Dear Raja,
A few months ago, you were barely saying a few words, but you understood everything we said. Then all of a sudden, overnight, words started spilling out of your mouth. The way you speak is so CUTE! Your eagernesss to communicate is so endearing. You love to say prayers and end with "Jee-zhush Kise, A-MEN!" (you cut other people's long-winded prayers off with that too). You're a bit volatile these days - your eagerness to communicate is accompanied by severe frustration when you can't get across what you intend.
You are extremely attached to me. Although you are quite the social creature, lately, you become easily overwhelmed by people, and cling to me, expecting me to carry your 30+lb self constantly and do all my work one-handed. The other night, you were fussy all evening, clingy and sad. I expected you to go sleep almost instantly (since there is a direct correlation between your fussiness level and your exhaustion level) when it was bedtime. Instead, as soon as Sissy was in bed and the house was quiet, you started grinning from ear to ear and running around in circles exuberantly, yelling "I'm happy! Happy Mommy! Happy Raja!" All you'd wanted all evening long was some one-on-one time with your Mom, and as soon as you got it, you didn't care one whit how tired you were. Watching you, I was overcome by your sheer charm and could do nothing but sit and watch you. I watched you while you wound down, running slower and slower, and your yelling fading into a whisper. You sat down, grabbed a book from the shelf, "read" it to yourself, then came and clambered into my lap, smiled, and fell asleep. You know what you want and nothing pleases you more than getting it.
The other day we went to a toy store. In the midst of playing with all the display toys, you noticed a shelf where all the toys were out of order. You stopped playing in order to go over to the shelf and place everything back in the correct box. I anticipate that when you are old enough to read you'll enjoy all the labels in our house.
You are going through a hitting phase, and you hit especially when you are tired. You should thank your dear sister one day when you read this, because she usually bears the brunt of your frustration, yet she never hits you back. You are nearly always remorseful, and sometimes you feel so bad you put yourself in the corner before anyone has a chance to discipline you. And sometimes, you refuse to apologize and act miffed, as if someone owes you an apology. Once in a while, if you are having a particularly combative day, Jaya doesn't accept your twelfth "So-wee (sorry) Sissy" accompanied by hug and kiss immediately the way she usually does. This usually results in more aggression that your gesture of remorse is being rejected, but lately, you seem to understand and give sister a minute before you apologize (for the thirteenth time).
Although you can be quite aggressive, you get very agitated when other people are aggressive for what you perceive to be is no good reason. Anything - from two kids not sharing, to Daddy play-wrestling with a friend, can be cause for your severe consternation. And just as quickly, you get over it and are usually grinning and running around like a happy little madman in no time. This is you right now Raj - one minute a veritable snot-faucet, impetuous and demanding, and the next minute a sweet, adoring little cherub, eager to please and to take in the world. And I love you both ways.
Love,
Mommy
(all of these pictures were taken within the same 2 minute span of time)
