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.