My beautiful and precious Allura,
You have grown leaps and bounds in the last few months. You are a source of constant amazement and laughter now that you are saying full sentences. I love hearing you speak your mind...it's absolutely amazing to hear some of the things that come out of your mouth! The other day we were driving in Nana's car out in the country and she drove on the side of the road where the pavement is indented to make a noise that wakes up drivers if they nod off and weave. You asked what the noise was and we explained that the noise keeps people awake when driving, we didn't go into too much detail assuming it was not something you would understand anyways. Within moments you were back to talking about seeing farms and cows. About 30 minutes later she drove on the side of the road again and you heard that same sound and said "Wake UP Nana!". We were both so amazed that you not only remembered something like that after one quick non-detailed explanation, but that you correlated it to Nana possibly sleeping as she drove (she wasn't of course) but it was amazing to see another example of how smart you are.
As you get more vocal you also seek more independence. This results in the "terrible 2's" type behavior from time to time and sometimes you can be very difficult. I love you no matter what of course, but suddenly you refuse to let me comb and style your hair and you toss and turn during diaper changes. The other day in the car you didn't want to sit in your car seat and started having a massive screaming fit in the back seat as daddy drove and he asked you why you were screaming and you replied in your most dramatic/screaming voice possible "I DON"T KNOW!!" which dissolved us into laughter because it was so cute that you were screaming but then admitted that you didn't remember why. At least you are honest:) You have also learned to be quite rough with Wilder and the dogs recently. I'm not sure if you just have a ton of energy that we are not burning or if you are just testing boundaries. I have to constantly remind you to be soft as you tend to play a bit too rough. We are working on that:)
You are working so well with potty training! I am SO proud of you! Now we can let you go all day at home with no diaper and you either grab your potty chair and use it or you tell one of us so we can help you use the toilet in the bathroom. It is adorable to see how proud you are when you use your potty. You immediately stand up and say "Look! I went potty!" and we come over and praise you. We have learned to keep the praise to a high five or a thumbs up along with verbal praise, because you get incredibly embarrassed and upset when we scream or jump up and down and make too big of a deal of it. We started by offering you 2 M&M's each time you went and that really motivated you. So far to date, you have only had 2 accidents in the last month, and one was in the beginning when you were still learning to pick up on cues from your body, and the other was a long time ago when you were fastened in Wilder's baby swing and couldn't get out quickly enough. Other than that you have been perfect and I am so excited for you to be growing up! You never cease to amaze me with how quickly you learn something new. I have no doubt that soon you won't even need to wear diapers during naps or over night.
The saddest thing that has happened recently (and the reason I missed the letter to you from last month) is because great grandpa Warhol passed away. In the weeks before his death he went downhill quickly and we spent almost every day at their home helping out and spending time with him and family. You were SUCH a trooper. It absolutely broke my heart when (early on before he was near death) you went into the kitchen cupboard by yourself, got the bag of goldfish crackers that Big Meema always keeps for you two to share, and brought them over to his hospital bed and put them by his side. The look of sadness, a little hurt, and a shocked understanding that he was just too sick to share them with you will haunt me forever. You walked away with such a sad and forlorn look that I knew you had just realized how sick he was. You asked me one morning about him and I told you that Big Boppa was sick in his tummy so that you would at least have some understanding of why he was wilting away and forever more you would tell everyone that he was sick in his tummy. Two days before he died, in one of the last periods of time that I saw him awake and fairly lucid, you were standing beside his bed with your hands on his bed rail and he reached up and grabbed your hand and I am confident that he was saying good bye to you. You were so sweet and held his hand for a few moments though I'm sure it was scary for you to see him so thin and weak. Thank you for being so flexible as we spend the majority of our time that summer in their hot home with few, if any toys to play with surrounded by people who were dealing with emotions and sadness and all the other variables that the situation presented. You were always SO good and patient and well behaved. Your strength through it all was amazing.
It's been almost a month now since his passing and just yesterday as we went to meet the family for pizza when I told you Big Meema was coming you reminded me that Big Boppa was sick. I reminded you that he had gone to be with Jesus because at 2, you are not able to understand the finality of it all. Just like when we went to Big Meema's house the day that Big Bopppa passed away and you saw that he was gone and that his bed was gone and you asked where he was. You asked in such a tender way that I wondered if somehow in your heart you sensed what had happened though you just didn't fully grasp it yet. You are an amazing heart Allura, your kindness and empathy for others overwhelms me. Just today at the petting zoo..other kids pet the animals, you kiss and hug them. Big Boppa would be so proud of the little girl that you are. He knew how vigilant you were during his illness and how he can watch you from heaven as you ask "are you okay?" three times any time someone coughs or sneezes. You are so caring and I am SO proud to be your mother.
I love you so much LuLu, you are the most amazing little girl. You make my life so fun (and frustrating at times-but hey, you are TWO!) and you make me laugh each day. I am amazed at the little girl you are growing up to be, I see great things for you in your future. I love love love you my precious girl! :)
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