BIG GIRL HELPER
You help us unload the washing machine and the dishwasher.
You carry toilet paper from the hall closet to the bathroom upon request.
You bring your shoes to me when it's time to leave the house.
You now clean up after yourself - with a little prodding of course.
While you can still make quiet a mess, you're becoming great at straightening up.
And, we sure do love having our little shadow at our side, every step of the way.
You like to reorganize and rearrange things around the house.
Mommy's shoes seem to belong in the back of the closet rather than on the shelves.
Daddy's folded gym clothes must look better on the floor than in their drawer.
Your wooden train pieces should be scattered around the house so there's always one to play with.
Your bath toys shouldn't stay in their bucket, but would be much more fun hanging out in the tub.
(and as a result, you always leave a smile on our faces)
Mommy's shoes seem to belong in the back of the closet rather than on the shelves.
Daddy's folded gym clothes must look better on the floor than in their drawer.
Your wooden train pieces should be scattered around the house so there's always one to play with.
Your bath toys shouldn't stay in their bucket, but would be much more fun hanging out in the tub.
After all, that way you can take one look at your Grandpa during bathtime and spell out "BALD" all by yourself a moment later (well, it was actually BAWLD, but close enough!)
Wherever we go, we are finding that you've left your mark(and as a result, you always leave a smile on our faces)
GIRL WONDER
It's simply amazing to discover how much you understand these days.
We had someone here working on the house.
To distract you from following him around, I asked you to go to your room, get your pumpkin book and bring it to me.
After a few minutes at your bookshelf, books falling to the floor, out you came, with the right book in your hands. Brilliant.
We had someone here working on the house.
To distract you from following him around, I asked you to go to your room, get your pumpkin book and bring it to me.
After a few minutes at your bookshelf, books falling to the floor, out you came, with the right book in your hands. Brilliant.
On another day, you must have thrown your socks out of the crib after your nap.
I changed your diaper, we read a few books, straightened up the room, etc.
When I asked where your socks were and started to look for them, I watched you disappear under the crib skirt and return with the socks in your little hands. Amazing.
I changed your diaper, we read a few books, straightened up the room, etc.
When I asked where your socks were and started to look for them, I watched you disappear under the crib skirt and return with the socks in your little hands. Amazing.
One day, as we were getting ready for gym class, I started to put my jacket and shoes on in the mudroom.
You raced out into the kitchen, grabbed your Keds and proudly carried them over to me - knowing that you needed your shoes on too. Genius.
You raced out into the kitchen, grabbed your Keds and proudly carried them over to me - knowing that you needed your shoes on too. Genius.
Simple things, all of these are.
But to your parents, watching your mind at work is nothing short of wonderful.
But to your parents, watching your mind at work is nothing short of wonderful.
MOUNTAIN CLIMBER
This exciting and nervewracking stage has begun.
It's not uncommon to walk into our office and find you sitting on top of your little table or standing on your chair.
Every chance you get, you sneak off to the stairs and start climbing on up
(don't worry, we're getting another gate soon).
All of a sudden one day, you figured out how to ride on your push toys.
And speaking of pushing, moving the kitchen chairs across the room is often your weightlifting exercise of choice.
Climbing up a slide seems to be just as fun as riding down one.
And so we follow your every move, eager to let you explore your world but hoping to catch you before each fall.
I imagine this will continue for all of our days - wanting you to tackle the world around you yet hoping we can prevent any tears along the way.
This exciting and nervewracking stage has begun.
It's not uncommon to walk into our office and find you sitting on top of your little table or standing on your chair.
Every chance you get, you sneak off to the stairs and start climbing on up
(don't worry, we're getting another gate soon).
All of a sudden one day, you figured out how to ride on your push toys.
And speaking of pushing, moving the kitchen chairs across the room is often your weightlifting exercise of choice.
Climbing up a slide seems to be just as fun as riding down one.
And so we follow your every move, eager to let you explore your world but hoping to catch you before each fall.
I imagine this will continue for all of our days - wanting you to tackle the world around you yet hoping we can prevent any tears along the way.
You are one curious little girl, and you never miss a chance to explore your surroundings.
Needless to say, "no" might be the word that's said most around here.
You're not being bad on purpose as much as you're testing us and figuring out what is off limits.
Trying to unplug lamps, sneak upstairs, race down the street to visit Abby the dog and poke/pat your friends just a little too excitedly are always met with that hated "no".
Sometimes you grin back at us, shaking your head no in response.
And sometimes your feelings get hurt and you cry for a minute, sad that you were just yelled at.
We're learning how best to discipline you - so please bear with us.
LITTLE SWEETIE
You are a people person.
You love having company over and seem to welcome all the attention.
I've already posted how you walk right up to new faces and raise your arms up, hoping for a better view once they give you a boost.
At the rug store, you walked over to the receptionist, climbed into her lap and tried typing on her computer.
At Starbucks, you hand over my debit card to the cashier, then flash the biggest grin when they swipe it and hand it back to you.
And, you never want anyone to feel left out.
You do a great job of sharing - both with us and with your friends. I must admit that you seem to always have two things in your hands - books, stuffed animals, shoes, etc., so maybe that's why you're so willing to hand one over to your pals.
At Rite Aid, you took several packs of gum off the shelf and then handed them out to the customers on line, one by one, making sure no one was overlooked.
Imagine my excitement when I asked you to put the gum away - and you did.
And yesterday at Borders, you picked dog bookmarks off the display unit and raced up to give them to the kindergarten teacher who was paying for her purchases. You should have seen the smile she gave you.
(Of course, all this socializing while we're running errands makes us move A LOT more slowly. You do not want to be held anymore, and when I let you down, you wander off to make new friends and explore.)
YOU'RE A LOVER
You have started to give us hugs - real hugs.
Little arms wrapped around our necks and squeezing kind of hugs.
Do you have any idea how happy this makes us?
Such a simple gesture, sure. But boy does it make us feel good.
Oh, and real kisses too - smack your lips kind of kisses.
You now say Mama and Dada.
Not just when you're babbling, but when you want one of us in particular.
Or when you wake up in the middle of the night and call for us.
Or when Daddy comes home from work or I come home from something.
Mama for me, Dada for him, always the right name for the right person now, in that sweet little voice of yours.
And boy does it make us feel good.
Needless to say, "no" might be the word that's said most around here.
You're not being bad on purpose as much as you're testing us and figuring out what is off limits.
Trying to unplug lamps, sneak upstairs, race down the street to visit Abby the dog and poke/pat your friends just a little too excitedly are always met with that hated "no".
Sometimes you grin back at us, shaking your head no in response.
And sometimes your feelings get hurt and you cry for a minute, sad that you were just yelled at.
We're learning how best to discipline you - so please bear with us.
You are a people person.
You love having company over and seem to welcome all the attention.
I've already posted how you walk right up to new faces and raise your arms up, hoping for a better view once they give you a boost.
At the rug store, you walked over to the receptionist, climbed into her lap and tried typing on her computer.
At Starbucks, you hand over my debit card to the cashier, then flash the biggest grin when they swipe it and hand it back to you.
And, you never want anyone to feel left out.
You do a great job of sharing - both with us and with your friends. I must admit that you seem to always have two things in your hands - books, stuffed animals, shoes, etc., so maybe that's why you're so willing to hand one over to your pals.
At Rite Aid, you took several packs of gum off the shelf and then handed them out to the customers on line, one by one, making sure no one was overlooked.
Imagine my excitement when I asked you to put the gum away - and you did.
And yesterday at Borders, you picked dog bookmarks off the display unit and raced up to give them to the kindergarten teacher who was paying for her purchases. You should have seen the smile she gave you.
(Of course, all this socializing while we're running errands makes us move A LOT more slowly. You do not want to be held anymore, and when I let you down, you wander off to make new friends and explore.)
You have started to give us hugs - real hugs.
Little arms wrapped around our necks and squeezing kind of hugs.
Do you have any idea how happy this makes us?
Such a simple gesture, sure. But boy does it make us feel good.
Oh, and real kisses too - smack your lips kind of kisses.
You now say Mama and Dada.
Not just when you're babbling, but when you want one of us in particular.
Or when you wake up in the middle of the night and call for us.
Or when Daddy comes home from work or I come home from something.
Mama for me, Dada for him, always the right name for the right person now, in that sweet little voice of yours.
And boy does it make us feel good.
OUR BOOKWORM
Now that you're learning the names for all the objects around you,
you love your books more than ever.
You find a book around the house, climb into our laps, then point to every picture on the page and say "dis" which we think means "this". As in, "Tell me what this is".
So we say dog and ball and clock and cat and girl and bunny and on and on.
All that reading seems to be paying off because over the last week, you've gone from babbling to really attempting to talk to us.
Lexi, we're all ears!
Happy Sweet 16!
Now that you're learning the names for all the objects around you,
you love your books more than ever.
You find a book around the house, climb into our laps, then point to every picture on the page and say "dis" which we think means "this". As in, "Tell me what this is".
So we say dog and ball and clock and cat and girl and bunny and on and on.
All that reading seems to be paying off because over the last week, you've gone from babbling to really attempting to talk to us.
Lexi, we're all ears!
5 comments:
Great sweet 16 comments.
Post is very cute…..love my lil girl
Lexi, we wish you a happy sweet 16! Look at all you have accomplished already-- we are always proud to tell others about you, quick to show off a picture of you, checking out your daily blog to catch up on happenings, and of course ALWAYS wishing we could see more of you!
Love,
AW, UC, Matt and Courtney
sweet sixteen it is!
I have GOT to get my hands on this sweet little girl!!! When can we schedule a trip?? :)
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