at 26 months...

(We're almost a week late on this one, but hey- better late than never, right?)

It's probably easy for folks to begin defining me only by what's going on with me health-wise these days, but lest you begin thinking of me more like a science experiment, here's what the REAL me is up to! :)

• As you'll see from these pictures, I am an OUTDOORS gal. I want to be outside as much as possible, and my sand/water table is a PERFECT activity for me to learn.
• I am 100% personality! Words that people would describe me might be: strong, polite, silly, joyful, sweet, and super smart.
• Speaking of smart, my cousin Lala did a grad-school project in speech pathology on my language ability, and it said that at the time of my 2nd birthday in Feb, I was talking at the level of a 3 YEAR OLD!
• I now wake up from naps and sleeping by exclaiming loudly in my crib, "See? I wake up from nap, Mommy!"
  

• I'm a ball of energy! Dancing, running, going up and down stairs, playing at a playground, you name it...
• I love saying all kinds of nursery rhymes and songs now such as "Ring around the Rosies," "Mary Had a Little Lamb," and "Rock a Bye Baby."
• My favorite hymns to sing are "Holy Holy Holy," "Come Thou Fount," (I can sing 2 full verses!) "Jesus Lover of My Soul," and "Amazing Grace."
  
• I know all 26 letters, all numbers up to 10, and did I ever tell you I finally figured out my colors? (that was probably a month or so ago, but nonetheless...)
• I think I have reached what people probably refer to as the "terrible twos." I like to shout "NO!" and disobey Mommy & Daddy. This leads to lots of frustrating time-outs but also sweet, heart-to-heart talks about how God wants us to obey Mommy & Daddy. Lots of opportunities to talk about the Gospel: how much we need Jesus every day, and how thankful we are for His goodness and grace to us.
  

• Still not a fan of swings, guys. I'll tolerate them for a minute, but oh, I'll slide down the TALLEST slide you can find! I can't tell you enough-- slides are my FAVORITE!! (which has Mommy & Daddy on the lookout for a nice wooden swingset for the back yard...)
  
• I am not the world's greatest bubble blower by far. When I blow, I make the sound like this: "fffffffff..." so needless to say, the bubbles aren't flying out by the dozens. ha! We'll keep working on it. :)
• I am finally doing GREAT with going into the nursery at church, and when "Mommy and Daddy go on DATE, they come back and getchu." (at least that's what I have to tell myself out loud repeatedly when they're away... Good coping skill, I guess.) :)
  

• I've figured out how to take a few rotations on my tricycle! In no time, I'll be pedaling all over the place.
  
• Mommy is thankful I am still a good sleeper. I sleep from 8:00pm-6:45am and take a three hour afternoon nap.
• Bald or not, I am Mommy & Daddy's dream come true.