Myra is Two

Two years with Myra the rollie pollie. I wish I could share the joy it is to know this little person. There are never enough words to capture the entirety of my children, or my love for them, but leaving behind little bits of  'right now' has been a favorite way to feel the gratitude of being their mother.  I hope they return to these pockets of their childhood and find in them love.

Myra the two year old loves the idea of animals and humans, but only from a distance. She is silly, talkative and exuberant until other people are near, then all at once she is withdrawn, silent and still. From a safe distance she loves to observe and comment on the people around her. She will applaud adults she sees in public who are comforting and helping their children. "Yay! Mommy, Daddy, help baby!' (she hates for anyone to be in distress) 

My-me turns everything into a baby. In a pinch, when no toy, rock or stick can be found she will turn her foot or hand into a baby, pretending it is crying until her other available appendage swoops in, to rock, sooth and feed the fussy baby hand. 

My-my will celebrate the promise of chocolate chips (her favorite) with a jolly shoulder dance, prancing about on her gummy feet chanting "Chocolate chip, chocolate chip, chocolate chip," as she waits in anticipation for her little bowl to be filled.  When Myra isn't dancing to express her excitement over something, its usually because she's busy throwing her arms high into the air, bursting on tip toe yelling "hooray!!" 

My-my asks for her hair to be pretty so she can prance about the house to show off her new piggies. She is quite practical about her comfort as come nap time, she will demand all the pretties be taken out, if she hasn't already ripped them out herself. 

My-my likes to lay in melted relaxation in the back of the bike trailer, sometimes draped over a sibling, but usually alone, soaking in nature with a foot or two sticking out from beneath the screen to feel the wind against her toes. She will often ask to go on a walk, or a hike, get in the backpack, or go on a bike ride, when we've been at home too long. 

Myra loves binkie and blankie but above all she loves me. She likes to pretend to run away when we've gone out on a walk only to be beckoned back by my outstretched arms, where she will tackle me with her dead weight and we will hug again and again and again, only to repeat.  This is her favorite way to hike.  

Myra does not play independently unless she has been lulled into a confidence that I am staying in the same room. Sometimes just shifting positions on the couch while she plays next to me is enough to send her into a panic and up into my lap for needed reassurance and cuddles. 

Myra loves Daniel Tiger and we have admittedly used this to our advantage for pockets of seclusion and productivity.  Daniel is a wonderful tool we all use for a bit of rest. 

Myra loves to have a job to do, to help, to relocate piles of odds and ends from one location to another. She loves to jump on the trampoline after dinner with the big kids, and try on everyone's shoes. She crosses her fingers, as if for good luck, while absent mindedly relaxing.  She loves to color and chatting about what she is coloring.  

Myra can count to 15, knows several colors, constantly comments on others emotions, as well as her own, she communicates well and often. She has taught me so much about actively embracing the joy of the moment, Happy Two You!