Seems I'm once again behind on updates!
Lol, not to worry, you and I haven't missed any moments in real life, so sorry for the delay in written updates, but I'm here now.
So, for the sake of not forgetting or leaving anything out, I guess I can categorize this post.
Let's start with:
Music
One thing I knew I wanted to pass down to you from a tender young age was a love and appreciation for all forms of Art. Everything from paintings and Sculptures to Music and performing arts and everything in between. As of right now, (actually always) Music seems to be the fore runner of the lot.
I remember when you were in mommy's belly, every day I would take at least 15 minutes to press the speaker from my phone up against it to play you a few songs. Some in particular that I can remember playing for you were "Waiting in Vain" by Bob Marley, (Because I love that song) "The World is Yours" by Nas and a handful of others. Sometimes you would kick and I would take that to mean you liked the song and some times you wouldn't which I would take to mean you didn't. Lol.
These days, very little has changed except you're very vocal with expressing how you feel about the songs you like. We listen to music whenever we are in the car, and if you like the song you say "Sooong" which means we should turn up the volume. And then you sing along throughout the whole thing and throw in whatever dance moves you can manage within the confines of your car seat. When the song is over, (this is my favorite) you say "Agaain!"
Let me tell you about your 2 favorite to date: "Bounce Back" by Big Sean and "24k Magic" by Bruno Mars! Girl oh Girl!! When I say those 2 are your favorite I mean they are your FAVORITES! It got to a point where I had to brace myself for 30-40 minutes of the same two songs on repeat. Granted, I love both those songs but even I got so tired of them I had to try to introduce you to other songs. Believe me it wasn't easy. You put up a fight each time!
Once you're old enough to read this and comprehend you'll probably be thinking to yourself: "My dad let me listed to "Bounce Back?" Bad parenting daddy!" Lol. Listen, we're just not the "Wheels on the bus song playing in the car" kind of family! Lol. Yesterday I played you "Freedom" by Pharrell, you liked it, as well as "Fashion Week" by Wale that I introduced you too about 3 weeks ago, you liked that one too. So now your playlist is getting a little longer and I don't have to be subjected to two songs when I drive.
So what else is new?
"Zairah Do It"
I've always known and I've even written it here that you are going to excel at all you do, and you're going to be very independent from such a young age, and I was right.
I can remember a time when you could barely roll over. I remember seeing you struggle, tirelessly attempting to do it until you got it! I even remember that you would fuss and get upset if I tried to touch you while you tried to do it on your own. Nothing has changed. You are always determined to learn and even more determined to apply what you learn.
The building we live in now has a set of steps between the entrance and the lobby. There are days where you're in your stroller or want to be carried, and there are days that you want to walk. On days where you want to walk you refuse to let anyone hold your hand as you go up the stairs. Not mommy, not me, no one! You extend your little arm literally as far as you can to be able to reach the banister and up and down you go all by yourself, doll or toy of choice in your free hand. It's the same when we go to grandma's house! Once you've told Juno to calm down you go up and down the huge set of stairs effortlessly, one step at a time all by yourself. It's so endearing to see you do things on your own. I just hope that you are always aware that mommy and Daddy are here to help you along the way. Either way, you're independence is something you value and it makes me more proud than any words can ever express.
So let me tell you the story of the light switch. In our small studio apartment, we don't get the ideal amount of sunlight coming in seeing as how the apartment faces the side of the building, giving us a beautiful view of the next building lol. So turning the lights on is obviously something we have to do by a certain time every day. At one point you wanted to start doing it yourself, the same way you want to press the button on the elevator. So one day I turned the lights on and you threw a fit (you're good for those) and I couldn't figure out why. So you pointed at the switch and I realized why you were upset. You wanted to flick the switch yourself. So I carried you over and you flicked the switch at least 4 times, lol. From that day on you wouldn't let anyone touch the light switch it became Zairah's job to turn on the lights. So one day you had gotten tired of being carried over and tried to do it on your own "Daddy, Zairah do it" is your favorite thing to say, but you couldn't reach the switch, and I couldn't think of a solution. But you're not the type to wait for someone else to come up with a solution for you. At 2 and a half years old you're already a problem solver. For 3 or 4 days I saw you struggle trying to reach that pesky light switch. On the 3rd or 4th day I saw the light bulb shine bright in your head!
You have your own little toy chair that sits next to the TV a few inches away from the light switch. So you went and got the chair, moved it over so that it was right under the switch, stood up on it and were able to reach the light switch on your own!
Watching you figure that all out on your own blew my mind! I had to run and grab you to hug you and drown you with kisses. Mommy and I cheered on for minutes in disbelief of how truly epic you are, baby! It's beautiful watching you develop your brain and learn how to do new things! I hadn't been that mind blown since I saw how you get out of your crib for the first time. You constantly leave me with my jaw dropped saying "Woooow!"
And the most recent update
Big Girl Uses the Potty
So the potty training phase started some months ago. I can't say it's been a huge disaster, however getting a two year old to understand when it's time to drop your diaper and sit down to use the potty is a struggle for any parent. You don't let me or your mommy use the bathroom in peace, you're constantly barging in to come and speak to us about whatever your toys are going through or to tell us what you've been up to all day! Lmao. (Excuse me, it's just so strange to share the bathroom in your home with anyone when you've spent almost 30 years of your life using it alone--so I laugh because the thought of my personal time being invaded by my two year old just makes me chuckle now that I'm writing and actually thinking about it, but I digress.) Because you're constantly in the restroom with one of us, you're well aware of the idea that you have to sit down to do what you have to do. You just seem to be under the impression that you're actually doing something when really you're just putting your bare bottom on the plastic potty and getting up saying "all done!" Lol.
Well that all changed last night. It was a day for the record books. You and mommy were taking your shower as usual when you told mommy "Pee Pee." Mommy attached your new toilet seat to the regular toilet seat and you sat and did it baby! You peed in the potty like a big girl.
I was in the middle of watching the NBA draft when mommy scared my by screaming "BAAAAAABE!!" I ran to the bathroom (not concerned however, because mommy is Puerto Rican, meaning she's always yelling) I asked "Yeah!?" "She did it, she peed in the potty like a big girl!" I looked at you, you were looking back at me with this huge trademark smile of yours. I almost cried I was so proud, I picked you up, hugged you tight, kissed you, told you I love you and and that I was proud of you. I immediately went to call grandma and Uncle Rudy to tell them the news update taking place in our apartment!!
Zairah, you are a constant source of inspiration amongst so many other things in my life. You learn something new every day. And I was prepared for that, what I wasn't prepared for was how much you would be teaching me every day! And for that I thank you, I can say with all sincerity that you have made me and continue to make me a better person each day! Thank You Baby. Mommy and Daddy Love you and can't wait to write more things for you to read when you're old enough.
God Bless You!
FFZ.
