymore. You do still like "You Are My Sunshine" and (uuuuuugggggghhhhh, I'm so sick of it) "Baby Shark."

- Speaking of spiders, if you see one on the wall, you frown and say, "Yuck!" Then you always try to blow it away, which is so cute! I guess now that you know what real spiders look like, you no longer like listening to a song about them!

- You continue to amaze me with your baby ninja warrior skills! Yesterday, you grabbed the refrigerator and freezer door handles and walked your feet up the front of the fridge. The other day, I asked GuhGaw to watch you in your room while I made smoothies. When I came up after I'd finished, GuhGaw had actually fallen asleep on your mat and you had somehow managed to climb up on top of your bookshelf! You were just sitting there, chilling. Thank goodness I came up before you lost your balance and fell! *sigh* Are multiple trips to the emergency room in your future, you little daredevil?

Btw, GuhGaw is the best babysitter ever, right? 

Love,

Mom

Stylish Picks

Dear Mackenzie,

This morning, I picked out what I thought was a cute outfit for you: a summery white shirt with big teal flowers and matching teal shorts. This outfit did not meet your approval, though, because when I held it up to you, you waved your hand at it in disdain and picked out a white and pink-flowered sundress instead. You happily let me put the dress on you and then you grabbed your favorite butterfly scarf (you insist on wearing it ALL the time) and stylishly draped it across your shoulders. Hello, fashion star!

Love,

Mom

Pretty Please

Dear Mackenzie,

Hey baby girl! Here are some things about you:

- You call me "Mamamamama." Not "Mama" but "Mamamamama." Okay.

- You love seeing other babies! You smile the cutest smile when you see one in a book or on TV. I wish we could go to the playground so that you could play with the other babies there.

- Whenever we do a group hug with Daddy or one of your siblings, you hug both of us and then push the other person away so that only you and I are still hugging.

- When you try a food and like it, you smile and nod your head approvingly. Sometimes, you rub your tummy and say, "Ooooo!"

- The other day, you spilled your milk, grabbed a tissue, wiped up the milk and then ran to the kitchen to throw away the tissue. So responsible!

- When I take a booger out of your nose and show it to you, you say, "Whoa!"

- You almost gave me a heart attack the other day when I came into the living room and saw you standing precariously on the edge of the couch, slowly trying to grab a helium balloon string that was juuuuust out of your reach. I mean, if you had leaned over just a smidge, you would have tumbled off the couch and faceplanted on the floor. Thank goodness I came in and got you before you did!

- When you have done something you shouldn't have and you know I'm about to scold you, you put your hands on your hips, like you've seen me do when I scold your siblings.

- When I tell you to say please, you tip your head to the side, press your palms together and say in a sweet voice, "Ooooh." It's so cute!

Love,

Mom