This week involves some preparations for a little person's second birthday. We aren't planning a big celebration since there are so many little traditions and habits that happen in the middle of childhood routines. A little rhyme for putting on shoes, a certain playlist at wakeup time and another one at bedtime, hugs, stories before nap. The same exclamations as we drive passed a collapsing barn, daily walks to the mailbox that are epic adventures of weather, neighbors' dogs (and the grownups who hold the leash) or bird watching: every bird from sparrow to crow is, “Goose! Honk honk!” The world at three feet tall and the focus of a dime! A bottle cap is a treasure, a flight of seven steps is insurmountable.
To
be fair, it's also a world full of harsh and unreasonable demands, like “finish your milk,” “put your pants back on,” “don't eat a whole pound of strawberries at one time,” “wait until she opens the door,” and “FOR MOMMY'S SANITY, no you can't watch the same show for the NINTH TIME!!” Real conflicts that occurred between 7 and 10 a.m. this morning. Tragic, every one.
One thing we DO both agree on is our public library. We try to make it (on time, and even dressed!) about once a week. The bookshelves by the story steps are her favorite thing in the world and she'll stack a dozen books beside her and page through every one. Usually she'll try to carry a few in an old bag she pulled from the dress-up box in her room, but the dragging and falling and bumping annoyed both of us. She's in love with her sister's school backpack and her daddy carries his to work, too, so it seemed like just the right thing for her birthday.
I found this toddler backpack pattern from the sewing blog Made by Rae and thought I'd give it a try. I dug around in my fabric drawers (and storage tub. And the other storage tub. I'm not a fabric hoarder. I just keep leftovers—a lot) and found this floral canvas and some brown corduroy. My older daughter picked out turquoise piping (I was looking at Kelly green for an accent) and it is just right.
I'd hoped to get it sewn in one night after bedtime, but since I don't have a permanent studio set-up (LOL, like I'd be organized if I did!!) there was a lot of jumping up and digging around in drawers for what I needed. In reality, it took a bit more time the next morning with a few extra helping hands.
When she held up the backpack and I asked her if she knew what it was, she lit up and immediately asked to put her lunch in there, just like her sister does for school. Our library trip was much less eventful this week. She proudly hiked along the sidewalks to the deli for lunch afterwards, and I can only imagine how important she felt.
On one hand, I'm a bit teary thinking of her being so grown up in her own mind, ready for school, “just like a big kid” as she tries to say. On the other, I'm cheering for her independence and autonomy, since it leaves my hands free for even just one book for myself.
What about you? Do you cry or celebrate when little ones (and bigger ones, too) reach milestones of independence? I'm not sure which is the stronger pull.
