23 Months

Your vocabulary is growing so much. There are a few books which are your favorites with letters and pictures of different things and animals on them, and you name so many of them that it surprises me every time. Also we are making progress on learning letters as well as counting. You at least attempt to count, even if it isn't always right. You are very good at repeating them when we ask you to. You answer yes and no to so many things that we ask you. To food it's usually a "no", unless it's something you really like, and to going outside, or park or to see a friend you usually say "yes". Big surprise there.

You love just about every activity that we take you on. We've gone to the Little gym in Poway a few times which is a gymnastics place and you get so excited when you see that we are there. You're super brave on things that they have you try out there and every time you see me try to help you in any way, you say "Sama" which means "by myself", you want to do it all on your own, which can be a bit scary since you don't know your limits very well yet. At times on the playground when I pick you up and place you somewhere, you will say the same thing and deliberately go back to the place where I picked you up and climb up on your own, you're pretty stubborn about it already. The other things you enjoy are still your swim class, we've skipped a few because you were a bit under the weather but when we returned you were so excited to get into the pool. We still have a few sessions left in your music class. Last week, we didn't get the message in time about a cancellation and took you there anyways and there was no class so we had to leave. You were so upset when daddy had to take you back and you couldn't understand why you were leaving without participating in class, it was so sad. Your favorite instrument seems to be "baraban" - the drum... you get so excited when you see it.

The bed situation is much better, it no longer takes us hours to get you to stay in your room and bed, some nights are better than others of course.
You did get your first cold of the season last week which was really no fun. We actually all got a mild version of it, but you actually had a fever for a few nights and still have the lingering cough, and you seem to wake up a few times a night and start crying until one of us comes over to pat you on the back... usually you go right back to sleep.

You are still a pretty picky eater, but now you really don't like when we attempt to feed you. Sometimes you get mad if I take the spoon, although I am only helping you get some food on the spoon, you will still get upset at times. You are definitely getting very independent.

Tooth brushing is going well. You actually got another molar in the back, and I finally got a Crayola automatic toothbrush and I feel like it's way better than when I am trying to scrub your teeth. We even floss now, at least the couple of teeth that are close together which the dentist recommended that we floss.

Next month you are going to be 2 years old, I honestly feel like the last 2 years have gone by in the blink of an eye! I am already looking at older pictures of you when you were a tiny little infant and can't believe you are growing up to be such a lovely and beautiful little girl. I am so excited to see what is in store for us next year, but also a little bit sad that you're growing up so fast, sometimes I wish I could slow down the time, so I can enjoy it for just a little longer. I am really looking forward to the holiday time when I am planning on taking some time off and have some more fun together. Did I mention that we're taking you to Disneyland for your 2nd Birthday? It's going to be so much fun!

Pumpkin Patch and Halloween

I am so behind on posts, but trying to catch up.
Pumpkin Patch was fun this year, except for the day we picked to go, it was 90+ degrees which definitely did not feel like fall. Instead of hanging out there for a while like we planned, we only stayed for a few hours. We did the hay ride, picked out a pumpkin, took pictures, and were on our way back.

Family op

I loved this one, because it looks like you and Matty are having a deep conversation

Going for a ride

I bought your Halloween costume which was supposed to be a monkey a few weeks ago, however you refused to put it on. We tried a few times and you would start crying really loud as soon as we attempted to put on any part of it on. I did get you to pet it... and you recognized that it's a monkey, and would point to it and call it monkey while it was hanging. So we had to trade it in, your buddy Matthew ended us wearing it on his 1st birthday party. Instead you acquired a Panda bear costume. This time I didn't try to put it on you or introduce you to it ahead of time. The day before Halloween, your day care was going to have a celebration so I dropped you off and your costume so that you can get changed into it. Later I found out, you once again refused, all the kids were dressed up in costumes but not you. The following day was Halloween and daddy took you next door with you where the neighbor said she would attempt to help you get into a costume, they actually had 3 other ones to try, a lady bug, a princess and another one, you ran away each time they tried to put it on you and once again refused. I have pretty must accepted the fact that you weren't going to wear your costume, but before we left to go to Matty's bday party, I decided to try one last time, somehow we were able to distract you and even thought you fussed a little bit, it was no big deal, you wore your costume, and even the head piece part. Yay!
So that allowed us to take you trick or treating this year for the first time, you had such a fun time. We met us with Kingston and Herbie who both dressed up as pirates and you went into the houses to get candy, you wouldn't let go of your basket either. We all had a great time, and you enjoyed the candy as well. Here are a few pictures from that day.

Cutest Panda bear ever

Hanging out with Matty the Monkey @ his 1 Year Birthday Party

Enjoying a juice box

Getting ready for your first trick or treating experience

Off you go!

I forgot to mention that when we got home that night, you were sad when I took the panda hat off you, and wanted it back on. Also in a few more days after I have washed the costume and was putting some laundry away before your nap time, you found the hat and decided to put it on, I went to take it off, and you started crying... so I let you have it, you napped in your panda hat that day, so funny!