"'I'm not 2 and a half...I'm Lilly!"

Lilly Grace you are growing up!  2 and 1/2 years old-how is that possible?  You are SUCH a blessing and joy.  You light up my day even when it's been a frustrating one.  Sometimes you can be the cause of that frustration-but I know it's just because you are learning so much and testing us from time to time.  Bear with us little one-we are learning with you.

I was having a discussion with you in the car the other day about how old you were.  I told you how I couldn't believe you were going to be 2 and a half.  There was a moments pause before you chimed in and told me:  "I'm not 2 and a half mommy-I'm Lilly!".  I gotta hand it to you-you are one smart cookie :). 

You are such a vivacious little girl.  You are so smart-you amaze me sometimes.  You have moved up to room 4 at school and I have already seen a difference in you.  I think you were ready for this next step.  You are learning your letters, how to spell your name, and you are even learning Spanish!  You can count to 10 beautifully!  You are also learning responsibility.  You put away your things better now and you help clean up when you make a mess.  A month ago it was like pulling teeth!  You just love going to school and it makes mommy and daddy so happy to know you are thriving there.

When we went to meet your teachers we were observing all of your artwork and accomplishments.  We learned that your favorite color is green and when you want to grow up you want to be....a race car driver!?  Not sure where that one came from but we will support you baby in whatever you want to become!

Your teacher also mentioned how good you were at your colors-it's funny because you could have fooled us!  We thought that was something you needed to work on-guess you are just tired from all that learning that you want nothing to do with it when you come home!   

The past three months you have adjusted beautifully to our new family.  You love your little brother with all of your heart.  It makes my heart melt when you want to hold him, feed him, and just snuggle with him.  I am so excited to see you two grow up together.  I just know you two will be buds. 

You have been very busy since June.  You have developed a love for all creatures-even snakes!  Daddy
likes to find fun things for you to check out-he even caught a chipmunk one day!  I love that you are not afraid-but also afraid that you aren't afraid at the same time.

You love the outdoors-hiking, swinging, exploring...you love it all!
 

We went to the beach twice this summer and you had a blast. 

You are my little fish.  You really love the water. 

We celebrated the 4th of July, had your first day at school, and we did some fun end of summer activities and just enjoyed the transition to Fall.  Your aunt Robyn had  cookout and you had a blast-you love her so much!  We also went on an apple picking adventure at Baughers orchards.  You had a blast and just ate apple after apple!  You even had your first ride in a Jeep!  You always love Jeeps so you were excited when Auntie Em bought her dream car and came to take you for a ride!

You are rocking the potty training.  It's still not perfect but you are doing so much better-I am so proud of you. 

You have a great sense of humor and we have some of the best conversations.  Here are just of few of those I wanted to document:

When looking at a rainbow...

"Mommy can we go slide down it?"

Her imagination running wild:
"Come here monster, come on buddy, come on! run with me!"

When watching Pocahontas:
"Who's that mom?" (pointing to John Smith)
"That's John Smith"
"No mommy-I'm Smith"

At Chick Fila:  "Lilly come on down then slide it's time to go home?"
After not responding:
"Lilly I am coming to get you-please come down now"
After climbing up I make eye contact with her as she's about to come down the slide as she turns and says:
"Ok mom-relax"

When driving home from chick fil a with a balloon..Mimi was pretending to let it go out the window.  She asked Lilly how to get it back and she said: "with my pixie dust!"

I am so impressed with how polite you are.  One day we were playing at Chick fil a and a girl there was pulling on your shirt.  Instead of fighting back or crying you just asked her firmly to "stop pulling my shirt please" over and over.  I was a proud mama.  Eventually her mom intervened-which was lucky for the girl
because my momma instincts were about to kick in.  You say please and thank you so beautifully as well!

We have continued working on being a good listener and while you are still in the 'terrible twos' phase it has been so much better.  We are at the point where a tantrum is shorter and you eventually tell us you are listening!  You still like to assert your Independence now and again but it's much more manageable for mommy and daddy. 

Smells are something that is new.  One day when taking a walk on a trail you told me you smelled horse.  I had no clue you even knew what that smelled like but sure enough I smelled it too.  It must have been in the breeze from a neighboring horse farm.

You are a daddy's girl...

You are also starting to be more self aware.  You are using pronouns better and are starting to know that there are boys and girls.  You told me that I was a girl and daddy was a boy!  I am thinking it's because they are now using separate bathrooms at school-before it was just co-ed.
 

I learn something new from you everyday Lilly.  You make your daddy and I laugh and we are so so blessed to have you in our lives.  I know every parent thinks their child is special and I am one of them.  You are going to do special things in life Lilly pie.  I just know it!  Continue to shine!