Irelyn {2 1/2}

Sweet Little Girl,

You are 2 1/2!  

Which is exciting and sad.  You are moving up to the Preschool room at daycare and out of the toddler room in January.  Can I still call you a toddler please?!  

You are getting to be such a big girl in so many ways.

Exerting your independence... meaning you tell us "NO!" a lot more than you used to, even when we know you mean "yes".  Giving two choices or re-directing you is still working pretty well most of the time- unless you're overtired from refusing to nap (yes, you are starting to FIGHT sleep... didn't we sleep train you once already?!).

You are:

Size 4 diapers

Size 5 shoes

24 month-2T pants

2T- 3T shirts 

Your hair is down past your shoulders and is still curly but it's not as tightly curled as it was when it was shorter.  You love having long hair, and you usually have an opinion on how Mommy should style it for you (bow, no bow, pig-tails, braids, "Mommy brush it" or "I brush it").  

Things you love:

Milk (you would live off of milk if we let you)

Cheese Crackers

Applesauce

Pancakes

Boots 

Dresses

Accessories (earings, necklaces, bracelets, bows, etc... everything girly!)

Horses- you basically adore animals in general, but horses still seem to hold a special place for you.

Books-  your attention span is amazing when we read.  I can read a 5-10 minute long story and you will sit through it enthralled, and then pick out another book right after!

Blankie- Thankfully, you accept any soft blankie.  As long as you have a blankie- you are set.  You have two light cotton blankets we rotate for daycare and home that you love to wear around your neck like a scarf (accessorizing!).

Your vocabulary has exploded the past two months!

We have loved to hear you learn new words- I have stopped trying to keep track of what words you know, because you are constantly surprising us when you say things.  You have several phrases that you use constantly.  These are a few we hear frequently:

"I got it"

"I hold it"

"I run fast!" or "Run fast Mommy!"  You are going to give your daddy a good race one of these days.

"Put a bandaid on it!"  Usually followed by... "All better" or "Mommy kiss it!"

"Mine!"

"There it goes!" You like saying this when you see the garage door go up and down

"Aster did it."  Already blaming the cat for things! 

"Mommy I hold you."  I love that you say this, you want to hold mommy not the other way around :), melts my heart every time.

"The li-birdy, books!" You say this every time we pull into the parking lot in the morning, since our building is right across from the library, so cute!

"Good morning Mommy!" You say this when I come get you out of your crib in the morning, you are a morning person.  Go figure.  Daddy and I are NOT morning people!  If I have to wake you up you will literally bounce up from your sleeping position and give me a smile!  

"Princess Elsa, pretty-pretty hair (insert: braid, dress, necklace, etc)"

You LOVE Princess Elsa.  You sing "Let it Go" every day and ask to watch the Youtube video on the computer.  You dance around with your arms spread out, you actually know a lot of the words though you mispronounce some of them.  Recently you've branched out into "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman".  You've never seen the movie- just the singing clips- but you are in love.

In general you say "pretty-pretty" when you see something pretty.... because pretty things need more emphasis.

You are starting to remember things really well, especially people and places.  You like to ask about your aunts and uncles and cousins.

You learned this past weekend that Easton and baby Ellie live in Oklahoma, which you pronounce "'lahoma".

We also talk about the kids in our daycare class and the teachers.  I love that for the most part you look forward to going to daycare every day and talk about the people you are with there.  Sure makes this mommy feel better!

Cute conversation at bedtime:

Me:  Okay Irelyn, it's time to lay down now and go to sleep.

Irelyn: No (whispers)

Me: Why not?

Irelyn: I'm scared

Me: What are you scared of?

Irelyn: The moose

Me: Where is the moose?

Irelyn: Moose (whiney voice)

Me: You don't have to be scared baby

Irelyn: Cuz Mommy's right there.

Me: That's right baby, Mommy's right here :)

Irelyn {15 Months}

Here's what happens when a stay-at-home mama starts a job.... blogging just doesn't happen.  Hopefully I can play catch-up with Irelyn's monthly posts over the holidays!  15 months... finally :)

15 months, October 5, 2013

Sweet baby girl,

You are 15 months!
Stats from you 15 month check-up:
Weight: 20.2 lbs.
Height: 30.7 in.
-You got four shots at your appointment which went okay, but then they had to do a blood draw to test for iron levels and that was NO fun.  SO many tears!  You cried as soon as the nurse came in the room!  I think you subconsciously remember all those heel pricks you had as a newborn :(.
Here's what you've been up to this month:

- You've learned three new signs this month: "water", "ball", and "fish"!

-Started piking your body like you're about to do a somersault, and you peek between your legs!  The world looks so different upside down! (Sept. 9)

Using Dan as a backrest... he really didn't mind :). 

-You have started wanting to wear your ballet slippers, you get SO excited when you have shoes on your feet.  The problem is you kick your little feet together (like Dorothy) and the shoes come flying off!

*Twinkle Toes *

-I took you to the library to check out books for the first time (Sept. 10).  You were kind of upset that Mommy didn't put you down to crawl around, but you did like looking at the other kids in the children's section and trying to socialize with them!  The librarians thought you were pretty cute- especially when they were checking out the books and every time the scanner made a beeping sound you got SO excited!  When we got home you would have NOTHING to do with the new books from the library and only wanted to read your own books (which Mommy has all but memorized)!  Such a goofball! 
-You have started trying to talk more.  You say "hot" when you see a coffee mug and "up!" when you want to be held!  It is so fun to hear you talk!  You always whisper your words and jabber loudly :).

Peek-a-boo... someone likes to hide behind the curtains! 

Playing with magnets

Someone LOVES Barney :)  TV distraction while Mommy makes supper.

"Where's baby's eyes?"  POKE!

-You have never been a super snuggly baby, but you have started giving really good hugs!  You even patted mama's back while hugging me, it was so sweet!
-You got your 3rd tooth (2nd on bottom) (Sept. 24)
It's been a busy month baby girl!
We love you bunches Ladybug!
Love,
Mommy

Irelyn {14 Months}

14 months, September 5, 2013

Sweet baby girl,

You are 14 months!

At 14 months you are:

-Signing for "book" (Aug. 13)

-You LOVE pointing out your belly button!  You also like to try to find other people's belly buttons by lifting up their shirts... oh dear!

-You are learning body parts- you know "belly-button", "nose" and "toes" :)

-Putting food on your own spoon
-You like sitting on the recliners like a big kid :)

-Almost said "paper", Grandma took you to get the newspaper and she was telling you about the paper and you tried repeating it!
-You are getting into EVERYTHING!  You like to dump your toys and help "organize" papers!

-Say "uh-oh" ALOT (started Sept. 3)!  It is so cute!  Although, sometimes you drop things on purpose just to say "uh-oh"... like throwing your sippy cup off the high chair... hmmm.

-Daddy had to go back to work this month, you miss seeing him everyday.  We are working on getting back into our school-year routine!

-You still love love love your animals and dolls! You give them lots of hugs :).

-You are still crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything- no walking yet!

Window gazing while sucking you thumb = multitasking! 

You like to play piano, but Mommy has to keep you away from the sheet music!

Major hat-hair after a hot afternoon walk in the back-pack!  Look at that frizz!

Hanging out with Uncle John and Daddy :)

It's been a busy month little girl!

We love you ladybug!

Love,

Mommy

Irelyn {13 Months}

13 months, August 5, 2013

Sweet baby girl,

You are 13 months, a TODDLER!  How did that happen?!

It never ceases to amaze me how much you change in a month!

Here's what you've been up to:

-Crawling everywhere!

-Will crawl the opposite direction very quickly when I call you!  Sometimes you even "Shoo" me away and get VERY upset when I try following you! Defiant!

-We had your birthday party on July 27th

-Feeding food to your dolly- you share your Cheerios :)

-Eat like a bird

-Stand up on everthing

-You've started trying to climb on furniture

-Throw a fantastic temper tantrum (can be quite demanding!)

-Want to whine instead of using sign language!  Goober.

-You got your first tooth on July 14th!  Mommy noticed it in church!

See that little tooth?!

-You love to eat olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, mixed veggie puree, graham crackers and cinnamon rolls.  You still hate eating watermelon, I'm hoping your taste will change for it as mama LOVES watermelon!

Eating cinnamon rolls with Grandpa

-Drink milk and water, you really like cold water and generally it MUST have ice (can we say "Diva"?!)

-Wants to eat everything off of our plates and not your own

-Sometimes you say "mama"

-Babble talk frequently with inflection

-Like the TV (never thought I'd let my kid watch TV... jokes on me!), Barney, Arthur, and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood are your faves

-Love playing with the Kindle or keyboard... you are mastering the touch screen

-Dance to music by swaying your hips or swinging your arms back and forth!  So cute!

-Like to play peek-a-boo and still love to be read to (you would sit for books all day if I let you!)

-LOVE dolls, especially your Carter's  "First Doll" from Grandma... sometimes you insist on taking "Dolly" with you to the high chair to eat- then Mama has to sneak her into the washing machine!

Carrying Dolly everywhere!

-Suck your thumb (right thumb) throughout the day- you used to just do it at night

-You have finally attached yourself to your blankie (fleece froggy) and lovey (bunny).  When I give you either you will instantly suck your thumb or rub them on your face for comfort!

-Fight naps but not bed-time

-Generally sleep from 6:30pm-7:00am with one 1 1/2 hr. nap during the day

-Eat with left hand more than right

-Like it when people clap... you'll join in a few seconds later

-BIG mama's girl when you're tired, hurt, or not feeling well

Mama cuddles :)

-Point to everything!

-Follows verbal directions well- you understand a lot of what we say.

-You have also started trying to dress yourself- putting your pants on or pulling your shirt over your head.  You help me dress you which is nice :).  You love clothes so sometimes Mommy lets you pick out your own outfit from the closet- you get pretty excited!
Love having a little girly-girl!

Dan is your buddy :)

Love you Ladybug!
Love,
Mommy