So I think it's only right to do another ages and stages! It's crazy to think how much they've changed since that post, but they do say 'don't blink' or you'll miss everything. How true a statement.
Punkin' is going on 2 1/2 years old, and completely full of herself.
She hasn't lost any of her diva tendencies, and actually they've probably gotten worse. The girl is still obsessed with shiny shoes, hair clips, and everything "pretty." She loves getting her nails done, and always exclaims how "perfect" it is. Pink is her all-time favorite color, though she's pretty attached to her new "pincess dess" that's mostly purple. Would you believe me if I told you the very first time I painted her nails she knew immediately to fan out her fingers and blow on them? Probably not, but this is not something I could make up. She's just got 'girly' built in.
She actually did not remove the ornaments this year, but actually helped put them on the tree! What a huge change from last year! She did after a couple of weeks start relocating ornaments to one side of the tree, but that's easier on me than having to pick up a billion ornaments because it's her new game. I caught her several times laying on her belly next to the tree having an incredible conversation with all the shiny ornaments. I think she probably figured they were lonely and needed to be closer to each other. Haha, her imagination is wild.
Anything she can move, can come to life. I've even dubbed her hands as being "finger people" because if she's out of objects to make talk, her fingers suffice. They've also been cars, trucks, and airplanes. It makes nap time difficult because I'm unable to remove all things to keep her occupied, but at the same time who would want to ruin that kind of imagination? She never ceases to amaze me with the things she comes up with!
She's talking up a storm, and most of the time I have to remind myself she is indeed just 2 1/2 (not even) she seems so far ahead of that it gets easy to forget! My favorite description of her actually came from my aunt, who called her "articulate." No truer words have been spoken, and that was a proud mommy moment to hear her described that way. About the same pride I get hearing Miss T's teacher dote on her good behavior and hard working attitude.
She still climbs like quite the little monkey, but she's better about listening when told to not do something. She's going through a needy/clingy stage currently, and claims to need "help" with everything she does. She's at an extremely fun age, and I love seeing her learning and grasping new concepts. Most of the time she'll surprise me with the things I wasn't even aware she knew! For instance she recognizes numbers 1-10, she recognizes a lot of letters, and points out shapes on a daily basis to show off her knowledge of shape finding!
As hectic as things can be, and how crazy life can be, how can I not see how blessed I am?
EJ is now 4 1/2, and 210% all boy.
He's never stopped being obsessed with cars, planes, and trains, and anything else that has wheels. He can pretend anything is a car, and loves to go "run errands" and pick things up for me. Adding a train table to our incredible toy collection was probably the best thing I've ever done for him. He's hardly away from there, and gets extremely upset if Punkin' takes anything apart, or messes up the town.
I'm quick to put it back together, but he's quicker to have a small emotional break down.
He's easy to buy for, and easy to please. Make sure it has wheels. He loves the Cars movies, in case you couldn't guess, and has everything from Cars pj's to a Cars toothbrush. Let's not forget the hundred or so Cars sets he owns, including a Cars 2 GeoTrax RC set.
For the most part, he's still really set in his ways, and prefers things to go according to plan; however I've noticed over the past year he's branching out and accepting that change isn't always the end of the world. I try to allow him some decision making, as far as what he wants for breakfast (generally a pick between a few breakfast ideas I don't mind making) or lunch, and what kind of drink for dinner. He's becoming more independent, and doing more and more for himself these days as well.
He still gets frustrated trying to put on shoes, or turn clothes right side out, but he's learning how not to meltdown when these hurdles arise, and yet, just ask mommy for help.
He swears he's no where near ready for school because he'll "miss mommy" too much, but alas I don't think the school will see that as a valid reason to skip enrollment. I know he'll do okay. We're working with writing, and getting him to focus on using things to write/draw on paper, and closer to the school year beginning we will really start buckling down to learn a bit more to be ahead of the game.
He's lost all his hand OCD, and doesn't mind being messy. Though sometimes I think I really had it made when he preferred immediate sanitizing. Now it seems he goes looking for mess to get into. That's how it's supposed to be though right?
Miss T is officially 7 and some change, and a 1st grader!
I'll find myself in what seems like a pretty in-depth conversation to be having with a 7 year old, and think 'where'd my baby go?' It's amazing the difference a year can make! She's still somewhat into sports, but more so these days we're not really sure where her interest lies.
She's probably going to follow suit and be a jack of all trades, yet master of none. I'm trying hard to encourage her to pick something and see it through for longer than oh, a day, but this is becoming a constant battle of wills. She's extremely strong-willed, and has an attitude you'd have to see to believe. We're working on toning her back, but thus far it hasn't affected her at school, as a matter of fact the teacher had nothing ill to say of her! She really is like having a 16 year old trapped in a tiny little body.
She's ridiculously smart, which is where some of the issue lies. She knows how to manipulate, just not better than Dear ol' mom. :)
She is still quite active, and wants to constantly be doing something. I'm working on getting her into more of the big girl activities these days, but she's still in the phase where she wants instant gratification, so we're working on patience, and working to achieve neat results.
She did manage to pull two of her teeth in one night. She was also hopeful she'd rack in 100 or so dollars from the tooth fairy, but I'm glad to see her determination pay off! I try to explain it'll work that way with many other things, but as I've said still a work in progress.
I'm still in awe of my "little" girl, and how amazing it really is to see them develop and figure themselves out. She's finding her own path, and learning what makes her who she is. I'm lucky to be her mother, and get to be a part of the whole process. She's going to be an amazing young lady, well, even more amazing that is.
It's been a whirlwind year, a lot of changes, a lot of stressful times; yet one thing is consistent, my overwhelming love for these 3 little people. They change me more than they realize as well. Most seem to think that being a mother is about molding your kids into functioning members of society, and it is, but they seem to leave out that your children mold you into a different, better, person than you were before having them.
They are the reason I get up in the morning, and the reason to find strength I didn't know I possessed in hard times. I am incredibly blessed. I really can't say that enough.
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