What Addison is up to at the age of 2

I didn't really have the time to write much about Addison last time, so now I'm going to take the time and talk about what she's up to now.

First off, when we went to her 2yr checkup her stats were:
Height 34-1/4'' (65%)
Weight 29.2lbs (80%)

She's getting so big, it really takes you by surprise some days.  Her speech is improving so fast.  We're understanding more words every day and she learns new ones quickly.  Sometimes it takes several repeats for us to get it or we just ask her to show us what she's talking about.  If all else fails, the "oh, yeah, ok" comment usually gets you past it!

Being polite is something we try to teach her daily.  She's good at saying please and thank you for things.  The other day I asked her to put Daddy's shoes away in his closet and she did it happily.  I told her thank you and she looked back nonchalantly and said 'you're welcome', like it was nothing.  Those are the times that I think man, she's growing up so fast.  When you sneeze, she'll also say 'Bless you'.  I don't know where she gets this one, but a lot of times after she's through with dinner she'll ask to be excused with 'Mommy, I go play?', now that one really impressed me!  Anytime you hurt yourself and say ouch, she says 'You ok?  I kiss it!' and then kisses your ouchie.  It just melts your heart.

She's also very much into playing pretend.  I think she has an imaginary friend, pet, heck a whole clan!  We'll be eating and she'll look over at her imaginary friend (always tilting her head) and ask 'You want a bite? Yeah? Ok.'  When she's playing outside she always says 'No puppy, go away, stop', shaking her finger and there's not a dog in sight.  Tonight she was getting ready to go down the slide and said 'Bunny, baby, move.  Get out of the way'.  Boy does she have an imagination!  She also likes to make up her own little songs and dances around to them.

I'm really noticing how much more she's actually playing on her own instead of needing a lot of attention.  This is so appreciated because it makes cooking meals go a LOT smoother.  She loves to color and draw.  She'll ask to color and I'll get everything out and she'll get her little rocking chair and scoot it as close as she can to the table and color away.  Her favorite is to race.  She starts at the end of the hallway and says '1,2,3, ready (or more like nummee), GO and runs as fast as she can to the kitchen.  She does it by herself or tries to get us to join her, but half the time she cheats by taking off early and giggles uncontrollably the whole way!  She'll repeat that several times until she's huffin' and puffin' and wore out.

Some meals Addison is good about eating and others are a struggle. If we're out in public, it's usually not a successful endeavor - half the time she'll take a few bites and then want to get up and walk around. It's like trying to tame a wild horse at times and you're better off just letting her roam! She does pretty well with meats, veggies are hard at times, and fruit well, she might eat a grape here or there but mostly she only eats those fruit cups. But I can guarantee she'll eat any snack or dessert in sight at ANY time. This is the frustrating part for me. She'll refuse to eat and I think ok, so she wasn't that hungry, but then she spots crackers or cookies 2 seconds later and all of a sudden she can eat again!

When she's warmed up to people, Addison is still a show off.  She'll make silly faces or give funny stares.  Everyone gets a kick out of her "O" face when she hears or sees something exciting.  When we're leaving we'll have her give kisses good-bye and then when we're actually walking out she'll wave really big and scream 'Bye, Bye, See you in a minute!' really loud.

Addison is still Miss Independent.  She wants to do everything on her own.  She needs no help down the stairs - she has pretty much mastered those even without holding on to anything.  She wants to brush her own teeth, put on her own clothes (backwards half the time), or open/close anything.  She says 'I do it' and takes control.  She'll imitate anything we do and if she can't reach it (the light, the toothbrush, the kleenex....) she'll go get the little step stool out of the bathroom and use that to get to it.  Where there's a will, there's a way!

Potty training is slowly coming back into the picture.  A few months back she was actually potty trained (#1) for about a month but then it stopped.  I believe it was due to the weather turning nice and being outside all the time and her not wanting to stop and go inside.  Accidents started happening more and more each day until I gave up and put her back in diapers.  But the past couple of weeks as soon as she gets home, she'll run back into her room, take her diaper off and put on her underwear and go potty.  However, she'll always have an accident later on.  She is so adamant about wearing underwear, I was hoping this was her deciding she was ready but it doesn't appear she's quite there yet!

Ok, I think I just wrote a novel.  Sorry, this blog is as much for Addison as it is for family and friends, so I wanted to get all of this recorded.  I apparently had a lot to say this time!  As you can see, our 2 yr old is keeping us entertained!

Addison turns 2!

So I'm extremely late in posting Addison's birthday pictures.  It's now been over 1 month since she turned 2.  We had a Minnie Mouse themed party and Addison had such a great time.  It's hard to believe that 2 years have passed already!

Blowing on my Minnie Mouse pancake

The cake/picture table.

Aunt J did a great job on my cake!

Giving hugs to Grandma Emig.

And hugs to Papa Rich.

Eating a snack at the picnic table.

Everyone enjoying the playset.

Eating dinner with my cousins!

The present "table".

Waiting patiently to open presents.

Tearing into them.

Loving my new chair with my name on it!

Singing Happy Birthday.

I'm so big!

Cheeeeese.

Giving Collin a little smooch.

Giving good night kisses to Mama Eileen.

Woke up on my birthday and felt like going straight to the bubbles.

More cake!