You are half way to being 2 years old...wow! The baby in you is fading away and the toddler is shining through - the way you look, the things you're doing, the regular tantrums you throw. You are growing up so fast and I love to watch you learn and discover new things every month; you bring so much silliness and joy to my life every day.
You are a very independent and strong willed girl (very much like me). We've had a few challenges recently that have resulted in you being put into your very first time out. It only lasted 1 minute and I think it was harder on me than you...and all because you wanted an animal cracker right that second and didn't want to wait for me to finish washing the pot in the sink and rinse the soap off my hands to get it for you...so you bit me...hard...in the back of my leg. I was so surprised you did it and really didn't know how to react, so I told you firmly that we don't bite and set you on the floor in the corner of the kitchen...and then hid so you couldn't see me crying with you. It hurts my heart to see you sad...I'm going to have to toughen up on this whole punishment thing before you become a teenager as I have a feeling we will have some battles then.
You are such a talker now, saying so many new words every day. You love to pretend to talk on the phone, saying "yello" and "bye" (sometimes with a conversation of jibberish in between) - always putting your shoulder to your ear like you're holding a phone. You always let us know when you've made a mess (saying "mess" over and over) and love to help us clean it up. You also love to look at pictures, whether in albums, picture frames or on Daddy or my phones. It's getting harder and harder to take pictures of you because as soon as you see the camera, you start running to me saying "see, see, see" (I'm going to have to find a way to take your picture more discretely). You are still obsessed with dogs and start waving and saying "hi"anytime you see one. You also like to say hi to Daddy and me...all...the...time - it is so cute and usually goes a little something like this:
You love to be outside and we go to the local parks pretty regularly. You love the slides and can go down them by yourself - the faster you go, the happier you are. You also love to climb and can climb up pretty high by yourself (of course with Daddy or me close by). We have a swing at home and it's one of your favorite things to do - you'll often run to the door saying "swhe, swhe" (I guess it's a combination of swing and whee, which is what you say as soon as you get going - the higher the better). You hate to be barefoot on the grass and will not get your feet anywhere near sand. We recently got you a sand/water play table and you hate getting the sand on your hands. You are learning how to jump and march and you dance all the time now. You also LOVE to color.
Your hair is getting so long. We haven't cut it yet, so your original hair in the front and back is longer than the rest (yes, you still have a bit of a rat tail in back, but it is slowly disappearing). I can pull your hair back into pig tails and a pony tail and it is so cute. You love to play with your hair (especially when it's pulled back) and are constantly pulling the pig tails/pony tail out - always saying "oops" and bringing me the bow to put back in your hair. It's a never ending cycle.
You are becoming more of a picky eater, but we are working to introduce you to new foods. You still love fruit, sausage, chicken, greek yogurt, and most vegetables. You are starting to use utensils when you eat...sometimes actually getting food on the spoon and into your mouth. It's a messy process, but you're starting to get the hang of it. You do still prefer to use your fingers though.
You're still long and skinny; I'm guessing you weigh around 21 pounds and are likely more than 32" long. This poses a challenge when it comes to finding clothes for you. You're too long for many 12 month clothes, but 18 month clothes are often too big. Fortunately, it's warm out now, so I can put you in 12 month shorts, skirts, or leggings (which end up being capris).
You have recently started hoarding toys...every morning you latch on to 3-5 toys/items and you have to have them with you all day long. You don't necessarily have to play with them all day, but when it's nap time or bath time, you have to go around and find those exact toys and take them with you upstairs. We don't let you have toys in your crib (only Dolphin and Elephant are in the crib with you) and you know that as soon as we get to your room you have to put your toys down. Every day you pick new toys to carry around. One day, the items you chose were: 1) santa knitted socks that you wanted to wear as mittens, 2) a beaded necklace, 3) a beaded key chain, 4) a book, 5) a toy car, and 6) a swiffer sweeper. Another day, you latched on to 3 sweaters and 2 outlet covers. I got tired of you getting so mad when you couldn't carry everything, so I found a bucket and showed you how you can carry everything in the bucket. Life if much better for everyone now that you use the bucket (
You are starting to show interest in potty training. You are noticing when you have a wet or dirty diaper and let us know it. Last weekend you came up and told me that you needed to use the bathroom - unfortunately, I didn't understand what you were trying to tell me - I thought you were just letting me know that you had a dirty diaper only to discover it was completely clean. Less than 5 minutes after this, you had a dirty diaper. So, we went out and bought you a potty and let you sit on it a few times, which you love. We're trying not to make the bathroom a destination for you (you like to tell us "potty" and walk to the bathroom; as soon as I get your diaper off (anxiously hoping this is going to be the time when you actually use the potty) and put you on the potty, you let me know you're "all done". So, we're not quite there yet.
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| It's potty time |
You've recently discovered thunderstorms...and absolutely love them. When you hear thunder, you excitedly shout "boom" and throw your arm up in the air and then usually run around the room. You've recently taken to screaming, very loud, when you're excited or mad. You also recently started giving unsolicited kisses, which I love...you start smacking your lips and lift your head up waiting for us to give you a kiss...it is so sweet!
You are such a happy, loving, silly, independent little girl. You bring joy to our lives each and every day. We love you so much, monkey!
Love,
Mama
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| This is your "not a another picture...I'm all done" face. |
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| You love to try to put your own shoes on. |
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| Your best friends - dolphin, elephant, and puppy. |
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