2 YEARS old (25mo)

We started off this month visiting my parents/family in NY for 13 days.  Stephen joined us the first week and then Addison and I stayed on for the 2nd.  Our days were spent swimming at Great Grandpa and Grandmas house, lunch at the beach, napping in the afternoon and then other activities in the evening from Pool fun, Campground playground, Rodeos, petting zoos, Ice cream, train rides, a family fun night that included a bouncy house, boat rides and a movie night!  We had lots of fun days, filled with visits from friends that made the beach all around a lot more fun.  Addison took to the water like a champ. We could not believe how completely fearless she was and before we knew she would be out neck deep.  Yes, I want her to not have a "Fear" of the water, but I want her to understand that it can hurt you.  But she was our "Little Fish" as I would call her!!  Making naptime a breeze, as she would be so worn out from the sun and swimming.  Its our days visiting that make me wish I lived in NY and could offer her all the fun memories I had growing up, but she will make her own memories and that's life!!   Hard to come home, but yet at the same time, missing Stephen and ready to get back to normal.

We came home to Addison starting back at Jens Place Childcare!  Jen was an answer to prayer, as Addison had been with Jen from 4mo -19mo and it was a hard adjustment when she let Addison go, but God   reopened the doors back at Jens and we could not be happier.  Addison is doing wonderful and Jen even seems to think Addison remembers her.  Addison now calls her "Nenny" as she cant seem to get out the "J" for Jen, calling for her the whole ride to her house and getting super excited as we pull in.  Jen started Addison off on a cot, which had me EXTREMELY nervous, but she seems to understand that she cannot get off!!  I guess only time will tell.  All around though we could not be happier with Addisons adjustment back to Jen and just that there was a spot back there for her!!

All around Addison is just fulling turning into a little girl and really walking away from her baby years.  She is so aware of what is going on around her and understands so much.  She is constantly amazing us with what she knows and understands!!  She is talking like crazy now.  Repeating us constantly and even saying words we didnt even know she could say.  We can actually at times have conversations, bc there is an understanding.  She learned her first 2 separate words while we were in NY and I could not be prouder.  YES, she could say 2 words but they were always the same.. beep beep, bye bye, zoom zoom, tickle tickle, but she put 2 separate words together and I could not be more prouder than to say they were "Yes, Please", she also learned, bye bye ducks and bye bye boat and I believe she is saying "Dont want too"... haha!! It sounds very much like it and it usually comes out when it is something she clearly doenst want to do!!  We have learned a lot about her personality.  Addison is a very shy at first child, once warmed up she is full of smiles, laughs and just all around chatter.  She is very independent, strong willed and fearless.  She loves other children and loves to play with them.  She is fearless and motivated by what other children are doing around her.. If they can do it, she can do it and she will figure it out.  She loves to look at books, magazines and her all out favorite is to look at pictures.  Pictures of herself or of people she knows.  She is our little lover.. loves to give hugs and kisses and will now say "Mua" after she kisses you.  She loves to snuggle and sit on your lap, she loves girly things, dolls, stuffed animals, makeup, beads, haha! Its like she is super girly yet has a tom-boy attitude, as she is so fearless.  Another super sweet thing is her love for singing and how much she enjoys singing with you.  She doesnt know all the words, but she knows important words to the songs and its soo sweet!  Her favorite song seems to be Jesus loves me... truly melts my hear to hear her sing it over and over..

Our biggest struggle this month has been the paci.  We never really had a problem with it.  She was not a baby that relied on it.  Yes, she would use it at naps and bedtime and even this past year, she knew she got it  at naps and bedtime, but this month it has full out become an issue.  She thinks she needs it ALL the time, making matters worse, she has learned the word.  So she screams, calls for it.  She knows she only gets it at naps and bedtime yet she struggles so much with letting it go.  Wondering how at this point, I am ever go to drop the paci!!

Still working on the Potty training.  I will run the bath and then put her on it. IF I say do you have to pee she will push like she needs to pop, she clearly is not comprehending the potty.. haha!!  and now as soon as I get her off the potty, I have to quick put her in the bath or she will pee all over the floor... .really not grasping this concept!! HAHA!! However this month she now will all of a sudden hold herself when she pees and if she poops she will tell you and run to the changing table.  So we are getting somewhere.

I wanted to say that I personally decided to stop charting her.  I used to chart everything she did!  While it was extremely helpful it was something that controlled me.  I decided that the day she turned 2 I was done charting, as her birthday was on a Sunday and that started a new week.  LOL!  I still chart in my head, but I no longer feel controlled by this charting.  It was hard at first to let go, but I felt so controlled by it, like someone would look at it and think, oh wow, your daughter only slept this long or your daughter ate that and I realized it wasn't worth it. The pressure of no charting has eased my life in so many ways.

This month has just been all around fun, great memories and I could not be happier or feel more blessed with all that God has given us!!  Addison has made my life complete!!