Lexi at Age 2

The days are long, but the years are short.  Lexi, somehow we must have blinked and you turned from our tiny baby to a full-fledged 2-year old toddler.  

Here are all the things you are up to this month. 

Somehow I stumbled onto giving you foot rubs at night, and now you just expect them. You hold your feet up to me one at a time to be rubbed, then you tell me "this one too" and  "one more time". So needless to say, this has become part of our bedtime routine now. 

When you re-enter a room, you declare "I'm back!".  And when you find one of us or Izzie or one of your babies, etc. you say, "there she is"!  You haven't figured out when to use he vs. she vs. it yet.  I do correct you, but it's so darn cute.  

You have started singing this month!  All of a sudden out of nowhere, you started singing the ABC song early in the month, it shocked me because we haven't really practiced it that much, but you know it- really well.  I caught on to what you were singing about at Q and you got it all perfect right through to the end of the song.  Now, we have heard you many times since then and you know the whole thing.  So of course, now we are practicing it.  You also sing the "open/ shut them" song that we learned at the library, and you know the chorus to one of my country songs.  It's called "Tuxedo" by Claire Dunn.  Whenever it comes on, you perk up and I always catch you singing along to the chorus!

You have officially moved to a size 6 shoe now, and I have moved you to size 2T for clothing when I switched your closet to summer clothes, although some of the 2Ts are a little too big for you, and you are still wearing a few 18 month things too. You are still in size 4 diapers.

I took on the big task of switching out your closet to spring/ summer clothes and shoes, and storing all your fall/ winter things from last year.  That was a huge undertaking, but one that I am glad to have behind us. 

We took a spring break trip to Tampa, FL this month, where we stayed in Treasure Island just steps away from the beach.  We walked to the beach every morning, and you played in the sand and surf.  You had a big time for sure.  Then on the last day of our trip, we visited Disney- you for the first time.  It was a wonderful surprise from Daddy, and you LOVED it.  We stayed the full day, rode a ton of rides, and visited with lots of the characters.  What a wonderful trip! 

You are starting- just barely starting- to watch shows other than the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, although that is still your favorite by far.  You watched Toy Story for quite a while with Pa Pa, and Goldie and Bear for almost a whole episode. Gasp!

You surprised me this month when I would ask you "do you need help?", you would answer by saying "I certainly do."  Then you follow up by saying "Goofy said it".  Ah-ha, so that's where that came from. 

You are saying "I love you" LOTS now.  Spontaneously, not when we prompt you.  And you are giving lots of big hugs too and asking for more kisses.  Sweet precious girl!

As expected, your sleep issues from last month have righted themselves again.  It was about a 5-week window that you had trouble at bed and nap time.  Looking back now, we think it was definitely related to teething.  Thankfully now, you are back to sleeping all night and taking great naps.  It was just a bump in the road, but I'm glad to say that things are all back to normal for now.   We did start using lavender essential oil on your feet at bedtime and a new homeopathic chewable to help calm restlessness, both of which worked really well to help get things back on track. 

Speaking of teething, you have two molars trying to poke through right now.  Your upper right 2-year molar has already broken through, and the upper left appears to be on it's way next.  

We just celebrated your birthday at the end of the month.  Grammie and Pa Pa came for your Mickey Mouse- themed little party.  You had Mickey balloons and cupcakes, and even dressed in your little Minnie Mouse bubble outfit.  On your actual birthday, we did all your favorite things.  We started with breakfast at Puckett's, where you had your own Mickey Mouse pancake and a plate full of bacon.  Then, you attended your very first movie at the Franklin Theatre.  They were playing Kung Fu Panda, which you enjoyed for about 30 minuted before getting restless.  You opened presents and dove into your Baskin Robbins ice cream cake at home.  Then later, we took you to play games at Chuck E Cheese, and then out to dinner at Red Lobster. Where else would we go for a birthday celebration? 

At your 2- year doctor's visit, Dr. Bailes commented time and again that you were super verbal, much more so than the average for your age.  She said most 2 year olds say between 20-40 words.  We laughed.  We stopped counting a long time ago at over 100 words, and you are far beyond that now.  You are also in the 96 percentile for height now, but have leaned out to the 60% for weight.  You got one last Hep A shot, and just a little finger prick to check hemoglobin levels which were perfect.  They also tested your vision and it was perfect too! Your next scheduled visit won't be for another year!

Oh, and the photo above was taken at Janie and Jack as part of their little photo shoot program that they do a couple times a year.  Mama thinks you could be the next Janie and Jack spokes baby.  You'd be perfect, sweet girl.  We love you so much and are so so proud of you, Lexi!