To Stella, fifteen months and twelve days old

Dear Stella,

The best part about the past six weeks is all the time we have spent together as a family. Daddy has been around the whole weekend every weekend and we are having a great time.













We have spent lots of time running around the playground, eating muffins from Georgia's or Le Pain Quotidien, and visiting Grandma and Grandpa. One weekend we went to the Central Park Zoo where you had a great time feeding goats and sheep and other four legged creatures.













After awhile you became overwhelmingly tired. You have begun to let us know that you need some sleep by repeatedly demanding your pacifier. We can tell this is what you are after because you say over and over with increasing urgency "pa. pa. pa. Pa. pA. PA. PA! PA! PA! PA!" until you are happily sucking away. On this lovely Saturday, however, Daddy and I made the fatal error of forgetting to bring a pacifier along. Thus, after a three mile walk through the park to the zoo and a lovely jaunt around said premises, we were forced to exit the park and walk east until we found a pharmacy. As we frantically searched the neighborhood, you, with tears streaming from your eyes, continually shouted "pa pa pa". Dad and I couldn't help but notice that we were no longer the kind of people who slept late on the weekends waking only to read the paper over a leisurely brunch before lazing around in bed the rest of the day. Finally, on Lexington Avenue we reached Mecca. Within seconds of our getting that little pink plastic crack pipe into your mouth, you were dead asleep.

You are obsessed with bags. Sometimes you carry as many as three at once.











The other day you didn't want me to leave you so we went into my closet and picked out a special sparkly, gold bag for you to play with. I do that sometimes when you don't want me to leave - give you something special of mine that you can keep with you all day when I can't be there. You and I have developed quite a bond. Sometimes when it is time for me to go in the morning, you throw your little arms around my neck and say "mama, mama" and I can't possibly part from you. Every once in awhile when you and I are alone you cry hysterically if I put you down even for a second. This can be a challenge when I have to get dressed or am cutting vegetables for your lunch. Last week you had what I think we can call your first full-fledged tantrum as I tried to get a few last minute things done and get you dressed to go outside.

In the event that you are interested in charting your growth and weight gain, at your doctor's appointment on November 9, you weighed in at 20.5 lbs and, I think, 30.5 inches. You also got your first vaccinations and were tested for anemia and lead. Like your grandmother and mother before you, you are ever so slightly anemic.

One of the ways I can really chart how much you have grown and changed recently is by your participation in music class. In general, you are much more into it now. You go and get the instruments as they are being passed out and are good about putting them away when it is time to do that. You do the hand gestures that go along with some of the songs. At home you sometimes ask me to sing a certain song by putting your two little hands in the air and making little chirping birds with them. You can also turn your cd player on and off yourself. You love the piano and are a huge fan of playing ball with your dad. The other day you went and got a ball then came into our bedroom, went up to Dad and said "ball. ball. ball." He was so happy and immediately went with you into the living room to play. We couldn't help but notice that you are a little bit like a puppy sometimes. Cuddly and soft, you follow us around the house and only want to play. Unlike a puppy, however, you have recently become quite adept at guiding your spoon from the bowl into your mouth. Watching you take on this challenge has made me marvel at how frequently most adults hit the mark. It really is tricky.












You laugh hysterically and often. Last night at dinner, you climbed out of your high chair and walked across the table over to me and crawled into my lap. You then proceeded to laugh uncontrollably while pointing at your father. We weren't sure what was so funny but Daddy and I laughed right along with you and then our hearts leapt out of our chests and burst into a thousand pieces.

One day recently as you were drifting off for your nap, I was holding you in the rocking chair and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my cheeks. I just was so overwhelmed by how much I love you and by how incredible it is to simply hold your peaceful, sleeping body. I held you a little longer than usual that day, my arms wrapped around you, your head resting against my chest. I listened to you breathe and sleep and wished we could stay just like that forever.

Love,
Mama