Wednesday, 29 July 2015

you are so full of life

that's what one of the girls said about you tonight at community group as she watched you so joyfully splashing & swimming in the pool! it's so true! you bring so much life & energy everywhere you are! I always say you make me burst at the seams with joy! 

Daddy & I talked talked tonight about how amazed we are at how sweet you are, how incredibly smart you are & how happy you are! you are carrying on full on conversations & telling us when you want us to sit down with you, cuddle, take a bite etc. You're doing so well on your colors. You can almost count to 10. & you LOVE saying your abc's (you've reached all the way to f). You love to giggle! You'll even ask me to tickle you. "Tickle mommy tickle". You still like being chased. Especially before bath time when you're running all around naked. You're always so happy! Especially when you're outside and splashing in the water, around people or animals. well, pretty much all the time! 

you've really started showing the sweet side of your character. before bed the last few nights, you've given me a big hug and kiss then said "luv you mommy". you also ask daddy & I to cuddle. you are the sweetest 💛 

we love you baby girl & we are so amazed by the spirit Jesus is forming in you! 

Xoxo

Sunday, 12 July 2015

words, words & more words!

hi baby girl, I'm not as good at this blogging stuff as I'd like to be. but, I keep thinking of all the fun changes that this season of toddlerhood (16 months) has brought so I want to document them.  

you have a full vocabulary & say new words everyday. everyone is amazed by all your words. gram gram says I need to write them all down. so here goes. at 16 months you're saying, mommy & daddy (changed from mama & dadda), tanky, boy, dog, gram gram, grandpa, papa, outside, shoes (choose), horsey (neh, neh), donkey, blue, poo poo, swing (wing), moon, heart, slide, bubbles, book, pretty pretty (what you call jewelry), lamp, Jesus, amen, hi, I love you (la you), vroom vroom (what you call a car), bike, night night, binky, bun bun, yeah! (which you love to answer to everything), no! (which you also love to answer with), church, blue, pink, white, purple, yellow, bug, mountain, blanket, window (you learned in cannon beach), ocean, beach, sand, kite, castle, welcome (for you're welcome), you say "ab, ab" to sing your abcs, and "twinkle twinkle to sing "twinkle twinkle little star", drink, bible, elmo, tree, airplane, hair,  walrus, yak, eyes, nose, ear, hat, mouth, rock, dirt, pool, friends (fwiends), one, con con, em, brook, mary, Bentley, benson, Jaycee, jayda, brody, birdie, nurse, ball, eat (also num num), water, bath, art, geese, turtle, whoa whoa (rizers music food), you know all the animal sounds. & lots of food names like, bananna, zuccini, bell pep, avocado (cado), egg, bacon, chicken, crackers (crack crack), chips (snap pea crisps), strawberry, yogurt (yo yo), blueberry, spoon (poon), pea & milk. 

you love to explore! & "collect" rocks! if you don't have pockets, you just put them down the front of your shirt, dress or jumper. It's so funny! outside is your jam! you love to be outside as much as possible. you have so much fun running around the park with friends going down slides, on swings, driving the wheels & collecting wood chips. 

we are always in the backyard! your favorite thing as of lately is when I spray and hold out the hose for you to try and "catch" the water! you could play that game for hours. It always makes you laugh non stop! we do lots of bubbles. going down the slide (you can now climb the later all by yourself). & you like to say "readddy" when you get to the top. the swing is the only place you sit still. you're so calm in it. you like to splash around in your sand & water table. & you love to play with your ball, especially kicking it! i think you could be a good little soccer player. 

you still love to dance! your new move is to "spin" just walk around in a lot of circles until you get dizzy and fall down. 

you like to help me harvest the garden. to you that just means pick off all the leaves & strawberries to eat them, even if they aren't ready. 

bed time with you is the sweetness! we always have sooo many giggles when I tickle your neck & mimic your funny sounds. you give me big hugs by wrapping your arms around my neck. & your little kisses have been on point lately! 

it's so fun having little conversations with you & seeing how much you understand! You're so smart! 

you've also started some fits & sass. so we are using love & logic as a tool to discipline you. that means lots of empathy & quick enforcement of consequences. like throwing food "how sad" looks like meal time is over & you need some quiet time in your room. you can come out when you're sweet. & then we try again. we are still learning a lot! & we've already made plenty of mistakes. but, lots of working through them and remembering grace for everyone! 

you have such a love for people! you light up a room & always have such joy! we do lots of play dates with friends! you are so social to say the least! & you play so well with other kiddos! we are working on better sharing. 

you love books! & you'll always ask for just one more at bed time! your favorites right now are "on the night you were born" & "the itsy bitsy spider".

we've recently switched to one nap a day. which was a big transition. some days you'd only nap an hour. but, lots of consistency and you seam to be adjusting well. You usually nap from 12-3. Or, at least that's the goal. at night, you still sleep 7 pm to 7 am. you are eating so great! your favorite right now is zuccini, strawberries & blueberries. 

you're really interested in doing art! yesterday, we did your first painting & had paint everywhere! It was so fun watching you! 

everyday with you is an adventure. Everyday with you is a joy! some days are a challenge. and, every day Jesus is refining me & teaching me that to rest in his love for us & let the way I teach, train and raise you up to come out of a flow of His love & not my own performance! He has already taught me so much through you. I love the way you make me slow down & cherish the littlest moments!   

you're awake from your nap now so it's play time! Yay!:) 

love you baby girl! 
Xoxo

Friday, 13 March 2015

let your little light shine

"this little light of mine, I'm ganna let it shine, this little light of mine, I'm ganna let it shine." i love singing this song to you! you are such a light. and, you shine everywhere you go! whether it's saying "hiya" to every person you pass in the grocery store, giving a smile, giggle or hug to anyone, even a random little girl at the park or running around with the most free spirited joy I've ever seen, you shine so bright for everyone to see! 

some of my favorite things that you're doing at this 12/13 month mark are: 

-trying to jump (it is so funny to watch you when I say "jump, jump". It's like there's a weight on your feet and you just laugh trying to get them in the air 
-somersault. as soon as I say the word, you put your head down in position to roll forward
-"spin, spin" you've taken your dance skills to another level and can twirl all around 
-the way you chase your shadow and crack up laughing!
-your new words! everyday a new word. today's was hat. all day you point to everything and say "that, that". I respond and tell you what it is. before we know it, it's a new word added to your vocabulary. 
-the way you like to put your teddy bears "nigh nigh" & tuck them in. you're so nurturing. 
-the way you light up and say dadda as soon as you hear the front door open! 

you are our little light & you shine so bright! love you baby girl!