Firstborn, 30 months

Kara turned two and a half years old last week-I swear I started this entry three weeks ago last month. How is that possible? It seems like only yesterday she was rolling around in ruffle-butt onesies and drooling on furniture. We don't even count her age by months anymore, but I'm glad I didn't miss this one.

 

She is still growing like a weed, clocking in at 37 pounds, wearing 4T clothing, and sporting an 11.5-sized shoe. We are in full-blown potty-training mode around here, donning pull-ups, gifting her changing table to her eagerly anticipated baby cousin, and throwing her on the porcelain throne as often as we can, even away from the house. She stubbornly refuses to poop, and she never lets us know when she has to go, we just have to guess, but still, we are making good progress. The unofficial goal is to eliminate diaper-wearing by the end of the summer. (During daytime hours only, of course.)

Not surprisingly, she is fast out-growing her crib and is currently being prepped for a toddler-bed upgrade, slated for next month (WAH). I think she'll miss the drop sides, though--whenever we check on her at night, her face is always smooshed into the slats.

 

She will sing in front of people now: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," ditties from Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, and selections from the Laurie Berkner Band (she can recite the opening to the first version of "We're Going on a Hunt" almost perfectly). She is also not above reciting lyrics from the Black-Eyed Peas, which, whoops, my bad. It started out innocently enough during a reading of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, what with similar subject matter and all, but then one day Luke heard her say "Gotta get that boom boom boom," and he wasn't as impressed.

She asks more questions and provides more thoughtful answers. Her hair is longer than any two-year-old I've ever seen, and it will probably stay that way until she's old enough to consent to anything more involved than a trim. She continues to fight us on red meat and the concept of vegatables but is once again tolerating carrots, peas, green beans, and corn. She randomly asks for peanuts and raisins during the night and when she wakes up. She likes orange juice, but it makes her break out in a rash. She passionately appreciates the benefits of ice cream.

Her days in the stroller are few and far between--mostly taking place during Luke's solo ventures in the double Graco that started falling apart almost as soon as we brought it home--but she is not above being carried, and she loves the Ergo (much to my chagrin). Oh, well, at least someone appreciates it. (NATHAN, I'M LOOKING AT YOU.)

 

She enjoys the sandbox we received as a present from Luke's parents in June but mostly prefers to stay on the concrete, patiently shoveling grains into her brightly colored bucket. She loves sprinklers and inflatable pools. We'll soon see about splash parks and the beach.

 

(Unfortunately, not our yard.)

Many of her favorite books these days are mostly ones we've had for years but for some reason have re-sparked her interest, including our entire collection of pirate stories. Hot titles are I Love You, Too!, It's Okay to be Different, Pirates Don't Change Diapers, Bear Feels Scared, and A Fly Went By. On Monday we picked up Stella, Star of the Sea, and she is in love. (Truthfully, so are we.) She also favors a free little staple-back we pulled from a Cheerios box a couple months ago called 1 Zany Zoo.

 

She laughs and pretends to eat my hair. She likes to give me "nose kisses." She's constantly asking to ride on someone's back or sit on their shoulders. She loves being tucked under the covers in Luke's and my bed, turning her head to say, "Good night, sweetheart!" and then pulling them back while shouting, "Wake up!" ten seconds later. She includes Nathan in everything she does. She adores her cousins and doesn't see them often enough.

 

We say prayers at night now, for the first time ever. Nothing elaborate, just a short list of thank-yous with folded hands before turning out the light. Kara's got the first few lines down pat and needs just a little help with the rest. It seems there's a new variation of it almost every day.

Dear God,

Thank you for making the world.

Thank you for loving me.

Thank you for being my friend.

Thank you for family and friends.

Thank you for our house.

Thank you for our food.

Bless all the children everywhere.

Amen.

  

Comments

[Jen L.]

These kids are killing me with the two-and-a-halfedness. Kara is as beautiful and smart as ever. I love hearing what she's up to! And Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a favorite here, as is eating hair.

[Bren]

She is growing up so fast! What an adorable little girl!

[liz]

I cannot get over her hair!! So cute! And I'm loving that hopscotch picture.

[rkmama]

1. Oh I love her hair. Rowan had that long curly hair until she cut it. My sage advice is to keep the safety scissors up because the name is VERY deceptive.
2. Keaton made the big switch to the toddler bed a month or two ago- he was so proud. I bet Kara will do awesome!
3. Don't you love it when one of your kids' books brings you as much happiness as it does to them?

[eva]

That hair is amazing - you're right, definitely more than any other two year olds I've seen!

Good luck with the toilet stuff! And definitely start hitting splash parks - so much fun! Why didn't they have these in such abundance when we were kids!?

[Joanne]

My second baby will be 2.5 on Wednesday and seriously, your daughter has 50 times the hair that she does! I am mad jealous.

[Dannielle]

Loved the pictures of her! She looks like a mini you :)

[Olivia]

My little girl will be 2 1/2 in another month- which is definitely crazy! Reading Kara's prayer reminded me of my little one's prayers (she changes it up too but when she first started praying would always ask God to "bless all the people and all the animals". Hearing a child's prayer is the epitome of sweetness.

[Grandma Molly]

I can't wait to see our sweet girl and to hear her singing songs. These pictures are wonderful. The hopscotch picture with her hair in the wind is especially nice.

[daddyd]

Good job all around as parents. Such wonderful progress has been made.

[Jenny]

Thanks for the update! She is so adorable! You are right about her hair being so long...but it is so pretty! Hope to see you soon!