Being Momma....

We finally got my old play furniture out of storage at my parents and into Abby Kate's room. It is beautiful and has been so fun to watch her play Momma to her dolls. She pushes the carriage all the time and tries to feed the babies in the high chair. Interesting how mothering is so instinctive. I did not show her how to play this way.

We went back to Little Gym today and I was amazed. She said "GYM, GYM!" the whole way. During the introduction as all the children were sitting in their parents laps, our little girl danced and jumped and squealed. It was beautifully uninhibited. She was blissfully aware but uncaring that all eyes were upon her. Though she likes attention, watching her it was clear her movement and squeals of delight was simply her joy that could not be contained. I watched partially neurotic wondering if the other Moms were judging her as a show-off and the other part laughing with tears at my child's beauty.

Oh how I wish we could bottle up childhood and save it for our children. We all as parents, I presume, desire our children to grow up and still be comfortable in their skin. To be able to express joy simply and easily. To have few relational hang-ups and see the world with wise eyes yet still be grateful. Watching her today made me realize why God says “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."

I know the world steals our innocence. Our trust. Our joy. But oh how as a parent I will now pray, preserve her childhood. It truly is breathtaking, compelling and an incredible teacher.

Updates and such....

Well, at 20.5 months and counting...much has...and is happening. Oh gosh so much. B and I were talking this morning at how it seems she has truly AGED over night. I had read that this time (18-24 mo) has some of the most rapid growth that you can see in a child. How true, oh how true. First of all, her vocabulary has exploded. Things I had no idea she had picked up is coming out of her mouth faster that I can compute. Today, for instance, we were reading a book that had little pictures for every 10 words. She knew 90% of them. Like house, trees, hand, finger, hot (for fire), ring, apples, water, fish, bow (this was the fish's tale but it did look like a bow) and so on. One of the things that literally had me fall over was a few weeks ago, we were playing as she was taking a bath and she has these wonderfully colored stackable cups. She kept saying something over and over and when I finally tuned in, I realized she was saying blue. I proceeded to point to each cup and she knew blue, green, yellow and pink. I was floored. This has become something we do all the time, "what color is this?" Sometimes she gets it, sometimes she doesn't. But it is fun!

The sweetest thing that she has learned is to say "i love you" and climbed in my lap a few weeks ago and gave me a kiss and said, "luv you Momma." All unpromted! I would have given her a car at that moment. Oh yes I would have...had she asked.

Another huge milestone, we had started acclimating her to the potty. Last night she actually went! We shouted and cheered and danced! She loves sitting on her potty now and are working on getting her to go each time instead of in the floor. She likes to hold it until I take her diaper off and then run away from me and go. I have been grabbing her midstream and sitting her on the potty. Last night was the first time she has actually gone in it. Oh this should be fun!

Finally, I would LOVE your opinions/advice on this. I know they range so much but I know there are several readers of this blog that have children around the same age as Abby Kate so your two cents could really help us. I have been kicking around the idea of moving her to a toddler bed. The one piece of advice that I have gotten consistently was do it before they can open the door. Most everyone has said do it by two. Yesterday, our parents as teachers consultant said she really thought I should do it soon. We will eventually put her in a queen but her bed converts to a toddler bed. I am thinking about letting her sleep in the toddler bed for 2 months and then putting the queen mattress on the floor? And then in a month put it on the low frame and putting the rails on? I just not sure how to do this. I would LOVE your input.

Lots of milestones, lots of fun!

Jumping! With Friends....

My college friends are reuniting this weekend and my friends Lindsey and Kizzy came over yesterday for a planning session. Our kiddos wanted to jump, in 101 degree heat no less. But I am not an entirely bad parent, I let them wear their shoes. No hospital visits for scaldings for these kids. No way.

Peek-a-boo Poppy!

Abby Kate LOVES to be scared. This was cracking us up!

Abby Kate and Max

Sorry again for the long absence. We have been traveling and are now finally home after 10 days!

I loved this pic. Max comes every M,W,F with Laura to pick up his brother and AK adores him (she says his name over and over after he leaves). Laura and I, as usual, had gotten into a chat and we look over and these two sitting raptly watching Veggie Tales. Thought it was cute!