Two.

Dear Jayme,

Time has flown by in the blink of an eye… so much so that you have been officially two for almost two months! I can remember the day you were born and your 1^st birthday as if they were only a few weeks ago, and now our sweet baby girl is officially two going on sixteen! Your daddy has affectionately named you “booger” and I like to refer to you as “pistol”… while you have your absolute sweetheart moments that melt our hearts, you have officially entered “that stage” that is not for the faint of heart… meltdowns in the parking lot, Target aisles, Costco, and anywhere you can get the attention to get what you want. when you want it. and how you want it. have given me and your daddy a reality check of what it means to have a two year old. I now completely understand the phrase “this is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you” when it comes to disciplining (whether it’s a swat on the bootie, a time out, or taking away a privilege that we both looked forward to)… You have always had a little sass to your personality, but now that you are much more vocal, your strong will (which is a good thing- your Nana had the same nature and was an incredible woman for it!) is taking shape each day.

 However, for every difficult moment, we have experienced just as many if not more of your sweetheart moments… your daddy and I especially love when you ask for a hug out of nowhere, give affectionate kisses and encourage family hugs and kisses after bedtime prayer (this is becoming our nightly ritual and it is one of my favorite parts of our daily routine), when you say “amo” (your version of te amo) after we tell you “I love you”, when you give sweet hugs and acknowledge “gentle” to your baby doll and friends, when you want to hold hands or “nuggle” (snuggle), when you get so excited to go see a friend or family member and that becomes your only focus until we get there, when you insist on cleaning up your little spills and messes (I’m afraid you are going to be OCD in that department like your uncle Alex), when you try to help mommy by carrying my purse in the store (even though it weighs nearly as much as you), when you enjoy quiet reading time, when you insist on watching Calliou for the 100^th time and insist that mommy or daddy must sit with you, when you get excited about learning your signs or teaching mommy and daddy new signs you have learned from Alex and Leah (Signing Time- our lunch time show), when you don’t know what to say during prayer or grace so with your head bowed and hands folded you begin to sing “the a says ahhh…” and any other letter that comes to mind from the letter factory before you end with a solid “AMEN!”, when you help mommy or daddy water the grass and the garden each day (you actually do a good job and can do it unsupervised now!), when you count to 10 or sing your abc’s while mommy does pushups/Jayme lifts (at nearly 30lbs I think Jayme lifts may be coming to an end soon), when you are miss social butterfly and super well behaved on a shopping trip (you seem to do best at the grocery store and in the “big cart” at “Ostco”), when you act like a goofball because you know it will make someone laugh, and when you say/sign “potty!” when you get nervous, anxious, or are about to get into trouble (sometimes we believe you are a little too intelligent for your own good, but that potty act doesn’t work on mommy and daddy anymore ;-) 

18 months-24 months

Things your love (in no particular order):

Gampa’s house

Daddy snuggles

Your bitty baby

Your purse (or mommy’s purse)

Shoes! Shoes! Shoes! (especially your hideous red patent leather strappy deals… I think they look like orthotics, you think they’re “prrrrreeeettty”)

Bebba, Taycie, Alex

Nanna phone chats

Sitting shot gun in daddy’s truck (when he pulls in the garage)

“Ostco” (just like your mommy when it comes to this store)

Doggies and kitties

Chocolate (bound to happen between your daddy and my love for it)

Calliou -I’m embarrassed to say how much you actually watch it :-/

Daddy snuggles before bedtime

“Au-rey” and “Ri-rey” play dates

“Nessa” “eff” “Connai” and “ky-ky” (your family away from home)

Smelling mommy’s hair, skin, and giving love pats and kisses

Coloring (especially with daddy)

Headbands (still!)

Dressing yourself (although sometimes you look like a neglected child in the wardrobe you insist on putting together… but I figure it’s a stage you will soon grow out of ;-)

The beach (you are your Bebba’s Nugget!)

Yogurt, popcorn, grampa’s ribs, and “coffee” (you have to mimic mommy with your water in a coffee mug nearly every morning)

“swings-slide-friends” (when you want to go to the park you repeatedly say/sign this with so much enthusiasm)

Dislikes:

The word “no”

Target (more like you want to have your way every time we attempt to shop there, so we both end up in a bad mood by the time we leave)

Strangers and grown men you don’t know (gives you a near anxiety attack every time)

Loud noises that are unfamiliar (you cover your ears and sometimes duck between mommy or daddy’s legs or arms)

Accomplishments/Firsts:

Swimming/wading in the ocean (this is a Bebba and Nugget “thing”)

Tent Camping (you love it, just not when we have noisy neighbors)

Potty trained by 2! You go most days without an accident (overnight is a different story, but that’s due to a water habit you have like your mommy and daddy)

Riding your tricycle (still need help steering a little)

Your vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds every day, and we now have to be careful of things you might repeat … “etto abulous!” (ghetto fabulous)

Originally we were just going to do basic signs to help you communicate before you could speak, and now you are up to somewhere over 30 signs (while not perfect, we know what your are saying- colors, play signs, people, etc.)

one year / two years

almost always wearing a smile (13-18 months)

We are so excited to see what experiences this year brings you and us as you continue to blossom out of toddler-hood and into a beautiful little girl (tear). I am personally excited to see how your nurturing skills with your baby doll transfer over to your new baby brother or sister come January ;-)

Love, Mommy & Daddy