2.5 years old

There is a whole lot to love about two and a half years old. While the sentimental side of me hates watching my baby grow bigger by the month, I love all of the changes I get to watch happen as she grows. I think that each month she gets more and more full of personality. Her vocabulary has exploded in the past six months and she has definite opinions on things. She has a funny little sense of humor and makes us all laugh. She is sweet-as-can-be most of the time, but also gives us plenty of reasons to practice our patience.

Some of the things I want to remember about 2.5 years old-

• her adorable and awkward Elaine-from-Seinfeld dancing
• the cute "Katie" way of talking, like "Gracie, you have a hote on you shirt."(heart on your shirt) and "I have pokey-pines in me finners!" (porcupines in my fingers, meaning her hand fell asleep)
• how talkative she is for us and how shy she can be for others
• her adoration of stuffed animals and baby dolls and how we have someone with us everywhere we go
• the way she looks at books on her bed
• her love of Dora the Explorer cartoons
• her collection of cute winter hats (frog, monkey, bunny, heart, and bright pink) and the way she picks a different one to wear each time we leave the house
• her love of her froggy boots and the way she wears them almost every day lately no matter the weather
• a strong independent streak getting stronger by the day, but also extreme neediness at times

I get overly sentimental when I think about her getting older. She is transitioning from toddler to preschooler right before my eyes and I know it is just a matter of time before I can't really consider her my baby any more. sniff.  Potty training is next on our agenda (probably as soon as we return from holiday travel) and I think we are going to try to wean her from her afternoon nap as well so that we can get her to bed at the same time as Drew. Registration begins next month for next year's preschool class.  She is beginning to dress herself and prefers to sit in a regular chair to eat instead of her booster seat. The list of ways she is growing up goes on and on.