Where's Echo?

My lovely little baby,

When we drive home from daycare, I hear your little voice at the back seat: "Echo? Echo?" I turn around, and I see your hands covering your face, as your way of inviting me to a game of hide-and-seek. I start playing along, looking for you under the seats, and the flip mirrors. I panic: Did I leave Echo at school? What am I going to tell Zoe and papa? Where is Echo? Oh no! Where is Echo??? Echooo! Echo? Where are you? Your giggles bubble. You try to keep your hands on your face, but you peek through, to follow my search motions. At some point you lift your hand, and I’m super happy to have found you. “More more” you say, tapping your fingertips together, and so we go again.

It’s nearly impossible to have a free hand to prepare meals or start a load of laundry. From the moment I pick you up from daycare, you want to be held by mama, and cry if I let you down. I summon papa or Zoe for help, to entertain you just for a few minutes, so I can put dinner together. But sometimes you take off on your own. We quietly sneak up on you, and watch you put together a tea party, using the tea set in Zoe’s room, or a meal, using the toy plates, bowls, and play food. You bring me a plate you prepared, to eat. Or we find you in your room, changing the diapers of your dolls, sitting them on the potty, wiping their butts, putting butt paste, and trying to put a diaper on.

You love receiving new things. Shoes are your favorite. You put them on immediately. If it’s Zoe who received new shoes, you make sure she wears them right away. You take the shoe, take her foot, and put them together.

This morning we skyped with Dede for his birthday. I pointed at him and said “dede” “dede.” You said “dede.” One more new word is added to your growing lexicon.

You are very very precious. I love you.

Mommy