Terrible Two's Already?

My dear sweet, sweet Brooklynn has recently shown another side of her. Considering her 2nd birthday is less than two weeks away, it's safe to say she has her moments of "terrible two's" already. It's amazing how such a small, precious, sweet little girl can become so upset and LOUD in less than a moments notice. For the most part she is still such a good little girl, and I do feel very lucky, but Paul and I have had to institute the time-out chair now and allow her to sometimes cry herself to sleep.

This summer was a great stage for Brookylnn and she was as easy as they come. But since we have been home, she has had SO many changes and adjustments that I think have highly affected her. First was the move, then taking away the binki for a second time, adjusting to a toddler bed, tons of traveling, company over, holidays, disrupted nap schedules, and then a new baby sister on top of it all! Actually I think she is quite the champ considering all that she has gone through in the last 3 months. Anyways, over the holidays, she ended up sleeping in our bed for many nights, and she is now FINALLY back in her bed. We are working on getting her schedule back on track, especially naps and bedtime, which will hopefully eliminate or at least lessen any tantrums during the day.

She has become quite the talker. She speaks very clearer and loves to learn new words and phrases. She has made us laugh on several occasions with the things she will sometimes say. Just last night she instructed me when Maylee started to cry... "Mommy, Maylee needs to eat your nipple!" She has also asked to try "Maylee's milk". Um..nope, sorry honey!

She loves "Brooklynn's tub", AKA our kitchen sink! Try it...it's so much easier than bending over a tub. She is the biggest helper you have ever seen! She is so tender with Maylee, except for when she leans in to give Maylee kisses sometimes and puts ALL her weight on top of poor sister. There is also the occasions where she climbs up on our bed and starts jumping when I am changing Maylee on the bed. Since she is also very clumsy (always running into walls, tripping over people's feet and toys, etc...), she lacks a little control when jumping and I'm sure one of these days will land right on top of Maylee. Funny thing is the ONLY time she wants or attempts to jump on our bed is when I am changing Maylee.

She could eat a whole tub of the Cutie Oranges in one sitting if I let her. She would also drink apple juice all day long...she is constantly asking for more juice in her cup! She loves Minnie Mouse, Tigger and Pooh, Dora, Princess, Barney and Elmo. She loves to sit in sisters chair, along with her little stroller she got for Christmas for her babies! Daddy loves to push her around in it too. She is obsessed with her toothbrush and LOVES to brush her teeth. Still hates to have her hair brushed but I got some detangling spray which has really helped! She is amazing at remembering people and their names and who belongs in what families. For instance if you say Baby James, she will Stephy and Mike. If you say Uncle Joshie, she will say Violet and Aunt Cassie. It's incredible that she realizes who belongs to who. If you ask where anyone in my family is, she will say "In California." And if you ask where Uncle Skyler is she will respond, "On a mission", and if you ask where anyone in Paul's family is she will say "In Logan". It is the cutest thing. She loves to throw the trash away, including her and sisters diapers...which is helpful and she has recently become obsessed with Mommy scratching her back. Hmmm... I wonder where that came from...thanks Paul! Speaking of that, she has also learned that Daddy's name is Paul and Mommy's name is Ashley, so if she hollers out for us and we don't respond to Mommy or Daddy she will then holler at us by our first names. She does this more with Paul, but it is still so funny!

She is taking only one nap for about an hour and a half now, but I will take what ever short break I can get. She HAS to sleep with her pink blankie and her pink pillow!

Since Maylee has come along she has also switched from being only a mama's girl to a daddy's girl too! She cried the other day when Paul left and asked for daddy all day long! Of course you can imagine Paul is in 7th heaven with that one! He's been waiting for this day for a long time now.

Playing in "daddy's shower"

This is her MOST of the time! Yes her hair is in her face TOO much of the time. Neat thing is though I can tell her to go get a bow and she will go bring one to me so that I can get her hair out of her face!

But occasionally we get this little attitude:

Followed shortly with the whining, screaming and crying!

BUT...she is still the most polite little girl you've ever met! She is SOOOOO good at saying please and thank you...for everything! And using it in the right context.

We will take the bad days with the good because we love this little girl more than words could ever express! And we know each new year will bring a new stage and we will constantly be adjusting to new stages of life!