Tatum Is Two

 

Our tater tot is two!

Our sweet, healthy, perfect, and angelic little girl. I am beside myself today as I soak in my two-year-old Tatum! How did this arrive so quickly? The last 24 months have been quite the whirlwind and somewhere between car rides - pick ups and drop offs, late-night nursing, and traveling up and down the East Coast, my baby became a toddler... and now that toddler is two years old. I don't even know where to start. The fact that you are my fourth child but still continue to humble and teach me and your daddy so many things about parenthood has been incredible. You are the only kiddo we've had that ditched a highchair and a booster seat well before the age of two. You are quite vocal, quite sassy, and EXTREMELY high alert when it comes to people not complying with things you want or something you've said. Waving your finger in disapproval or screaming a bunch of toddler talk is not outside of the scope you participate in to let us know when you have a problem.

You are quite the empath and care deeply for the members of our family. Always giving hugs, and kisses, and checking in when people are crying. You learned sign language in the last few months and sign regularly. You can sign more, milk, sorry, apple, eat and all done on a regular basis. It's incredible. You continue to be a rock star sleeper and sleeping through the night continues to be our norm. You are still nursing! Yep! We made it to two years... and although these days nursing isn't mutually exclusive (mommy is feeling the call to wean), you are still at it and I try to remind myself that you are my LAST nursing babe! My last one. I'm more of your human mama pacifier most days but I can tell we are coming to a close on this chapter of our relationship together. It makes me a little sad when I think about how quickly we got here... but I am SO stoked for all the memories we've yet to make together.

Right before you turned two, you started showing the classic Howland kid symptoms of preferring daddy over mama in more ways than one! I always say I don't blame you, kids. Daddy is my favorite person, too. Watching you choose Dad and prefer him for playtime, cuddles, pick-me-ups, and to ease you when you are upset... it's another milestone in my book. I know Daddy is happy to be there for you and for you to be able to have him, too. You are still rear facing --- though I did switch you around for our trip to Washington D.C. -- we plan to keep you safely rear-facing for as long as possible. You have nearly all your teeth (just waiting on two pesky top molars to come in fully), you can run, kick a ball, stack a tower of blocks, and attempt to blow bubbles as often as we pull them out.

You LOVE to dance, sing, and run circles around your older sibs. You have always loved music, you are a little stubborn, but you enjoy a good beat, especially for car naps. When I think about your life and just how incredible you've grown to be, I get so emotional. You are such a miracle, my girl. Truly.

Happiest of birthdays, 

We love you so. 

Grow, grow, grow my baby! We are always rooting for you.