2.5 Years Old

Dear Avery,

You are two-and-a-half today!  It just can't be possible, because although we can't imagine our lives without you, it seems like you were just a tiny baby yesterday.  It's been a busy 6 months since your two-year post, and things just keep getting more fun, exciting, and wonderful.

We'll get your growth stats tomorrow, but at recent visits you've been about 25-26 pounds.  I can't wait to see what your height is.  You are wearing mostly 24 month clothes.  You can squeeze into a couple of 18 month things from last year, and you have a few items in a 2 that fit.  Shoe size ranges between 6-7.

A major event has been potty training.  Although you would go for Jennifer last spring, you never used the potty at home.  Jennifer started working with you again this fall, and you caught on pretty quickly.  It is rare for you to have an accident.  You still wear diapers at nap time and bedtime.  You usually wake up dry from your nap, but those are the times you tend to poop.  We've promised you Thomas trains when you poop on the potty, and so far you 've gotten one.

We're also preparing for a new house and a baby brother, and we're not sure which will take place first!  You seem excited about the house and very excited about your soon-to-be pink room.  There is a big girl bed with pretty bedding all ready to set up, but you're also getting a new crib which will hopefully be acceptable until June.  As far as baby Sam goes, you think it's funny when he kicks, and you love to talk to him and kiss and rub my stomach.  We talk about things that we'll do as a family of four, and you seem excited that Sam will be joining us.  I still don't believe that you understand exactly that Sam will be a real baby living with us.  We pray that the move and becoming a big sister will be relatively smooth transitions for you, although we really didn't mean to do them so close together.

Sleeping and hasn't changed much in the last few months.  You go to bed between 7 and 7:30 p.m. and sleep until 6:30-7:30 a.m.  Nap time is between 12:30 and 1 and usually lasts 2 hours but sometimes stretches to 3 hours or longer.  You are happy to be in your crib and usually request your nap.  That may have something to do with the pie pie you still get.  We have a plan for taking it away, and you are aware of it and seem excited about it.  We were supposed to implement the plan the weekend after Mama had to start resting on the couch, so it didn't happen.  We don't want to make things harder on you now, or harder on Lolli who does some naps on the weekends.  However, we learned about a month or so ago that you hadn't been using a pacifier for nap and Jen-Jen's in quite awhile.  Sneaky girl.

You are a fairly good eater, and breakfast is definitely your biggest meal.  You can eat 2 packets of oatmeal or 2 waffles.  You still love your pancakes at Jen-Jen's.  You like sandwiches and burgers and could eat yogurt 6 times a day.  You go through spells of not wanting your dinner, but I don't know if it's being picky or just not hungry.  Sometimes you eat fruit and vegetables, and sometimes you don't.  You like an occasional treat, but you've been known to refuse ice cream.  You continue to drink mainly water, with occasional juice and milk boxes and lemonade.

Avery, you have always been quite the talker, but it's so fun to understand more and more of what you say each day.  By October, I talked to the pediatrician about doing a speech assessment to see if you were behind after all the ear infections last year.  The very next day, it seemed as if you just took off.  In addition to putting words together and making simple sentences, your words are clearer and you're not using as many of your "baby" words.  For a long time you were "Ay-Ay" and now overnight you've become "Avee."  You love to sing and are very opinionated about your choices.  Sometimes it's Bible songs, sometimes it's The Wheels on the Bus and Row, Row, Row Your Boat, and sometimes it's still Rudolph and Jingle Bells.  Happy Birthday is also a hit, even when there are no birthdays.

You entertain yourself so well and are always busy.  Your favorite toys are Bitty and her accessories, your kitchen, and pieces of paper and a pen with no ink.  Those are for doing work and taking our orders.  You also love to play Thomas or blocks on the floor and want someone to "sit, sit" with you.  You still love Barney and Mickey, and you became a fan of Jake and the Neverland Pirates when Daddy showed you one day.  We haven't done any long movies, but you've shown interest in Beauty and the Beast commercials, so I want to try that soon.  Outside time is always fun, and you get lots at Jen-Jen's.  You swing in the big girl swing and jump on the trampoline.  You love rain boots and anything with pockets, especially your jeans.

Kisses and hugs come frequently from you, and you love your family, Jen-Jen-, and your buddies.  You have an easy temperament and are pretty go with the flow.  You usually show frustration or anger by crying, but occasionally you will swat your hand at something close by with an angry look on your face.  Time-outs will be our discipline method, but so far if we speak to you, the behavior stops.

Avery, you are the light of our lives, and each day we talk about all the things you did that made us smile.  Nothing is easy all the time, but we're always ready to try again and do better.  You have a wonderful spirit and sense of joy, and I hope the world will never change that.  Each day we are amazed by the little person you are, and we are so thankful that God chose us to be your Mommy and Daddy.  We can't wait to see what's coming next, but we'll also be happy if you slow the growing down.

Love,
Mama and Daddy