Happy Birthday, Baby Girl

Katherine, Happy Second Birthday!

It’s only been two short years ago that we’ve met for the first time; and I can’t imagine my life without you anymore. You have turned my world upside down; and I love every moment of it!

Today was a perfect day – your grandma is still here visiting from Germany and she made you a birthday cake; you received some wonderful presents and in the afternoon we took you to an activity centre where a friend joined us and we had so much fun climbing, running, and bouncing around for hours. You were a bundle of energy, exploring and enjoying the adventure. On the car ride home, I still saw a sparkle in your eyes and a smile on your face - just before you nodded off within minutes for a well-deserved nap.

You are teaching me to pay attention to all the special moments in life. I am grateful that we were able to spend much time together during this past year, full of memories, laughs and cuddles. I feel privileged that I get to see you grow up and hug you every day. I don’t know what the future holds, but my wish for you is that it is a bright future that brings you much joy, love and happiness. I love you always and forever.

Holiday Time

Katherine, the holidays are always a special time of the year, but they have been extra special since you have been in our lives. This has been our second Christmas together, and while your first Christmas last year was wonderful, this one was so much more special as you are beginning to understand that something different and special is going on.

A few nights before Christmas we took a drive around town to look at the Christmas lights as we traditionally do – we thought you might enjoy the twinkling lights and beautiful holiday displays as well. I did plan ahead – researched and printed a list with the most elaborate displays in town, dressed your warmly and buckled you snugly into your car seat. Armed with a map on my phone, I navigated your daddy to our first destination. Arriving and pointing to the beautiful light displays, you had peacefully fallen asleep. As we continued our tour, you had a perfect nap (yes, we know better than waking a sleeping toddler… not even for Christmas lights) and just as we were driving back home you woke up. As I mentioned to your dad that I am sure you would have enjoyed the lights, he ignored the fact that is was dinner time by now and discontinued our drive home. Instead he drove to a part of town which always has spectacular displays. Your eyes were big and your face was beaming with joy as you discovered the lights, the snowmen, santas, reindeer and even saw some gigantic penguins pulling a sleigh.

This Christmas has also been special as your grandma (my mom) is visiting us from Germany and you get to spend time with her… reading stories (in German… today you tried to bring her an English book to read to you, which didn’t go over so well, but you did look at its pictures together), playing together with your toys and looking at picture books – and she is teaching you some great German children’s rhymes as well. We’re even sneaking in some German TV on some evenings, we had some cake today made from a German recipe (which you “helped” to make) – and you even tried to reach for the German beer we had the other evening (unsuccessfully I may add as I was quick to get it out of your reach).

You are teaching me that Christmas isn’t about the presents, it’s about the memories we create. While you certainly enjoy your new car racing track, it’s not about the toy, but about pulling us across the living room and playing with it together with you. The memories of you helping me with my baking in the kitchen, the memories of you hanging ornaments on the bottom of tree as we were decorating it together, the memories of your big eyes when you saw the Christmas tree lit up for the first time – that’s what Christmas is all about. I love you always and forever.

Snuggle Time

Katherine, tonight, as we do many nights, we snuggled up on the couch after dinner. Sometimes we watch a little TV together (yes, usually your favourite show which you negotiate to put on) or like tonight we read a story together. Well, ok, not one as one is never enough when we get started, but a whole book filled with stories. I love that when we get started with a good book, you always ask for more, and I love that I can never resist reading you “just one more”.

Snuggle time on the couch in the evening is my favourite time with you, we get to spend time together, “hanging out”, cuddled up close to each other. Lately as the days are getting colder outside, you bring a little blanket to the couch which we settle underneath. Some days a plush bunny, bear or doll will join us and many nights we’ll have some crackers or apples as a little snack. You always make sure to share your snack with me (sometimes you’ll feed me) and if daddy sits in the dining room reading or working, you’ll climb off the couch and bring him a cracker or slice of apple too. Snuggle time is our favourite time together and I look forward to it every day.

You are teaching me that it’s not always about the quantity of time we have with the people we love, it’s about spending quality time in the time we have together. We can never predict what life brings, and I treasure every moment we get to spend together, right here, right now. I love you always and forever.

Colours, Shapes and Building Blocks

Katherine, as you grow bigger, smarter and more curious, I am always looking for toys for you to play with that are fun, but challenging at the same time. One thing I have learned about you is that your eyes light up when you get to figure out “how to”.

There is a little secret I want to share with you… I love Rubik’s Cubes! I have, ever since I was a little girl and my mom (your grandma) gave me my first Rubik’s Cube for my birthday. I couldn’t figure out how to solve it, so she went out, got a book and solved it for me. Then she gave me the book and I learned how to do it on my own... and I loved it! I have solved that cube many, many times over the years, and still do once in a while (even though I have to admit, I haven’t  in a while as life is busy) – there is nothing quite like taking those jumbled squares and putting them back in the right order with a few well calculated moves.

So a few days ago I was at the toy store (to get your doll a fall outfit, but that’s a story for another day), and I walked by a whole shelf of different toddler Rubik’s toys. Of course I couldn’t resist bringing a little something home for you – a shape sorter… no, not an ordinary shape sorter, this one has 18 colourful shape openings around an octagonal sphere (ok, I admit, I couldn’t wait to open the box with you). And sure enough, your eyes lit up as you began to explore how to get all the pieces inside.

You are teaching me that it’s ok to still feel like a kid, even when I am all grown up. You reminded me to pick up my Rubik’s cube again once in a while and just get lost in the game. As for you and me… we keep having so much fun sitting on the floor playing together with “our” new toy. I love you always and forever.

You Are Watching Me

Katherine, you are learning by watching and acting on what you see us do.

When we have gone out for lunch or dinner, I used to always wipe your mouth with a napkin at the end of a meal (yes, you have never developed a liking for bibs). And I have to admit, when it's a tougher job and I don't have a wet wipe handy, I sometimes would sneak a little water from your sippy cup onto the napkin to make my job easier. I have done it lots of times, but lately you are becoming more independent and are grabbing the napkin yourself to wipe your mouth. When you first started doing that, I thought to myself that it's fun to see you do this by yourself, but I definitely didn't give you enough credit how well you are doing. What daddy and I observed next, made us both laugh and at the same time be so proud of you. You lay down the napkin on the table, grab your sippy cup, turn it over and dab water onto your napkin, then wipe your mouth with it.

This has become your routine now after a meal out and after you are done, you push the napkin away and put your arms up in the air to signal us you are done.

You are teaching me to be concious of what I do and what I say. You learn from daddy and me what's right and wrong behaviour and I want to be leading you along the right path. I love teaching you all about life. You even make me eat my vegetables, because when I eat them off my plate, you eat them off yours. You make me try new things, because when I try new things, you will to. I love you always and forever.

Splish, Splash

Katherine, you have taken your first swimming lessons. I am so glad I got to be part of it!

Not only did we enjoy time together in the pool, but you already learned how to hold your breath when going under water. We had lots of fun – I got to pull you through the water and you even “swam” a short distance on your own when the instructor and I passed you between us. There were lots of giggles and a few tears along the way (yes, I have learned that you do not like to drift through the water on your back). You love chasing balls and rubber ducks in the water and you even reached for rings below the water line. By the end of the week you had earned your Starfish level swimming designation – I am so proud of you.

You are teaching me to enjoy the summer days and live in the moment. Lots of moments to live for this summer, lots of memories being made. I love you always and forever.

Love of Technology

Katherine, they say that child development depends part on nature and part on nurture. Well, when it comes to you and technology, I’d say both play a big part in your young life. Both your daddy and I love technology, and learning it comes easy to us… and for the nurture part, well, we encourage you to play with technology and our “tech toys”.

Your favourite? Hands down my iPad. Yes, I am still claiming it as mine – just so we’re clear on it. Even though I had to explain in a couple of business meetings last week why my portfolio case had a nice old fashioned paper notepad in it, but my high-tech iPad slot was empty.

You are having so much fun playing with it – we have installed some great toddler games on it including some simple puzzles, animated picture books and my favourite – fun German word games, all of which you effortlessly navigate. Watching you over the past few months, I have watched you go from randomly tapping onto the screen to today, where you know exactly how to swipe your finger over the screen to flip between the pages and to tap on the icon of a specific game you want to play.

What I love about watching you play with the iPad is that it’s nothing special to you – you’ll seamlessly switch from playing with it to building something with blocks to running around outside or “reading” a book.

You are teaching me that life never stands still – new things to learn, new technologies to embrace. For you it’s normal to see and be exposed to new things every day, but as we grow older we sometimes tend to stay still with the knowledge we already have. Life is about growing and learning, every day.  I love you always and forever.