Yesterday when Alethea got up she asked to sit on the potty, so I took off her diaper and sent her into the bathroom while I took a second to throw her jammies into the hamper.  When I arrived in the bathroom, I found Alethea holding the purple sippy cup that had been missing for several days.  She was smacking her lips and had a peculiar expression on her face.

“What are you drinking?” I asked her.  “I hope that’s not four day old milk.”

“No, water,” said Alethea.

Now I don’t know how many of you have ever had the opportunity to open a sippy cup full of four day old whole milk, but for those of you who haven’t, let me just tell you about an interesting phenomenon we like to call Sippy Cheese.  (Please note that I did not coin the term sippy cheese, I heard it from my brother, maybe he made it up, I’m not sure, but in any case, I do not take credit for its creation.)

Whole milk, when left to sit unrefrigerated for several days, will slowly separate into a solid white glob, surrounded by a clear water-like liquid.  The white part sort of resembles a soft cheese.  Thus, when we find a forgotten cup in the diaper bag or sitting in a random corner of the house, we always declare, “Uh, oh!  Looks like we’ve got some Sippy Cheese!”

“Please just be water,” I said to the purple cup as I slowly twisted off the lid. “Nope, it’s sippy cheese.  So gross!”

“Gross!” repeated Alethea.

Fortunately though she wasn’t too scarred by the experience.  When I later dumped out the milk in the kitchen sink, Alethea exclaimed, “Sippy Cheese down the drain!” and laughed hysterically for several minutes like it was some kind of joke.

“Sippy Cheese!  Sippy Cheese down the drain!”

“Sippy Cheeeeeese!”

My Dear Alethea,

You’re two years old!  My goodness how time flies.  It seems like only yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time and you just stared at my face as if to say, “Hmmm, you seem familiar, do I know you?”

Well, we’ve gotten to know each other and I’m happy to say that you are a fantastic little girl.  You are smart, talkative and energetic.  You’re always cracking us up with the funny things that come out of your mouth.  You love to tell us about the things you are pretending, which nearly always involve some combination of Dee (your stuffed puppy), Baby Doll, diaper changes, feedings and/or potty chairs.

You’re growing up so quickly and we are excited to see you learning to do things for yourself.  You are currently learning to get dressed and undressed, are very good at putting your toys away and at meal times you climb up into your chair all by yourself.  (You also remind us, “Pray first!” before you start eating!)

Speaking of eating, your favorite foods are: pickles, fruit snacks, chicken nuggets, pizza, strawberries and anything sweet.  I’m afraid you might have gotten your mother’s sweet tooth, my dear.  Sorry!  I hope it doesn’t have anything to do with that 32 oz cherry Slurpee I drank when I was 41 weeks pregnant with you.  I know that must have been quite a sugar rush for your tiny self.

Playing pretend and eating sweets are definitely up there on your list of favorite things to do, but so are having people over and going outside.  Nearly every morning you ask if me someone is coming over that day and if I say no, the second thing you ask is if you can go outside.  Your two grandmothers and Ms. Deb from church are your favorite babysitters and they always tell me what a good time they have playing with you.

Yup, you’re growing up quickly and Miss Independent should definitely be your nickname.  However, just because you like to do things for yourself, that doesn’t mean that you are unwilling to help Lydia out from time to time.  On the contrary, you are always eager to give Lydia her toys, show her what you’re playing with and assist Mommy with diaper changes.  You’re just dying to help feed Lydia pearsauce and you’re not above pushing your sister around in the stroller if she’s left unguarded.

I can’t think of another girl I’d rather have for my first born daughter than you, my Alethea.  You are my sweet sunshine girl.  I love to hear you laugh and sing, which you very frequently do.  You have a definite enthusiasm for life and I am so looking forward to seeing what comes next in the Alethea Margaret story.

All my love,

Mommy

It’s late, I need to go to bed.  I’ve really been dragging lately.

But quickly before I do I thought I’d post a couple of funny things that Alethea said today.

Scene #1: Alethea comes walking out of the laundry room carrying a food stained bib, which she proceeds to put on Baby Doll
I Say: “Alethea, is that a dirty bib?”
She Says: “No, it’s a fresh one!”

Scene #2: Alethea is “helping” put away the spring decorations, which means she’s playing with the Easter basket grass and a bird figurine
I Say: “Alethea, please be careful with Mommy’s bird.  Mommy won’t be happy if you break it.”
She Says: (very seriously) “Keep Mommy happy.”

I guess I’ve got her trained well.