28 Months Old

Our baby girl is 28 months old now.  Almost 2 1/2!  It has been a while since I have done an update on her and she is just growing and changing so much I needed to write it all down.  

Madeline is still not a very big eater.  She isn't necessarily picky.  Although she definitely doesn't like to try new things.  She just doesn't eat a lot of anything.  Her favorite foods are pop-tarts, yogurt covered raisins, any kind of berry and most fruits, pretzels, cheesy noodles (kraft mac n cheese), pizza, french fries, cheese, chocolate (Nutella) sandwiches,  smoothies, and yogurt.  She does not drink any milk at all.  One day she went from drinking 3-4 cups a day and the next day she cut it out cold turkey.  She says it's yucky.  She weighs about 25.5 lbs now.  Which puts her around the 20th percentile.  I'm glad that it is summer because I can buy her 18 month bottoms and they won't be too short since they are skirts and shorts.  And she is wearing mostly 3T tops for the length.  

She loves to swing at the park.  She can even swing on the big girl swing all by herself now and is beginning to learn how to pump her legs.  She is also enjoying sidewalk chalk and bubbles this spring.  She enjoys riding in the double stroller with Oliver now.  She used to hate riding in the stroller.  So, that is so nice now.    

She is the sweetest big sister.  She gets so excited when she sees him in the morning.  She always tells me, "Mommy!  There's Awver!"  And then she goes over and says hello to him and rubs his head and gives him a hug.  She likes to sing Jesus Loves Me to him when he is crying.  She sings it like this, "Jesus loves me this I know.  For the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to him belong.  They are weak, but his be strong.  They are weak, but his be strong.  They are weak, but his be strong..."  And for some reason she continues to sing this part over and over until I say, "yes".  And then she will sing, "Yes Jesus loves me.  The Bible tells me so."  (It doesn't necessarily make Oliver stop crying.  But, it is sweet that she tries.)  She also tries to help Oliver do things like play with his toys.  She will move his hands to push different buttons.  She is very patient with him when he grabs her hair.  She calmly just asks for help.  Andrew also put her hair in her first ponytail as you can see below.  

She loves to play hide and seek throughout the house.  She also still loves to pretend.  She plays restaurant a lot.  She also takes care of her babies.  She usually has a big girl named, Madeline, and a baby named, Baby Girl.  Sometimes her babies are Baby Oliver or Baby Aliyah (a baby in our care group).  

She has major issues dealing with change.  I took this picture on what I thought was going to be her last night in her baby bed.  But, little did I know, a month later and she would still be in her crib.  So, there is a big girl bed and a crib in her room.  Not sure what to do.  It's not like she needs to be out of the crib anytime soon.  And she loves it so much.  The slightest change can send her into tears; winter to spring wardrobe change, new water in her cup instead of leaving the old water, or laying down a new floor mat.  I have started telling her that she has to go to her room if she is going to cry.  That usually stops the tears because she doesn't want to be in there by herself.  But, on occasion she has walked to her room, closed her door, and then cried until she calmed down on her own.  Then she will come back out to join us.  She is certainly a creature of habit.  She knows which stuffed animals belong in her bed.  If I accidentally put one in her bed that shouldn't be there,  I will find it on the floor in the morning.  

She is mostly potty trained.  I still put a diaper on her for naps and bedtime.  But, she has been waking up dry for several weeks now.  I love that she sings when she is happy.  She sings "Kwinkle Kwinkle Little Star..." a lot.  She will also put other words to that tune.  Her favorite word right now is, "Why?"  She will ask that until the cows come home.  She continues to amaze us with her speech and comprehension.  She's a good problem solver and thinker. She is quick to think of ways to persuade us to do something.  (Sometimes it works.  Sometimes it doesn't :)

Madeline is so happy and full of life.  We have a blast together.  It is so fun to watch her brain growing and her mind working.  It is such a blessing to be her mom.  I am really enjoying watching her become such a sweet sister and friend to Oliver.  We love this little girl so much!