Dear Rhino,

It's been a long time since your last letter– I think your 2nd birthday! So much has happened since then, I don't even know where to begin!

You talk non-stop now! You talk to your toys (and have them talk to each other) while you play, narrate TV shows for us, and jabber on to Heron. You've been talking for a while, but just recently we can really understand most of what you're saying. And you're such a sweetheart! You often tell me how pretty I am, tell Daddy to have a good day at work, say "please" and "thank you" and compliment other children (most little girls around your age are princesses!)

You love trains now. Well no, you're obsessed with trains now! We have Thomas and Friends on every day. We are always reading train books together. You have a large collection of wooden tracks and a variety of wooden trains (including a handful of Thomas trains.) I think we may be able to get rid of the rest of your toys and you'd be happy to just run tracks all over our living room each day! You make the cutest train sounds and whenever we ask you about your day you tell us all about heavy freight cars and "chugga"-ing really fast!

You took a long vacation back to the States this month to visit with my family. You spent time in Colorado Springs with Grammy, in Dallas with Pop (and Grandmother, Granddaddy, your great aunts and great uncles and Uncle Matt & Adria!) We also went to San Angelo to see Aunt Andrea and your cousin Amelia. You did so much this last month! You rode 8 planes, went to the North Pole and met "Santa Claus", were bit on the head/eye by a dog (ow! But you're okay!), went to the Denver Children's museum, rode a few trains, went on your first ferris wheel, saw your first pumpkin patch, went to the zoo, went hiking, played the guitar, and were loved on by lots of family! It was tiring and you were crabby through some of it, but had a great time over all!

You've become a pretty picky eater. I feel like we used to be able to put anything on your plate and you'd gobble it up. Now if it's green, it doesn't even get a nibble. At least you still love fruit (especially cantaloupe.) Anything sweet is always a hit, of course, but you don't get them often because you rarely give your meals a try! White rice, pieces of cheese, chicken nuggets/strips, and pizza would be all you'd ever eat if I let you!

We're having more and more fun with you as the months go on. You're getting to be such a little boy, wanting to do everything on your own and starting to get a sassy little mouth, but you still snuggle up with us on the couch and give us foot rubs (thanks!) I love you so much and can't wait to see how you grow in the months to come!

Love always,

Mommy