Twenty-five months.

Heather over at Dooce is a brilliant writer and mom. She has a daughter named Leta. Each month she writes Leta a letter. I think I read somewhere that she is eventually going to make a book out of the letters.

Anyway, thanks Heather for the great idea. Here is my first letter to Caroline.

Dear sweet Caroline,

Today you are twenty-five months old. It seems like just yesterday "you were cutting your teeth on Jim Dear's slippers." I am only kidding. It does seem like just yesterday you were a month old. Daddy and I were brand new parents that freaked out over the smallest noise you would make. Little did we know that a short 24 months later, our house would be full of noises that we should be freaking out over but have learned to ignore.

Since your second birthday a month ago, a lot has changed. You woke up one morning and decided that it was the day that you would begin talking like an adult. Everything Daddy and I say, you try to repeat. I was beginning to get worried because you weren't saying as many words as I thought a two-year-old should. However, I know now that you are fine. You are speaking clearly and you are perfectly healthy. You even started saying your name this month and Caroline is a hard name to say for a little girl like you.

Your new favorite thing to do is sing. All day long, you walk around the house singing your ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Happy Birthday to you. Yes, you sing happy birthday to yourself. Every now and again, you will sing Happy Birthday Daddy or Happy Birthday Mommy.

Your independence is overwhelming. At times, Daddy and I want to pull our hair out. Your potty training is going exceptionally well. However, after you tee-tee in the potty you insist on putting your own big girl pants on. We are not allowed to help you... AT ALL. Most of the time you get two legs through one hole in your big girl pants. You think you have accomplished so much. Daddy and I just clap and say YAHHH! We know you are proud... even if they are on wrong. Most of the time you will let us help you fix your big girl pants once you feel like you've accomplished the task yourself. I am sure you realize they are uncomfortable the way you put them on.

We introduced you to Baby Sister this month. We talk to you about Baby Sister in Mommy's tummy. You are sometimes very nice to her. You will sing to her. You will even share your snacks with her (you think she eats your snacks through my belly-button). You are a great big sister already and really have no idea how your life is about to change. I know the change will be hard but you are going to be a GREAT big sister. I said you are "sometimes" nice to Baby Sister. Then there are the other times. You will lay your sweet head on Mommy's shoulder and you will feel Baby Sister kick you. The first time this happened, you were angry. I told you Baby Sister was kicking you. I told you that she was just playing with you. However, you were not having it. You lifted my shirt, looked at my belly, hit it, and said "NO BABY SISTER!" Of course you said this in a two-year-old way so "sister" sounded like "seester." Anyway, one day you noticed Mommy's tummy moving. I told you Sister was kicking and moving around in there. You pulled up your shirt and looked at your belly. I asked you if Baby Sister was moving around in your belly and you said yes. You then sucked your stomach in and out to make it move. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Now when we ask you if Baby Sister is kicking, you pull your shirt up and show off your cute belly that you are sucking in and out.

The past twenty-five months have been lots of fun. Everyday is a new adventure with you. You are the most amazing little girl I have ever met. You are strong and independent. You are wild and sweet. You are who you are and we love you more than you will ever know.

Love always and forever,