Abbie 2.5

Abbie turned 2 1/2 this month! I can't believe how fast she is growing up.

* Abbie is a great eater- not picky. It takes her forever to eat a meal though because she gets distracted by other things, or just chats away. I have recently figured out that when she gets whiny, it is usually means she is hungry.  White milk is still her very favorite thing. She also really likes meat and cheese. But like I said earlier, she will eat almost anything I give her. Oh, and she definitely has a sweet tooth.
* She is also a pretty good sleeper. She goes to bed around 8pm and gets up around 7am. She always sleeps in her own bed. She also has a nap everyday for about 2 hours. Bedtime is sometimes a struggle simply because she doesn't want to go to sleep. She is the queen of stalling. We have a routine, which helps.
* SHE IS POTTY-TRAINED! I have been meaning to blog about this for awhile now. Back in March we started trying to potty-train. She had a sticker chart and was doing pretty good. After a couple of weeks, she just kind of quit and started having a lot of accidents because she didn't care. So I decided that I was ok with her going back to diapers because she was barely 2. Then at the beginning of June, one day she decided she wanted to use the potty. So, we started it again. This time I kept her in underwear all day, never using pull-ups. I think this was key to making it work, because then if she had an accident she was wet and uncomfortable. We used potty treats (starbursts) to help. She caught on very quickly. By mid-July she was completely potty-trained, meaning she knew when she had to go and would let me know, or just go by herself. Now we only use diapers during the night, but even then she will still get up to go to the potty during the night most nights. Its very rare that she ever has an accident.
* Abbie knows how to get herself dressed, and only needs help sometimes. Every morning we have a game for getting dressed. She jumps on the bed while I choose some undies, then she puts them on, then jumps on the bed while I get out a shirt, then she puts that on, etc. Sometimes she doesn't want what I pick out and then tells me what to pick. She can also put her sandals on- I love that I don't have to do this every time we go somewhere.  She always chooses which jammies she wants to wear, and they always have to match :) She is also pretty good with letting me do her hair. I usually let her choose what she wants. Lately, she has been obsessed with 'fireworks' in her hair. (see pics below)
* She is very independent in the fact that she wants to be able to do everything on her own- such as, washing her hands, getting dressed, buckling part of her seat belt. 
* Abbie has a huge imagination. She has lots of stuffed animal friends that talk. And she goes to pretend places all the time (the zoo, store, and Disneyland). Often she will tell me things that she did 'last night' (meaning any time in the past) and they never really happened. Some of the things she comes up with are hilarious. She also loves singing songs, most of which she makes up.  She also comes up with games that we have to play.  Here is a video of Abbie and Brandon putting on a show, I guess like a circus show.

* Abbie can recognize all the upper case ABC's and some of the lower case. She can also count to about 12 consistently and understands that numbers tell how much. 
* Abbie loves being outside. She loves riding her bike, playing, using chalk, going to the park, even playing in the rain.
* She is still a total daddy's girl! Every morning she comes and wakes daddy up and they play together for awhile before he goes to work. 
* Her favorite shows to watch are Monster's Inc., and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. She was so excited when we found a Sully costume, so that's what she is going to be for Halloween.

* 'Purple pretty' (blanket) is still her best friend. It goes everywhere with us and does whatever we do. If Abbie needs to potty, sometimes pretty goes potty as well. In the mornings, while Abbie drinks milk, pretty gets a bowl with cereal. ETC.   
* She can be a good little helper. Sometimes she will help me with Luke, if she is in a good mood (she likes picking out his outfits). Lately she has taken a liking to washing the dishes. Almost everyday she asks if she can while I am making dinner. So, she pulls over a chair, puts on her apron, and proceeds to rinse off dishes and then put them on the drying rack. It's really cute, keeps her busy, and is getting her into the habit of helping clean up. I usually have to go back and wash then again or throw them into the dishwasher.

* She goes to nursery all by herself! That is a huge accomplishment for her. 
* Abbie is a big girl, and she will let you know it. She loves being part of the big kids. And she loves going places and doing things- just like me. In the mornings she will usually ask where we are going today. She loves going to the store, and out to lunch.

* She is funny! We are always laughing at something she says or does. And she knows she is funny so sometimes she will make a joke and then laugh at it. We are always entertained by her. She loves to talk and be the center of attention.

I am so grateful for this sweet, happy girl!