Almost 3

Autumn!  You are nearing 3 and are no longer a toddler at all!  Everything about you is little girl - your walk, your talk, the way you play, the way you pick your clothes, hair style, jewelery and hair bows.  This last month we've been pretty stationary in Glenwood and you have really enjoyed swimming, riding your tricycle, playing dolls, doing crafts/coloring, and of course watching a daily show - like Curious George, Dora, Character Building Stories,and Dragon Tales among others.  Swimming has been our main thing - we got a month pass to the Glenwood Springs rec center and have tried to use it as much as possible.  Then on Sunday afternoons you go to the Hot Springs Pool with Papa and swim for a couple of hours.  You enjoy screaming down the water slide with him there as well.  One Sunday you heard some girls screaming down the slide and thought it would be fun to try - not because you are scared, but because screaming is fun!   You always go get Superman ice cream afterwards and usually take a nice nap, which is about the only day of the week you are napping these days.  At the rec center you love to jump off the diving board with your life jacket and swim back to the edge and get out all by yourself.  One night I thing you did this at least 20 times.  Just last week we got diving fish and you have me push you to the bottom up to 5 feet deep and gather them up one or two at a time. This last week we spent a couple of days in Loveland with your Grandma, Papa and cousins and we went to their pool four times!   For the first time you swam - taking up to 3 breaths between us or the wall!!! 

When are at home you enjoy 'projects' that involve finger paint, stickers, crayons, wiki sticks, glue sticks and foamie stickers.  We got a dresser and you enjoy using the box from it as a hotel and hanging your artwork on it.  You still love playing house and dolls.  You can spend hours talking to them, having them talk to each other, changing clothing, diapers, and putting them to sleep.  More and more you enjoy longer reading times and have really good questions about the stories.  The ones you have heard a few times you are able to 'read' to us or back to yourself.  Some nights during night time routine (bath, snack, brush, 2-3 books, lights off, prayer, songs)  you insist on doing the reading of the books. 

This month we went to see Connie and meet baby Briella for the first time.  You were so enthralled by her, loved sharing and showing her things, picking out her clothing, cuddling and kissing her.  You are going to be such a great big sister!!

 
This month Grandpa Alfred and Grandma Nona have been coming to help with the deck 1-2 times a day.  You have had so much fun playing all day with Grandma Nona and I have had the added bonus of getting so much done on these days too!

You have stayed true to your strong will, but it has more control these days. Most of the time you are so sweet, funny and kind!  During the last year you have had times where you wanted to do things you were not supposed to or didn't want to do something you were being asked to - and these times often led to fits. In the last month the number of times you have had fits leading to having babies taken away or swats for being blatantly defiant has gone way way down. Last week you only lost 1 baby - that seems like a miracle!!   As your compliance has gone up also has your spunky bossiness!   You continue to be very opinionated about how things are done, who should do what and you seem to really enjoy telling Ella what to do.  We have to remind you to use a nice tone when directing her around.  You are very sure of yourself and your opinions!  For example you will ask what something is, we will answer and you will confidently say, 'no it is a ______.'   We just smile, nod and say okay.  Today in church you confidently announced loudly to the whole congregation that a baby was crying after prayer time. You are full of fun ideas, creative ways of doing things and are so fun to talk to about everyday things.  You ask a lot of questions about everything and have started to ask why maybe a little too much.  If too many whys come in a row I ask you what you think or what I had already told you and you are usually are able to answer correctly.  You soak everything up and will continue conversations 3 + days later and remember all the details.  Some fun discussions we've had lately are how sister is going to come out (in the shower at the rec center), telling us all the things you know about driving, and how you are getting bigger and older and what you are and are not old/big enough to do.  You enjoy making up words that are creatively long and hard to say and then telling us the meaning of them. You have times of being very cuddly and enjoy being carried around burying your head in our shoulder.  Your hands still find their way into my armpits when you cuddle with me - if you aren't being too rough and your nails are trimmed I let you get your armpit comfort fix.  So funny!
Your manners have improved and most of the time you say thank you, your welcome, please, and love you unprompted.  You have a ritual when saying good bye to friends and family to give a hug, kiss, high 5 and knuks.  You get very upset if this is interrupted or incomplete.  Lately you have a competitive spirit wanting to be the first down/up the stairs or in the car - saying "don't beat me, don't beat me!"  You continue to strive to be  super independent - wanting to do the buckles on your car seat, get yourself dressed, let yourself out the door....  if we do something you had hoped to do your self - you will usually whine at us and then undo what we have done and redo it.  You know all the safety rules and make sure that everyone follows them - especially seat belts and locking the trash can to keep Ella out of it.  You check it every time to walk by! 

Current Milestones -
Beginning swimming
1 to 1 correspondence to 4
Independent sing A-Z all the way without skipping or stopping
Ride a tricycle
Do medium small buttons and line them up on a shirt (most of the time)
First dry night diaper
Riding a pony for the first time

We are so proud of you!!!   Everyday is so fun and we love all our conversations and playing with you!!!
Looking forward to seeing all your growth and development in the next month before you turn 3!

 Love, Daddy and Momma