A New Year - 2014

The beginning of the new year always brings a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. I normally don't make a New Year's resolution. I could say, I'm gonna exercise, eat healthy, etc. etc. etc yet, I know enough about myself to know that it would only be an empty promise to myself. I am notorious for being plagued with a chronic case of "no follow through". My intentions are always on point. My plans are made with a sincere heart and my ideas are grand and imaginative, I just sometimes am more talk than action.
Having a child has truly brought this shortcoming to the forefront of my mind. So for this year, I am making a New Years Resolution :

Take action on the ideas and plans that I make and if I don't think that I can, don't promise it.(to myself or anyone)

I hope that I am held accountable by those I love and know. I intend for this year to be productive and rewarding. I hope to challenge myself and my comfort zone.
I always want to do everything and say yes to everything but reality shows - you just can't do everything all at once.

I want to set an example for Ava- if you say you are going to do something then you had better do it. If you make plans with someone then you had better keep those plans.
So If I want to set that example for Ava.. I had better become that person.

I love my life with the child in it. With this beautiful, strong, independent child with the most tender heart. I don't have the ability to give her all the finer things in life but I do have the ability to provide her with the tools to make her life great. To give her love beyond measure, support for eternity and courage to always be true to her heart. I can teach her to be kind when others are unkind and to always speak the truth. I want her to always see the beauty in people and the wonders that this world has to offer.

I have grand dreams for you Ava and I will do everything in my power to make your dreams come true.

The words of a 3 year old.

Oh. The things we say these days Ava.

"Stop, stop, Listen to my words"

"May, Excuse me, I have a conversation" Or "May I, I have a question"

you say "What's your problem?" and "Awww, man"

"That sounds like a good idea"

When you get frustrated at someone because they are telling you to stop doing something (that you shouldn't be doing) You yell "NO, NOT EVER. NEVER!" and then you go "aaarghgh" under your breath and walk away.

Then you say things like, "don't you know I love you" and "you are my favorite friend" And "when people have problems I give them hugs to make them happy"

You want me to rub your back at night before you go to sleep.
And read you two books. Then you like to read the book to Mommy. YOu like to fall asleep with your night light on.

Stories. Oh man! Do you love to tell stories. And you expect everyone else to tell a story too. "what's your story about Mommy?"


You love to help with ANYTHING. Feed the birds, load the dishwasher, walk Daisy, sweep, what ever anyone is doing...you want to help.

You are very independent and want to do everything yourself.


I'm so proud of you and amazed of the purity that is a child's out look on life. You are a blessing. I love you forever and Ava, you are my most favorite friend ever.

Pictures....

You love school Ava. Even though you don't look like it in this picture, you do love to go to school.

Your sister is 15 soon to be 16 and you adore her.

Hanging out with Grampa reading some books.

Your mommy and Daddy having fun at the beach.

Your Mommy and Aunt Katie taking self portraits...

FIRST SLEEPOVER WITH HAZEL AT YOUR HOUSE!!

We've had a lot of fun these past months with you little Ava.

Ava's first Sleep Over

Ava,
FINALLY, you have the ability to have your very first sleep over. It is the sweetest thing ever.
We weren't sure how Hazel would react once it was time to go to bed...but to my delight, she was SO excited to sleep in her new bed! Grampa bought a mattress for the trundle bed in Ava's room, i bought her a cozy pink blanket with hearts all over it, we had pizza and cookies. PERFECT!

It is the cutest thing to peek in and see both of them in Ava's room.
I LOVE THIS.

Hazel has NEVER spent the night with out her mom and dad in someone else's house...and Katie and Dave have never spent the night in their house without Hazel. It's a big night for us all.

Good times. Good times.

One Day

Let's see...
What did we do today? What did the family do today?

Woke up at 6 am. Got ready for work. Got you ready for school. Made your lunch and made you a blueberry waffle for breakfast with a "soosie" (smoothie)
Daddy took Drew to school. (She is a sophomore now)
Daddy's car is being repaired so when Daddy got home he took us to school.

You LOVE school and you LOVE to see your friends. You like to hang your lunch box on the right side of your two pronged hook and your backpack on the left side. You always talk about your friends, Easton, Kota and Annabella.

After your "school day" is over at 3:00, I come pick you up and we go back to the office. You are always very well behaved while we wait until it is time for me to go home.

Today Daddy picked us up from school. ON our walk to the parking lot we saw two lizards and a bunny. You tried to catch them all but they kept running away from you. Much to your dismay.

We then went to Starbuck's (mommy wanted a coffee) It's my weakness....
We went and got daddy's car, then you and I went to go pick up Drew. She wants to go on a cruise with one of her friends for her friend's 16th birthday. hmmph.
Scary.

Anyhoo....we came home, had dinner, you slammed your toes in the front door (so sad!) daddy did some side work, we watched a movie then went to bed. 8:00 p.m.
Perfect.

That is pretty much a typical day. It is nothing extravagant. Nothing amazing but it is my wonderful life and I am thankful for every normal minute of it.

FAIL

Yep. I'm failing as a blogger. Failing to keep up to date on all the little things that are happening too quickly.
Sadly too much time has passed since my last entry to try and chronicle everything that has happened in detail, so let's just take from where we are.

And where are we? Well, it's August. The end of August at that. It's embarrassing, the last entry was in OCTOBER!!! Gaads...we've done so much, you've changed so much Ava.
We've gone to Disney World, Key West, Busch Gardens, Mommy and Daddy turned 40, we got a new house, you sleep in a big girl bed, and
YOU STARTED SCHOOL!!!

Let me say that again. YOU. STARTED. SCHOOL. (Pre-K 3)
It is the sweetest and most endearing thing to watch you walk up to school smiling ear to ear and a light in your eyes. It makes my heart proud. You LOVE school. LOVE. There are 11 kids in your class, 7 of them stay all day like you. I'm so sad in a way because a stage in your life has ended. You are no longer a baby, you will no longer spend the majority of your time with your family. I am excited for what this new chapter will bring and the joy it will bring you but a part of my heart is sad to turn the page and close this chapter forever. I am so thankful that you were able to stay home with me and Grandma this long. I think it provided you with a strong sense of self and gave you the chance to develop your tender and loving nature. You are such a sweet and loving child Ava.
Mrs. Land, Mrs. Koplik and Miss O'Conner take very good care of you. It is a relief that so far you have been very mindful and respectful. And it seems that you have a boyfriend...Easton. His mommy teaches Pre-K 4. I guess he told his daddy that he met a new friend, her name is Ava and she is a girl, she is my girlfriend. :)
Then he looked at a picture of you and said "she's mine" Ha!


Anyway, how do I even describe you these days? You are doing EVERYTHING. Grampa got you a big girl bed for your birthday, so napping and going to bed are pretty easy these days. I think the first night was harder on me than it was for you. I've gotten so used to you being two feet away from me and now it feels like you are on the other side of the earth.

You color in the lines. You love to sing. You make up your own stories and you LOVE to tell people your stories and then have them tell you a story. And this is at any time of the day. You still love to read stories at night before bed. You love to get "cozy" now with your blanket.
We take showers now instead of baths.
Your appetite is not as strong as it used to be but that is ok.
In school you "love to go on the playground,and sing and do your exercises with that boy who is Soooo strong" (Coach Dodge)

You yell "Mommy!" and come running into my arms when you see me. The days of "scary mommy" are gone. And let me tell you, I am FINE with that. It melts my heart when I see your face light up when you see me. Melts.

Another big milestone...We moved.
Halleluja.
Finally we all have our own spaces. Our own rooms. It is so peaceful in my mind now. We live in Poinciana... a 5 minute stroll to Katie's. It's perfect. The only member of the family who has not settled in very well is Daisy. She has not quite accepted this as her home. I think she really misses her old house, the smells and sounds of her old neighborhood and most of all, Patricia and Bob. She hates our new back yard. It's so strange. She only walks the perimeter. She refuses to walk around in the middle of the yard. With my imagination, it kinda makes me nervous...Just remind me NOT to put a pool in our back yard.
I'm just sayin'.

Anyway. I can't think of all the things that I need to think of to document. I'm so very tired so I will write another day, and I will post pictures too.

Until the morrow',


I LOVE YOU AVA.

What is going on 40?

I STARTED THIS MONTHS AGO.....I CAN'T SEEM TO FINISH IT SO I'LL JUST POST IT.....WHY BLOG IF YOU DON'T POST?


40. Hello. Nice to meet you.

I'm not too sure how I became 40. I think I've calculated incorrectly. Math has never been my strength.
I don't feel like I'm 40.When I tell people my age it sounds so strange to say Fourty.

"yea, I'm Fourty. Yep. No, I'm not lying. Why would I lie about 40? That's silly. Oh, what? You were 7 when I graduated high school? Good for you...."

That is just strange to me.

Anyhoo...THings happen when you 'get up there' in age. Some not so great, some pretty great....

My skin is wierd. Different. Lotion? Yes, I put lotion on my skin all day long.
Lotion. Vitamin E oil. Olive Oil. Vaseline. I even rub old coffee grounds on my arms to exfloliate and soften yet the skin is still....wrinkly. I guess that is the word I'm trying to avoid.
Wrinkled. And not the kind of sun baked wrinkle but the kind of wrinkle that says...I don't want to be taut anymore. I want to sag a little....I wanna just take it easy for a bit.
My mom always said it would happen. That I would start to notice a change in the elasticity and texture of my skin. That I would start to get the "turkey neck"
I don't want the "turkey neck". 40 year olds don't have "turkey necks"
End of story.

My eyesight.
WHAT?!
YES! My freaking eyesight is "going". I need to use readers. I don't because I don't want to admit that my cuticles are blurry and that if Ava puts her cute little face close to mine she is blurry.
But yes...soon I will need to invest in a snazzy pair of readers.

Flexibility. It apparently goes away if you don't stretch.

Patience: I have WAY more patience now than I ever had. Way. More. Bushels and bushels of patients.

How the days blur together!

Too many days have passed since I last wrote. It was in October. OCTOBER?!
How do I even explain how much you have learned, all the things you have seen and done?
So many things have changed Ava...you change so quickly. Who pressed Fast Forward?

We have entered the Terrible Two with a vengance. However, you aren't really terrible. You are actually very sweet and you love love to snuggle and "get cozy" but MAN! You can be one defiant little angel.
Your attitude somedays puts Drew's to shame....And THAT can make for a very long evening.
A. Very. Long. Evening.

But then you come up and put my face in your tiny little hand, give me a look that MELTS my heart and say "it's okay, mommy. I love you" Then you give me a kiss on my cheeck.
Then, I die. At that point I don't even remember you screaming "NO! GO AWAY!" and kicking me repeatedly. It is just a distant memory. So what if my shins are on fire. Big deal. And why address the issue that she says "it's okay" rather than "I'm sorry"?
It will just take away from that precious moment.
Another crusher is when you will come up to me, put your arm around my shoulder, press your cheek to mine and say "My best friend"
uuugh. It is pure joy.


Let's see...what is new with us these days?

Mommy works full time at The Community School of Naples. I now have a 'normal' job. I love it and it makes me happy everyday I go but I sure do miss our full days together. Not to mention the fact I was able to actually get stuff done.
I don't know how so many mom's and dad's do it.
It's hard to work all day and then come home and have dinner ready at a normal time if ever. Ask my husband...it has yet to happen at our household. And cleaning? HA!

okay. Good one.

Anyway...Drew is on the cheerleading team again this year and is LOVING it. She is a true FLorida girl. She wears sweatshirts when it is 80 degrees out. She loves anything typical of Florida: going to the beach, surfing (when we get "waves" here in the Gulf), boating, fishing, snorkling,sunbathing and recently she has discovered the joy of Paddleboarding. You actually love to cruise around on a paddle board with daddy too. You just lay there and enjoy the ride!

We are determined to buy a house this year so you can have your very own room and so Mommy and Daddy can have their very own room too! You ask me everyday when I get home from work if I "got your room yet" Sigh. Insert dagger and twist.

As far as what is new with yo....
I don't even know where to begin with you and all that you can do now. It AMAZES me and astonishes me daily. You are the light of my eye little Ava.
You are full on potty trained and can even put your own underware on. You love to tell stories now. It 's the cutest thing to listen to you make up a story. It's usually about Rapunzel, Cinderella, Mommy Dinosaur or a monster. Or all of them together.

Instead of saying "excuse me" when you want to talk to someone you say (with you hand up) "stop talking, stop. My turn to talk"
It's really cute but we have to remind you to speak kindly.We have to remind you to do that quite a bit these days.
Time out's stopped working with you when you started giving yourself time out's.

You LOVE LOVE to swim. You are full on into books now. I've been WAITING for you to get the book fever. Finally.
I love to watch you "read".

You still don't like your feet covered up when you sleep. You still love cereal and have it for dinner often.
Grandma watches you and Hazel everyday. You and Hazel have a very special and sweet relationship. I hope it stays strong forever.
You both have learned to work out your "problems" yourself and and learned a great love of sharing.

Turrible Two's here we come!

You are two.
You are testing Mommy's limits. You like to see just how far you can go before a time out is issued. Just let me tell you, you don't get very far.
You scream alot these days.

A lot. But that is ok. It comes with the territory right? Do I get frustrated sometimes and wish for Calgon to take me away?

Yes. But again...it comes with the territory.

Today at MyGym one of the other mom's said "she is the smallest bulldozer I have ever seen."

That is SOOOO you Ava, you have no fear and you just plow right through what ever is in your way. You have from day 1. This mom meant well because she gets the biggest kick out of you. Every one does.

You like to walk on your tippy-toes. You HATE having your feet covered when you sleep.

Halloween is tomorrow and I think we will be Trick-or-Treating costumeless. We bought a Minnie Mouse dress for you to wear and for 3 weeks we have been trying to get it on you. You want NOTHING to do with it.

N.O.T.H.I.N.G.

You scream like crazy. And you say "no,no,no,no" to any other kind of costume we point out. Oh well...We didn't even buy pumpkins this year so I guess not dressing up goes right along with our lack of enthusiasm this year. We went to the Pumpkin Patch and took pictures...just didn't buy anything. Next year.

Each day you say your names for everyone in your family...Tatie? Seal? MaMa? Papa? Dewy? Daaay?(uncle Dave)
You want to go see everyone. And ever since Drew had her birthday bowling party you ask about Dewy's Party.
We are working on the names of your family who don't live here. We look at their pictures on the fridge and practice their names.

You still have your own funny little way of talking but it is getting easier to figure out what you want and you are figuring out how to say more and more words.
But some of them are just funny.
"Fwee,Fwee" is 'wash, wash'...and 'brush brush' (for washing hands and brushing teeth)
wee wee is "movie"
kookoo is cookie.
you put a y at the end of a lot of words....

flowy = flower
disaury = dinosaur
showy = shower

You are starting to put two words together. You like to buckle the top part of your car seat so you say "i do"
You will come up to daddy or me and say "i find daddy" "i find mommy"
When we leave the house you say bye to Daisy, pat her on the head and say "good girl"
When I tried to put on your Halloween costume you said "no minnie" Over and over and over.

It's just amazing to watch you learn. You make me so proud each and every single day and so very thankful.
Life is brighter with you in it sweetness.

16 days

In 16 days you will be 2.
TWO.
This is more amazing to me than you turning one. You are so much more of a person now. You truly are not a baby anymore.

I remember being so excited for you to get to this point. To the point where you walk, run, talk, laugh and know what it means to give hugs. But now that you are here, I find myself missing the baby.

It's true what they say...cherish EVERY moment because before you know it, it's gone.

You swing on the big girl swing.
Your favorite movie is Ice Age 3 with the dinasaurs (di-saury)
You can count to 10. You don't do it all the time and you sometimes skip numbers but you try so hard.
You are learning your letters. You know what "B" and "O" look like. We are working on our colors. Everything seems to be Blue.

I think your are entering the Terrible Two a few weeks early. You are starting to become VERY stubborn at times. I think we have our hands full with you my sweet!

You still LOVE MyGym. LOVE! Miss Christy is your favorite. You smile so big when you see her and she can actually get you to sit still. That is an accomplishment!

You are trying so very hard to talk. I feel so bad sometimes because I don't know what you are trying to say. I know it frustrates you too. I have a feeling one day you are just going to start talking in full sentences. You are a vocal child and it makes me laugh everyday.

You love your family. You have found your names for us all...

Daddy
Ma- You call Grandma and me "Ma!"
Dewy - Drew
Pa- Grampa
Tatie - Aunt Katie
Seal - Hazel
Dayye - Uncle Dave

Hazel loves that you call her "Seal". She thinks it's silly. Cutness!

You are very loved sweet Ava and you make my days FABULOUS!
Amazing!
NOthing can really describe how wonderful you have made my life!
I love you!!!

21 & 22 and look at you...

Well my sweet Ava you are growing into a vibrate funny little girl. You don't know the meaning of 'relax'.
Unless you are in the pool. With your swimmies on you will float on your back just relaxing.

Otherwise, you are full speed ahead. You are starting to say a few more words but it takes us a minute to figure out what you are trying to say. Your daddy seems to be pretty good and deciphering your lingo. You are very smart and understand EXACTLY what we are saying.

You love cereal. I think you would eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I let you.

You have learned how to "jump" into the pool by yourself. However, we need to work on the whole "One, Two, Three....jump!" thing. You like to just run right in the pool. I'm glad you are fearless but at times it does make my heart skip a beat.

At the 4th of July parade you had your very first lollipop...actually you had 4.

But strangely, you haven't had one since. I've given them to you but all you do is lick it once and then you loose interest. And I am FINE with that!

You love your sister.
You. LOVE. your sister. You call her "DEWWWWW".

And she takes such good care of you.

You are a happy child and you bring so much joy to all of us.

20 months and counting.

My sweet little Ava,




Life couldn't be any more fun. Everyday is a challenge, a chance for you and I both to learn something new.
You learn how to put the pieces of a puzzel back in the right spot and I learn the true meaning of patience. I want to put the pieces back for you but that isn't teaching you anything now is it?
And when I say "challenge" I mean that in the best possible way. You help me learn about myself and the virtues in life that make us good moral people.

Patience. Love. Laughter. Acceptance and forgivness.

If I scold you, you pucker your lower lip and let out the sweetest little 'coo' and then come over to give me a hug. I tell you mamma is not mad and that I love you to the moon and back. It makes me realize that I need to watch how I speak to you, watch the tone of my voice. If you are about to spill a bowl of cereal, I don't need to loudly say to you "no, no, no, no" and come running over with panic in my face. It's milk. It's not kryptonite.
You little babies take everything in the literal sense. I realized that you thought you were in trouble, that you had done something wrong. It made me stop and think about how I react.
And not just to you but to everything and everyone in life.
Some things just aren't worth getting all worked up over. Most things aren't. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Life is not here to stress us out.
I may just over react sometimes. Maybe.

You make me laugh almost every single second. I am totally that mom that thinks every single little thing you do is amazing or hysterical.

You laugh at yourself when you burp or toot.

You are constant motion. Constant.
You sleep 8 hours a night. You wake up between 5:30 and 6am. YAAAAWN!
You will take a good 3 hour nap during the day. That is a very welcome change.

Books and Puzzels are your new favorite thing.

You are amazing Ava. You are a true gift and a blessing. You make me a better person. Being a parent is the most magnificent job I have ever had the priviledge of doing.

Throw up in my eyelashes

Ava,
You threw up in my face last night.
It was awful in more ways than one. The look on your face almost broke my heart.
I'm not sure what caused the projectile vomit but you seem fine today. You seemed fine last night.
We had your 18 month checkup up appoitment today. Doctor Dudley didn't seem too concerned about your direct hit to my retina (you didn't and still don't have any other symptoms of being sick).
You weigh 22.4 lbs. and you are 33 inches tall. That puts you in the tall skinny category.
I'm happy that you are your normal active self. Laughing and into everything.
I know this is only the first of many barf-o-rama episodes but I felt I should document the very first one.

Growing up so fast

It's May, it's warm and you are 19 months. What's new with you these days Ava? You have downsized back to a size 3 diaper. I'm guessing your upward growth spurt has caused your thunder thighs to slim out. You grew up but not out! So now you swim in size 4 diapers. You still eat pretty good but your appetite has gone down a little. You are as active as ever. Running, climbing, running, climbing. You are still the loudest child around. Maybe your dad and I talk to loud so you think that being loud is just the normal thing to do. Hmmph.. Maybe I'll start paying attention to that.

You hate to have your feet covered up...you always kick the blanket off your feet and socks will stay on for about 5 minutes. Being outside is still your favorite place to be and if there is some body of water around....whether it be a bucket of water, a puddle, the beach, a pool, the hose, the sprinkler, you are in HOG HEAVEN! We went over to our good friends, The Wasmer's, for Mother's Day and after about 2 hours of being in the pool I had to take you out kicking and screaming. A few hours later you were playing in the rain and having the time of your life! My little water baby!

You said Mommy. You said Mommy on Mother's Day. You saying Mommy on Mother's Day made your Mommy cry on Mother's Day. You haven't said it since but I don't care. Speaking of talking....you still talk all day long in your own little language, however you do say: Dog, Ball, Cereal, Bubbles, Daddy, 'Mommy'!!!!!, Book, 'I got it', 'I see it', Thank you, wow, woouuw,woouuw, (meow, meow). You eat cereal and milk with a spoon ...adorable. Your daddy takes you to feed the ducks which you think is the bees knees. You go to the beach and play. He'll take you to Toy's-R- Us strictly for your entertainment. You LOVE to run around and play with everything. Your entire face lights up when you see your daddy and it warms my heart.

Each and every day I am blessed to have you in my life.

sniffles, sneezes and coughs.

You and your daddy are sick. You feel much better than your daddy....he hasn't been to work for 3 days.
And knowing your daddy....that NEVER happens so I know he is feeling really crummy. I really hope he gets better soon. He hates not being able to snuggle you and play with you.
You are in good spirits...just a little snotty.

So as you enter your 18th month of life you are as active as ever, even with your cold.

You seem to have entered a hitting stage right along with the "if-I-don't-get-what- I-want-the-instant-I-want-it-I'm-going-to-have-a-fit" stage.
Not a big fan of either of them.
What I am a fan of is now when you are sitting in my arms (the rare occasions that you do) you will look up into my face and smile at me.
Melts. My. Heart.
I LOVE THIS FACE!



You have started to say "oh dear" when you drop something.
You know where your barrettes and hair ties are. You know that the fridge is where your drinks and snacks are.

Sometimes you say "i got it" or "i see it" In your version of course.
You will 'meow' when you see a picture of a kitty and say "Da!" when you see a dog.

You know what a lion, elephant, tiger, monkey, alligator, dog, cat, bumble bee, bird, crab, pig, octopus, cow and horse look like....you will point to them in your books.

You are a champ at drinking out of a straw now....and prefer it most of the time. Not to mention that it is the cutest thing I've ever seen.



You and daddy will play in the sprinkler....and you LOVE it.



I hope you feel better soon.
xoxo

How do I do this and should I really worry about it?

How do I get you to stop using your pacifier? How do I learn to deal with your fits of hysterics that would usually be quelled by a pacifier?
Hmmm? How?
How do I get you to want to go to bed and stay asleep in your crib?
What about potty training? How does that start?
How do I get you prepared for school? (mentally prepared) Are you going to be at the skill level needed when that time comes?

I worry.
I shouldn't. I know I shouldn't but I do.
The learning capabilities of children are astounding. You have learned things that I haven't specifically shown you, you just learned them by watching us.
So, I know I shouldn't worry because you will learn to do these things and you will do them when you are ready to.
Just like you will talk when you are ready to talk.

You are a curious and independent soul who charges fearlessly into life. I hope you always live your life that way.

You're simply the best

One thing you LOVE to do is hang out on the boats that your daddy works on.





You make my days better. You make every one's day better. Last night your sister had a belly dance recital and you were up on the stage before the show started dancing your heart out. Everyone there watching....you made their day better.

Today you went to the Zoo with Aunt Katie, Hazel, mommy and Grampa. All you wanted to do was hold Grampa's hand. You and Hazel were so happy to be with him. It warmed my heart to the core.



It's an amazing thing...being a mom. It's scary and exciting. Rewarding and frustrating. Comical. Heartwarming. Educational.
It has made me a stronger person....physically and emotionally.
It's the best thing I've ever done. You, Ava, are the most amazing thing I have ever had the privilege of being a part of.

Clearly it's been one of those days. The kind where EVERYTHING that you do is the cutest, most endearing and amazing thing I've ever seen. (yea, I'm one of those mom's)

You are simply the best!
I love you Ava.

17 months Baby Girl

I'm not sure how it happened but you are 17 months old. You have changed soooo much Ava. You are not a "baby" anymore. At least not in my eyes.
Babies don't drink out of straws or climb mini rock walls at the park.


They don't sit in cozy chairs with their name on it and watch full length movies or run down boardwalks at the Botanical gardens. Babies can't run, they can't even sit up on their own.




They don't eat waffles with forks or drink from water bottles. Only toddlers do. Toddlers run their fingers through their hair when they are tired or shake their head no when they don't want something. They use a toothbrush and love to run through the sprinklers.
They play "peek-a-boo" with you on their own accord and say a cute little "boo" when they pop their head from around the couch. Toddlers climb EVERYTHING, give treats to the dog, tell the dog to "sit" then throw a ball.
Or they hug each and every one of their animals. They give kisses (when they want) and hugs (when they want)
Toddlers are little people with big personalities.




But wait, you CAN'T be a toddler.
Not yet.
Oh my. (sigh) How did this happen?

At least when they are sleeping....they all still look like our little babies.