Laboring Pains

Dear Ms. L,

In 3 weeks, we will be delivering our little girl to your care. It will be a huge change for us, for her. Our little girl has not known a school day without big brother Aidan ever since she was born. Attending our current school has been a huge part of her life. As much as we love the facility that we have become so familiar with, we do not love the commute at all. Fighting all those commuters along 101 twice a day has caused this mother many screaming yelps. Let's not get this mother started on the ridiculousness of 'metering'- oh yeah, let's make all the cars STOP and then have to accelerate SUPER QUICKLY to catch up with the flow. That, my dear politicians, would not be green.

Alas I digress.

Our sweet Zoe is persistent- she lets you know what she wants. And she will repeat herself A LOT to be sure you understand. If you ever make mac n cheese and she gets wind of it, she will stand next to the stove and say, "Chee, chee, chee, chee, chee..." for the entire time your mac need to boil. If she requests for milk, and it takes you longer than a second to serve her, she will sit there and say, "Mil, Mil, Mil, Mil..." I suppose you get my drift.

She is gentle- whenever Aidan gets injured, she will give him hugs and kisses. When she sees other children crying, she wants to comfort them. When she sees this mother lose it, she makes her eyes incredibly round, as if to say, "Lady, you need to open your eyes and see what is important. Nobody will care about how much I complained as a toddler when I am off to college. You will miss me."

She is playful- she knows to hide, very quietly while holding very still, until you get close, then she will pull off the blanket and laugh hysterically. She likes to pretend she is a baby and asks for a binky. She loves to carry a huge purse full of c.r.a.p, I mean, treasures.

She is hilarious- she knows she is funny, and she is certain that she can convince us to keep on playing despite how tired she is.

She is Zoe. As much as we try to convince her to say her name, she never refers herself as Zoe, but will proudly say our last name, as if she is already a grown up, demanding more respect.

We are excited to see how she will grow, through potty training, making friends, verbalizing her feelings and needs, and working through the complexity of toddlerhood. This will be a great year.

Cheers,

Zoe's Mom