Vivian these days

Dear Vivian,

Once again I'm overwhelmed by the million amazing things you've said and done, by the little girl who are now. I can't possibly recap everything nor remember everything. How cruel memory is as so many of the blog-worthy things you've said and done are no doubt already forgotten to me. But I do remember plenty so here are a few favorites:

This weekend, Stella competed in her second ice skating competition. She REALLY wanted first place. In the morning before the competition she was nervous and said, "I have butterflies" to which you replied, "And I have ladybugs."

You love to read the letters and numbers in taxis. Somehow you know all your letters now (and can even write a lot of them too). It is not entirely clear to me how you learned this. But at the end as you are reading "CONTACT 3-1-1" you say "C-O-N-T-A-C-T-3-Tictac-Tictac-1-1"

You love love love school so much. It is an unbelievable difference from the beginning of the year. Now they usually dismiss you last because you do not not not want to leave. Sometimes even after you are dismissed you don't go. You stay to give Jennifer a last hug and return to the classroom several times. You are a little bit disappointed on the weekendswhen yo ufind out you are not going to school. You are always especially excited for shabbat because you get to eat challah! This week I was the library mom and got to watch you during library time. You are so enthusiastic and precious. You took out a book called, "When Sophie Gets Angry Really Really Angry". Later when I asked you what book you got, you answered, "I Got Mad" which was actually pretty close.

Ballet is your favorite thing in the world. You are so excited on the days when you have ballet and have told me that you would like to do it everyday. You have a profoundly weird skill which is walking on your tippy tippy tippy toes. This freaks me out. But watching you dance in ballet class is one of my favorite things in the world. You are so adorable and happy.

Speaking of adorable, you do not like people calling you cute. This is a bit of a problem because people on the street and, well, everywhere are constantly saying it and then you make me tell them that you don't like it. You like to be called funny or smart or awesome. Just not cute. Or adorable. I think it is because you think only babies are cute. Sometimes when you get really mad at Stella, you make an evil face and say to me, "Tell Stella she's cute" in your meanest voice.

Every night the very last thing you say to me -- usually calling it from your bed to me in the other room -- is "I love you so much". I know when you say that that you are about to fall asleep. It is the best ever end to the day.

You love candy and junk food. Yesterday out of nowhere you asked me in the morning if we could go for a chocolate donut after school. I wondered how you even knew what a chocolate donut was. You told me that Chloe had one.

You can do a pretty damn good cartwheel. Today Stella tried a one handed cartwheel and so you immediately tried that too. You almost did it.

Your language skills are ridiculously good and you talk in a very animated way that helps make it so super fun to be with you and to have a conversation with you. Sometimes you do or say something so incredibly cute that I can't help but laugh. Then you get this look on your face that says, 'I know she is laughing because I said something cute and I am not cute and I don't like this' and I try to explain to you that I am not laughing AT you and you don't totally believe me because you are too fucking smart and I feel bad but also so deeply happy to have a daughter who is so totally amazing.

I love you so much.

Love,

Mama