23 Months and Sierra's 2nd Bday

A trip to the zoo!  Helen and Kevin met us there.

So did Amy and Ben

Daddy was there of coarse:)

She had a great day, got a new toy, and passed out immediately on the way home.

This girl loves to pick all of my flowers

Her visit to Dr.Byrne's office

Throwing pop pop's on the 4th

Our garden is finally starting to take off (taken at the beginning of the month)

Philomath Frolic Parade

Being patriotic!

Scaring Uncle Kevin with a play dough snake

Having fun with Auntie Helen

A new basketball hoop from Grandma and Grandpa Skaggs

Happy girl!  Loved the pink car from GG.

Opening presents with GG and John 

Trying to blow some bubbles

This was serious business

Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

How in the world can my baby girl be 2?  It does not seem possible.  I still so clearly remember the early days of feeding after feeding, and wondering if she would ever sleep through the night.  I remember her first smiles and giggles and when she discovered her fingers, toes, and nostrils.  Her first steps seem like just yesterday.  Sometimes when I carry her up the stairs after she's fallen asleep in the car on the way home, I sit with her for just a minute in her rocking chair and cannot believe that this girl is the same tiny helpless infant that we brought home.  For one, she hardly fits on my lap anymore (when she is laying down).  Her long limbs drape over either side of me and as I look down at her sweet sleeping face I seriously cannot believe how fast it has gone. 

That was something we were told over and over: cherish these days, they go so fast.  I will admit that  I wasn't good at cherishing much at first.  I was exhausted, and she cried so much.  I really did want time to just move forward sometimes - to a time and place in which I was well rested, and she could do something, anything but cry.  And here we are two years later.  I wouldn't say that I want to go back to those first months, but I do wish that time didn't move quite so quickly right now.  Sierra is a true joy.  She is so smart and loving.  She has a wonderful silly side and I am constantly proud of her social skills.  I believe that being a people person is a gift.  It was not a gift I was born with or ever developed.  I despise large groups or crowds, talking in front of people makes me want to barf, and even the thought of going to a class reunion or any other large group event literally makes me sweat.  My Sierra on the other hand, loves people.  If we go to a park that is crowded, my first instinct is to turn and run.  She runs towards the crowd, seeing a chance to make new friends.  This scares me, and exhausts me, and constantly puts me out of my comfort zone, but I also see it as such a beautiful gift for her in life.

Her vocabulary is so well developed for a 2 year old.  Every once in a while she still comes up with something that I don't understand, but the girl can say most anything.  She still uses me instead of my and other normal toddler mistakes, but she is doing very well.  She knows all her colors, her alphabet (and is starting to recognize letters), can count to 16 or 20 depending on the day:), knows all her shapes including the difference between a square and rectangle, and she even knows what an octagon is. 

Her imagination is a wonderful thing to experience and as long as I am in the room, she can play by herself with her animals or dolls for long periods of time.   I love to hear the things that she comes up with as the toys interact among themselves.  Sometimes if she has gotten in trouble for something that day, she will reprimand them in a stern voice telling them to listen.  Or she might spout off something like "Super goof to the rescue"  from an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Whatever it is, I love to watch it.  And often times I am part of it too.  Some days I get to decide what my toy will say, other days, when she is feeling particularly bossy, she tells me what to say. 

Our big girl is completely potty trained now and I can't remember her last accident (now that I say that one is bound to happen).  She is dry for naps, and dry in the morning.  Despite being dry for several months, we would still put a pull up on her at night because we were sure the first night we decided to leave her in her panties, she would have an accident.  One night, Jesse put on her pull up and she pointed to it and said, "No big panties!  I want little ones."  We laughed and decided it was time.  So she now wear's her "little" panties to bed without a problem.  She also decided that she didn't need to be rocked before bed anymore.  She started requesting to be put straight to bed.  So we now say a short prayer. get kisses and hugs, and she gets put down in her crib.  I miss those few minutes of rocking but am proud of her for letting us know when she is ready to do things on her own.  Thanks baby girl, for pushing mommy and daddy to do what they were afraid to do on their own:)

We saw her Gastro Specialist at the beginning of July and he released her from his care.  He took her off of her acid reflux medicine, and unfortunately her bowel problem is likely genetic and it is possible she will need to be on a fiber/laxative supplement for her whole life.  It is amazing the amount of fruit she can eat, and NEVER get the runs.  So we are monitoring this closely and hopefully can keep her from having the issues that chronic constipation can cause.  Her weight at the appointment was 26.5 lbs (50th percentile) and 35 1/8 inches (85th percentile).   

She also had her first fever this month.  It was a high one.  For 72 hours she had a fever from 101-104.5.  She was lethargic and wouldn't eat a bite, but had no flu like symptoms of any kind.  Her fever finally broke on the the fourth morning she started to show signs of a rash.  Classic Rosoela symptoms.  It typically hits between 9 and 18 months.  I cannot imagine having a 9 month old with that high of a fever.  She recovered well though, and we still feel pretty lucky that she made it to almost 2 before she had a fever.

Another big deal: 2 year molars are coming through without fits and sleepless nights!  This is the first time that Sierra has cut teeth without some serious  Mr. Hyde-like behavior.  She's been sleeping like normal and may be a little short tempered at times, but nothing like we are used to.  I am so proud of her for reacting to these big molars like a big girl.

We had a small birthday party for Sierra the day following her birthday.  Several days before her birthday my hip went out and then locked in the "out" position which also locked my sacrum (very bottom of spine).  I could barely walk, couldn't hold Sierra, couldn't bend without weeping, pretty much couldn't do anything at all.  Luckily, the Chiropractor saw me for a second time the evening before her party, and my hip stayed in that time.  So on the day of her birthday it felt much better.  I have had trouble with my hips/knees since high school but I have never had it go out that bad.  It was totally debilitating and I hope I that never happens again!  Needless to say, I was glad for a simple party.  She had a wonderful time though and got some fun new toys.

I feel like there is so much more to say to sum up not only this last month, but the fact that she is two years old.  But I won't go on and on.  I'm proud of my big girl and I cannot wait to see what the next year has in store for us!  Happy birthday my sweet Sierra May.

22 Months

Another fashion statement with her notorious froggy boots:)

Chillin in mommy's glasses

Following Papa on the way to search for strawberries 

 More strawberry picking

"Oh I wuv you icekeem"

 Lunch at Papa's Pizza!  I don't fit in the tunnels near as easily as I used to!

 Boo!

 I love my home 

 Ready, set.......

 Shoot!  I was quite impressed with her form.

Fun times with cousin Beatrice

 The girls are so cute together.  It makes their mommies proud!

A visit to Philomath High School before they begin tearing it down

 The halls seem awful big to a little girl

 Nothing but net

 She can spend 30 or 40 minutes throwing her favorite yellow ball

 Again, nice form!

 Pretty blessed

Watching kids at the park 

Excited about the slide 

Fun times with Auntie 

Loving on zozo 

Don't you just want to eat her up? 

My talented Sister-in-law took some family pictures of us this month and you can view them here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.223884617631179.64238.100000289267332&l=c126ab676f

Oh summer!  Where are you?  Being the outside creatures that Sierra and I are - this weather really stinks!  We still manage to make it outside once a day (unless it absolutely pours all day) but come on sun.  Our garden looks pathetic except for the peas which Sierra is very excited about.  And my corn actually did come up.  I was kind of shocked.  We've got beans, squash, corn, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, artichokes, asparagus, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and cukes.  Sierra has been quite a helper this year - and I only hope that the weather will cooperate enough to give us a bountiful harvest. 

 

It's amazing how much different things are this year.  Last year I had to stick so close to her because she still was a bit wobbly on uneven ground, and there were many things that looked interesting enough to want to put in her mouth.  Our garden did not do so well because of this - but this year she can help pull weeds, plant seeds, and be several yards away, and as long as I can see her I know she's fine.  She can identify pokey's (blackberry bushes and thistles) and knows to avoid them and is also aware that dog doo is something we DON'T want to step in.  I am thrilled that she enjoys being outdoors and even more thrilled that my Western Garden Book is one of her favorite current reads.  Every day after her nap she lugs the giant book around, instructs me to sit, and we go through it together.  She points at the pokey cactuses, the apples, melons, peas, and tells me all the colors of the flowers.  It brings me great joy.

 

After several months of struggling with discipline - and trying to come up with something that worked - Sierra had her first time out.  I was terrified.  She had refused to listen to me several times in about a 20 minute period, and threw a fit because she did not get her way.  I had decided that I was going to give time outs a try.  I marched her to a round chair in her play room, sat her on it, and told her she needed to sit there until she could calm down and listen to me, and then I left.  I expected a total meltdown and that I'd have to put her back in the chair 50 times.  But she immediately calmed down.  After about 40 seconds (this seems quick but you are supposed to start small) I walked in and asked if she was ready to listen.  She said no and proceeded to get out of the chair, so I placed her back in the chair and repeated that she needed to stay.  40 seconds later - I asked her again if she was ready to listen and this time she said yes.  So I helped her up, and she went about her business. 

 

Later that day after her nap (a generally grumpy time of day for her) she got really upset about something and said, "I sit in chair."  I wasn't really sure how to react, but I walked her in and sat her in the chair and again left the room.  She calmed right down and eventually I heard her voice call to me, "All better now mommy."  I was still in disbelief that my almost two year old child got the concept so quickly and recognized that she was out of control on her own, and literally put herself in time out.  It's worked quite well since then, sometimes she asks for a time out, and I of course put her in time out too, but she always calms down right away.  So for now, it's working.  It's not that she never throws fits now, and always minds me because of this, but if she gets out of control, it really does help her collect herself.  We may have to adjust as time goes on, but I'm pretty proud of her.

 

Some of Sierra's favorite activities right now include playing with play dough (sometimes we do this 4 or 5 times a day), throwing a ball up and down the driveway, coloring, pretending to make me soup, sandwiches, and tea in her kitchen, reading, and going to town.  If I say we are going to go to town she is headed to the door to find her shoes.  She loves going to the park, grandma and grandpa's house, or even just to the store.  And she has gotten a lot better at staying in the shopping cart instead of wanting to run wildly through the store (daddy does play chase with her in the aisles if he comes along though).  She's growing up in so many ways and I am so proud of her.  There are many things I want to hold onto forever though.  She is such a little love bug and I dread the day that she doesn't want me to hug and kiss on her.  She is generous with her I love you's and recently started stating "Oh mommy wuvs me"  when I squeeze her.  It was so special when she started being able to say that she loved me, but for some reason the first time she uttered those words, I had to try hard not to bawl.  After all isn't that what we as parents work so hard for - for our children to realize how much we love them.  So when she whispers those words, I just want to hold her there forever.  I hope that no matter what life throws at us in the years to come - that she will ALWAYS remember that her mommy (and daddy, and grandparents, and great grandparents, and aunts and uncles, and soooo many people) wuvs her so much!

21 Months

My little fashionista.  At least she matches her froggy pj's with froggy boots:)

 First we dig our fingers in the mud

 Then we marvel at the beautiful mud

 Then we rinse it off in the mud puddle

 Sometimes it doesn't all come off so we ask mom for help

 Fun with daisies

 And dandelions

 A little spittle and dandelion fuzz anyone?

 Mother's Day

 Four generations!

Helping mommy fill up pots 

Crazy after bath hair

Her hair is seriously out of control 

Helping water 

She loved these lilacs!  Couldn't stop smelling them. 

Happy, silly, Sierra 

I get this look more and more these days! 

It's been quite a month!  We've got this potty thing down!  Sierra now tells us when she has to go potty (she still says poo poo whether or not she has to go pee pee or poo) and rarely has accidents of either kind.  She is dry after nap time and recently has been dry in the morning too.  We can go to town in panties and she uses big potties at other people's houses or in the store without a problem.  It has been quite a journey but boy has it paid off.   Diapers are a thing of the past.  Our wallet and the environment are both cheering us on.  Well done family of 3!

I've always been so proud of how fearless (this worries me sometimes also) and confident Sierra is.  I would kind of pat myself on the back at times when I would see another child cowering at something while I watched Sierra take on the world with open arms.  And then one day there came a loud noise.  We were at my grandma's house and Sierra was playing with an old organ.  It doesn't work right and most of the keys make no sound at all.  But we discovered on a fateful day during her 21st month, that the percussion beat function of the organ works.  And it works well.  Sierra was busy playing and pushed a button that started the drums.  It was so loud that you could feel it.  I was right there but didn't know which button she had pushed.  As she was literally trying to crawl inside of me she whimpered, "No red button."  So I found the red button, pushed it, and all was quiet.  After peeling her off of me I told her we would listen to it again but not so loudly this time.  I turned it back on and clapped and danced in hopes of getting her past the trauma.  It did not work.  After that, anything remotely loud scared the daylights out of her.  We had a week where she was permanently attached to my legs. 

Despite the fact that we live in the country, the main road out here is a shortcut for trucks running loads from Alsea to Eugene.  There is a lot of truck traffic.  We cannot see it, but when they come down the hill and use their jake breaks, it is pretty loud.  Loud enough to worry Sierra.  After 20 months of being totally oblivious to the sound, she would run and leap into my lap every time a truck went by.    She spent about a week glued to me, aware of every tiny little sound; the water heater switching on, the dryer, even a truck on mickey mouse clubhouse sent her running.  I did my best to explain sounds and tell her that we just hear them with our ears and they cannot hurt us.  After several weeks, she is doing much better.  She is still very aware of sounds and asks, "What's that?" often but doesn't usually come running to me unless it's a pretty big sound. 

Despite the recent fear of sounds, she is not afraid of much else.  I try to work hard every day to create a confident child.  I've spent so much of my life being insecure and have been afraid to try new things or do things I'd really like to do.  My wish for Sierra is that she will be confident enough to pursue whatever dreams she has.  I don't want her to be afraid to fail.  I know so many of us are, and it may be an impossible wish, but I am going to try my hardest.  Whether it's encouraging her to sing at the top of her lungs, dance through the house, stick her fingers in the mud, hold a potato bug or worm, or scurry after a snake or lizard.  I cannot pretend to know exactly how to help create this confident being - but it is my mission.  I don't care what she chooses to be, I just want her to pursue her greatest loves in life. 

That being said, I realize there has to be some middle ground.  While I don't want her to be timid and afraid, I don't want her to be carefree and unaware that there are dangers around her.  Of coarse as a mommy you have moments where you want your baby to stay innocent forever - blissfully unaware that there is pain and cruelty in the world.  But there are both of those things in this world, and it's terrifying to realize that at many points in your child's life they will witness those things.  So our job as parents is to be here to comfort them but also teach them how to handle these situations when you aren't there.  What a scary job!  Please don't let me screw this up (that's pretty much my prayer every day:)!  And in trying to teach Sierra to be confident and unafraid, I'm trying to be those things as well.  After all, I am her role model, until she's at least 3 anyway:)  So when she asks me to sing Wheels on the Bus as we are walking through the grocery store, I do.  Maybe not loudly, but I do it.  I try to not complain about my flaws or point out the flaws of strangers under my breath.  When a bug flies into my hair I try not to scream and run through the field hitting myself in the head.  For those of you that know me well, this is the hardest of all!  I'm trying to show her that this world is a beautiful place bugs and all.  The interesting thing is, in trying to show her this, I'm finding beauty in unexpected places myself.  Thank you Sierra.  Thank you for making your mommy want to be a better human being.