almost three

Juliet related ramblings.

Her birthday is coming up. In twelve days. Wow. Since she and Daddy went to the circus a few months ago, she's requested a "bouncy thing" (i.e. jupiter jump) for her birthday party. When people ask what she wants for her birthday, she usually responds "a dinosaur." She wants a princess cake ... she first requested an Elmo cake, but I explained that she's already had one (not to mention the fact that I have no desire to get out my star tip to make another Elmo cake ever anytime soon). This weekend she also explained - in great detail - that she would like an animal parade at her birthday. According to her, there will be all kinds of live animals - elephants, horses, etc. - in our backyard. I told her that I think we'll stick with the bouncy thing for this year ... sheeesh :)

J and her Elmo cake at her first birthday party.

From Party. Party. Party.

She is so complementary. I didn't even know it was possible for a 2 year old to notice all the things she notices much less say something about it. I don't think anyone comes to our house without getting a compliment about something. "Oh Grandma, I like your black coat." "Daddy, I like your brown shoes." "Di, I like your black pants." It's so stinkin' cute. I mean, who doesn't love a compliment? ;)

She's also been coming up to Dominic and I randomly and saying "Mommy/Daddy, I love you." The spontaneous sweetness is usually accompanied by a hug and kiss. Pretty much always what I need to hear :)

Her current schedule doesn't include a nap so we spend pretty much all day together. Maybe once a week or so I get lucky with a nap. Otherwise, the girl is non stop all day long. It's been this way since right after her second birthday so it's not anything new schedule wise. We do have "rest time" around 1pm (when Beetle goes down for her nap). She plays and pretends in her room for anywhere from 20-45 minutes and then comes out and informs me, "Mommy, I'm done resting." One day when I went in to get her, she sat in the middle of her bed surrounded by pillows and covered in blankets with Baby Bop on her lap and informed me that there was glue all over her. Another day she told me that "Aunt Annie and Uncle Jeff are here." The girl's imagination cracks me up!

Night time sleep has been a little crazy lately. For about the last ... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ... 6 months or so she's been waking up in the night at least once. I honestly don't really know why. She always says the same thing - "Mommy can you lay with me for a minute?" Some nights she's out the second her head hits the pillow and other nights she's just awake for a while (like 1.5 hours some nights). I don't know ... since potty training she does get up some nights to use the bathroom, but usually she's just checkin' in. I now totally get why people break down and let their toddlers sleep with them in the middle of the night! In case anyone is wondering, my response is to tuck her back in, lay down for a minute (just to make sure everything is ok), and then to tell her that I have to use the bathroom and I'll be back in a minute and that I will leave the door open. She's usually content to lay there until she falls back asleep after that.

There aren't many words she can't pronounce these days, which makes me treasure the mispronounced baby speak-ish words even more. I don't know why. I guess it's just some of the last little baby things I can cling to ... Sleeping Doo-ty (Sleeping Beauty) and Frosty Nima Wheats (Frosted Mini Wheats) are probably my favorites right now :)

She loves to garden (help us in the yard), bake, read, dance, sing, and the list goes on. I love this age. She is interested in EVERYTHING, asking questions, learning.

Reading one of our favorite flap books and showing off her smarts with me ...