How can it be?

My baby is TWO years old today! Wow, what a crazy, wonderful, blessed, exciting, sometimes stressful 2 years it has been!


Averly Brooke,

You, my baby, have been a part of our family now for 2 whole years! I look back on these last couple years & realize just how blessed I am. You continue to teach me more & more about not only motherhood, but about myself. You have taught me lots of patience-more than I never knew I had! You went from being a very laid back, easy going baby, to a head strong, knows-what-she-wants, does not like to hear “no” toddler. You’ve learned how to use your voice & sassy little attitude, for sure. But you are still sweet as pie! I love nothing more than to see my daughter learn & grow day to day. Growing up, when I would think about my future & kids, I never pictured myself with a daughter. I always wanted to be a mom to boys only. Of course, God showed me who is in charge & He gave me you. And I am forever grateful that He did. I know I’ve said this before, but you are the balance I never knew I needed until you came along. Not only do I now get to play with girly toys & dress you like you are my own living doll, but I know I will have a best friend for life.  

Aren’t you still supposed to be this small??



I think this was actually the first bath you’ve had without Riley since you were a little bitty baby & it was only a couple weeks ago! But you two love it that way! You have so much fun in the tub together.



You loooove to play in Mama’s makeup. We tell you all the time how pretty you are, inside & out. And you are. You are absolutely the most beautiful little girl I have ever laid eyes on. You have such a kind heart, too. Never forget-pretty is as pretty does! ;0) Last week you got out of your bed & came into mine early one morning. You hugged me & snuggled for a while, then held my face & said, “You so poo-dy, Mama” in the sweetest, tiniest voice imaginable. Be still my beating heart.



You love being outside. We have had a very mild winter, so we’ve been able to stay outside a lot lately. I think you would jump on the trampoline & swing all day long. Or head over to the park. We go over there a lot when Mama is off work during the week. Some days we have it all to ourselves. Your favorite is the slide-not the biggest one, though. You don’t like it unless you can ride down in someone’s lap. We also seesaw a lot. You have to try out each one every time.



You are very independent. You do love to play with us & Riley, but you are so content to play by yourself. I’m guessing this is part of being a second child. I’ve noticed really just in the last couple weeks to month you have started making your toys “talk” to each other. The conversations they have are very simple & so sweet to watch. I heard one today go like this with your Barbies: “Hey! What you doing?” “You stuck in da door?” “Otay, I hep you!”

You & your brother are BFFs. You try to do everything he does-you are basically his shadow & echo. If he is thirsty, you are thirsty too. If he wants to draw, you want to draw too. Never fails.



You like to eat just as much as your Mama does! You, unlike your brother, are not picky at all when it comes to food. You will eat just about anything we give you-or at least give it a try. Some of your favorites are grapes, raisins, apples, cheese, chicken strips, noodles (doodles, as you call them), almost any kind of beans, but especially butter beans, black eyed peas, corn, & sausage. You are not a big sandwich eater (peanut butter & jelly). So while that’s about the only thing I can get your brother to eat, it’s about the only thing you won’t eat!

 

I don’t know your exact height & weight right now, but we go to the doctor next Friday for your 2 year check up. I know you will definitely be in the >95%til, just like always. You are a big girl, about the size of an average 3 year old! You are wearing mainly 2Ts right now, but I have just started buying 3T for length in pants. You are also mainly wearing a size 7-8 shoe.

Some milestones you have hit recently:

You are now climbing out of your crib on a daily basis. Sometimes even before you go to sleep, so nap time has become a little difficult at times. We have tried to get you to try your big girl bed because it is all set up & waiting on you, but you just feel more comfortable with your crib. That’s fine with me for now too.

You have been able to count to 10 for a few months now, so we are starting on 11-20. You know all of your ABCs & can recognize some letters. D, A, H, T are the ones you get right the majority of the time.

POTTY TRAINED!!!!! You all the sudden last week became interested in the potty after a few months of us just introducing it to you. One day you just decided that you wanted to use it & you have been doing great with it! I think your main incentive is the “a-prize'” (surprise) you get afterwards. You still sleep in diapers at nap & night time, but mainly during the day you are wearing big girl “pennies” ;0). We have even gone out of the house a few times with no diapers on! I am so proud of you, sweet girl!

Some sweet things you have said recently, now that you are forming full sentences & can carry on a conversation:

“God is grape, God is good.”
“I want to wock and woll” When you were wanting to play Bubba’s drums.
“Watch Elmo’s Street?”
“Red yight, stop!”

You call your toys by their actual name when playing. Yesterday you had 2 Barbie Dolls &  a Mermaid Barbie playing together & when they would talk to each other they would say “Come on Barbie Doll!” “Hide in da tent Mermaid!” “You want some juice, Barbie Doll?” You are really into your Barbies right now.

You also are very into puzzles. Your favorite is a Mickey & Minnie puzzle that Santa brought you for Christmas. You even sleep with your “Minnie poozle” everyday/night.  
    
We are still trying to grasp the concept of sharing. Some days are better than others. You actually do pretty well with toys, but it’s food that you do not want to give up!

I could go on and on and on about the things you say & do, how you are growing into such a sweet little girl & how much I love you!! You mean the world to your Dada, your brother & me. We all love you more than words can say.

But now, just a little video of you tonight at the Mexican restaurant that I’m sure will embarrass you for years to come. No, really it’s not that bad. You just did NOT like them singing Happy Birthday to you & you REALLY didn’t like them putting ice cream on your nose! I love you Sugar Pie!