Tonight when I got ready to put you to bed, I rocked you just a little bit longer and held onto you just a little bit tighter (and surprisingly, you let me). You are usually so busy and independent that after just a few minutes of rocking, you try and squirm out of my arms and want to slither down out of the recliner and make a run for it. I think you'd keep running and playing until you collapsed, if I'd let you! But not tonight. I think you knew Mama was sentimental and you were just the sweetest, most still little babydoll in my arms. You looked up into my eyes as I sang and sometimes you'd just give me a knowing glance that you were so comfy and cozy and happy, and a couple times you looked straight into my eyes and smiled the sweetest smile. Either way you pierced my heart and I couldn't help but quietly cry as I held your almost 19 month old self.
Tomorrow morning, you will wake up a 19 month old. We will wake up bright and early, get ready, eat breakfast, and head to your 1st day of "school"- the Green Acres Baptist Church Early Education Center. We went there Thursday evening and met your teachers, saw your classroom, and met some of your new friends. Mama and Daddy love the school, their values, your sweet teachers, and all the opportunities you'll have to learn and grow there. You are getting to the age where you could really benefit from more social interaction, stimulation, and structure as well. We've heard such wonderful things about Green Acres and think you are going to love it.
Eventually! : /
Thursday night turned out to be a hard night for the both of us. You went into the room so brave and confident, and Mama and Daddy were so relieved! You started playing and exploring and having a great time. When it was time for us to go, you kept right on playing and exploring and were just fine. It wasn't until someone opened the door to drop off their child that you walked out the door and saw us, and then things went downhill. You seemed shocked that me and Daddy would be in the hallway and then when you had to go back into your new room, you started screaming one of the loudest screams Mama has ever heard come from your mouth. It went against every maternal instinct I had to leave you in there. When we came back to pick you up after our parent meeting, the teacher said you had cried on-and-off during most of the time we were at our meeting. When we walked into the room to get you, you had started crying again. Once I picked you up, you clung very tight to me and didn't wanna let me go much over the next couple days, which is very unlike the Little Miss Independent I know.
Your wonderful Daddy took my hand at church today and led me down to the altar and he prayed for his two girls. He knows that, although we believe we are doing the right thing for you, it will be a time of adjustment for you and me. Mama cried again during this time and a little bit more today. I am just a Crybaby and that is something you will probably not like about me, especially in the future! But you know what?! When I went to pick you up in the nursery, they said you hadn't cried at all, and you also didn't cry when I picked you up (which you usually do). So that was a special sign to me that God was hearing our prayers and helping you (and Mama) to remember He is with you wherever you go. I am also extremely thankful that you going to "daycare" is the "biggest thing" up to this point that I've had to struggle with as a Mama. There are so many other Mamas out there with very sick babies and I don't forget for one minute how very blessed we are.
So when I put you in your bed tonight, my prayer was that God will put extra angels around you tomorrow and fill you with His peace and joy and security. I prayed that you will know, in your own little way as a 19 month old, that He is with you. And that you will begin, even now, to trust in Him and to find Him faithful. Because He is, Moriah! Mama and Daddy love you so much and we will be there for you and do all that is humanly possible for you. But there will be times we can't be there and even times we will fail you, even though we don't mean to. That is when it will be so important for you to know that Jesus is The One who will never leave you, never fail you, and the only one who can make you totally complete! He loves you even more than we can, and we will continue to learn that we can trust Him as He holds you in His hands.
See you in the morning, big girl! I'm so proud of you and I love you so much more than I ever thought possible. You are the sweetest, cutest, busiest, funniest, best 19 month old I know! I love being your Mama! You rock my soul!
(And for future reference):
Stats from your 18 month appointment:
Weight: 21 lbs 2 oz (9th percentile)- Dr. wasn't concerned though, because you are still my little Roly Poly, just petite! ; ) you've got the Pate legs and booty, child!
Length: 30.7 inches (23rd percentile)
Words: door, juice, shoes, church, "go-go" for goldfish, "dye-dye" (for bye-bye), Dah (ball), teetee (you like to wave bye-bye to the teetee when anyone flushes the potty), mama, dada, Tootsie, chalk, sock, car, quack, ruf, "woooo" for swing, Spot (your little dog), etc. Of course many of these words have the "Moriah spin" on the pronunciation.
Hobbies: you love to push your little shopping cart around and "shop" in the pantry- you get canned goods out of the pantry and put them in your cart-ha! you will get your little purse, put it on your arm, and tell everyone in the room "dye-dye" like you are going somewhere. you love to "brush" your teeth, brush your hair, and use Mama's make-up brushes. You are really into climbing up and down little steps and practicing the "sit and scoot" technique that Tootsie taught you. you LOVE water! you are still busy, busy and love to "talk" and prance around. you like to dance, and when a good song comes on, you click your tongue, throw your arms up and "dance" around. you recently got into "coloring" and using sidewalk chalk. your favorite book right now is your little Bible that Tootsie & Pop got you, and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear." i can't wait to see all the things you pick up when you start going to "school."
Here are some pics that Emily of Snaps Photography took of you this summer:
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