Jo Grace.. 

.. can count to 20, arrange and point out her ABC blocks in correct order
.. names out every animal in her books (even the anteater)
.. knows her colors and shapes and always points out both in any situation she’s in.  I was wearing a necklace with her littlest sister’s initial engraved and she made a point to say it out loud.  I have not worn the necklace since:)
.. is THE biggest girlie girl ever.  She is ever so concerned about her hair bows, bracelets, handbags, and necklaces
.. carries 7-9 baby dolls around with her at any given time, and they all end up in her bed for nap time and bedtime.
.. puppy is still her number one bestie
.. super laid back and usually falls into line with whatever Parker wants to do/watch/play.
.. über sensitive and gets her feelings hurt very easily.  The pouty lip is remarkably cute.
.. drinks more water than any other toddler I know
.. loves edemame, popcorn, grilled chicken, salad, crackers, and cheddar cheese
.. weighs 27 pounds and is 36.5 inches tall
.. she usually wears size 2T, but can still fit into size 12 months shorts and 18 month dresses and tops

Parker Jane..

.. you wouldn’t have known it 6 months ago, but Parker is the chattiest cathy you will ever meet.  We hold full blown conversations, even if I catch just a little more than half of what she’s saying.  Context clues is a mother’s best friend.
.. can count to 10 on her own, but wants to count more, but only if you walk her through it.
.. does puzzles on her own.. over and over and over.
.. speaks in third person.  Always referring to herself as ‘Parker, Me’, and also adds the word ‘me’ at the end of every sentence, if she’s talking about herself.
.. everything is MINE.  Everything.
.. biting.  biting is a terrible habit you have learned, but have zero clue where you learned it from.  Your dad, BB, nor myself bite you:)
.. a true mama’s girl 90% of the time.  The other 10% she’s running around with her dad outside, mowing the lawn, working in the flower beds, or building something in the garage.  The delight she shares in this with her daddy is outrageously special, and I’m so thankful they have each other.  Much to Jordan’s desire, he’s confident that she’ll be camo’ed out with a dog whistle in hand soon enough, walking side by side hunting birds and chasing frogs.
.. loves chicken nuggets, ketchup on everything, rice, bread, yogurt, milk (she asked for milk almost all day long), peanut butter, and granola bars (Cliff bars are her regular request).
.. has done remarkably well with her transition to NO PACI – she will even talk about her old paci without tears.  Wubby is still her little lovie, even with no paci attached.
.. she loves to play hide-and-seek with Wubby that leaves her mama and daddy tossing the entire house looking for that silly monkey.  It always seems to be around us attempting to leave the house and all she has to say for herself is “I just don’t know where he is!“.
.. weighs 30 pounds + 3 ounces and is 37.1 inches tall.
.. long and lean, she wears size 2T in shorts, dresses, and tops

Toddler Sleep

For the last month, bedtime has been a complete and total disaster. The amount of rain, thunder, tornado warnings, hail, wind.. you name it- its been a scary time when it comes to weather, and not just in the toddler mind.  What has really messed everything up for us is the fact that most all of this has occurred during the sleep hours (nap or night).  SO.. bed time has become an hour long ordeal (even longer on some nights..) Jolie is in terrified tears with the slightest mention of ‘going to bed’ and then tearfully pleading to leave the door open when they have been sleeping with their door closed since they were born.

Randomly one night Jordan mentioned letting them fall asleep in our bed and then moving them to their own beds when we were ready to go to sleep.  The once dreaded bedtime routine lasted 4 minutes.  We probably are feeding a monster, but its working right now, and sometimes you just have to do what works best for you and for those fragile toddler hearts.  If this give security, I am all about it.

Toddler Chat

Parker
Holding the play phone up to my ear: “Say hi, BB.  BB, you home? Papa wook? okay bye!!”
Fluffing my hair: “Mama, you hair is a mess.  I’ll brush it tomorrow.”
Saying goodnight (which takes about 11 billion minutes these days: “shoogs, mama! butterfly (kisses), mama. (shaking her shoulders) do a little dance, mama?”
Holding my face with both her hands: “I wuv you, mama”
While riding with the car windows down: “WUBBEEE!  I got youuu WUBBY!”
Squeezing my nose: “I’m gonna take you nose- oh man, I don’t have a pocket!”
When asked about actually eating her dinner instead of playing with her dinner: “No playing, mama.  No spank you bottom!”
While sitting on the toilet: “Mama, I poop.  Mama, okay to tee-tee, too?  I poop and tee-tee.  Bring my books and close the door.”
Asking Jolie to play: “Jo Graaayce, please hold my hand.”
Pretend play in the little kitchen: “You want cake?  Cake is hot – NO BITE!  Blow, mama.  Blow you cake.”
While trying to convince her that its time for dinner: “Mom.  Just let me dance.”
Offering me a bite of her fish: “Taste it.  Its good!  ..holding my cheek. Chew it.  Swallow it, mama.  You like it.”  

Jolie Grace
While bringing the entire collection of My Little Ponies, 14 Mega Bloks, and 4 puzzle pieces into the bathroom to potty: “Parker no touch it.”
First thing in the morning (repeated 14 times every minute until it is done): “Mickey Mouse and chocolate milk? Mickey Mouse and chocolate milk??  I need panties.”
After promises of a visit to the pool: “(singing) Going to the poooooooo.  I need my bathing suit. Mama, youuuu suit.  Hurry.”
At the dinner table: “EAT Ah-kah (Parker).  Eat you chicken.”
After telling her to eat her own chicken: “No chicken.  I want salad.  Give me salad. and grapes.”
Being silly after nap: “Get you booty mama.  Get my bootie?  No.  Get youuuu bootie!! 
Asking sweetly for me to carry her: “Carry you, mama.  Carry you.”
When choosing her breakfast: “Only donuts with sprinkles.” 
After asking for a second helping of mac-n-cheese: “thank you, mama.” You’re welcome, Jo. “..no, no.. thank youuu, mama.”
Before every single bath: “Mama, bubbles!  Bubbles!!
Any time she gets excited about anything (which is very often)- I swear she speaks in tongues:  “dhigbtoasfnb okilfg ftgfkgj”

Not a ton has changed on the schedule front.  One thing I have noticed is that we are able to skip naps on occasion if we happen to have a super busy day in the car or running errands.  I do know that there is no way we are ready to transition to NO nap at all.. they still sleep a solid 2-4 hours in the afternoon.  We start Mother’s Day Out in September, and the naps they get while in MOD are minimal.. but I think they’ll do just fine.  By 6pm on “no-nap” days we are a shambles.  Los of tears and basically will give them a miniature pony to make the simultaneous crying stop.
Really.  

visiting Lake Belton, and Bunny’s toys are way better than our toys at home

After taking the girls for their 2.5 year well-visit, at the end of it, the nurse asked if I wanted to schedule their 3 year well-visit.  I thought- holy moly thats far away.. but really.. these last 6 months have been a blink.  For whatever reason, the approaching 3rd birthday stresses me out more than their 1st and even their 2nd.  I don’t want them to grow up!  This is all way too much fun!

No mater what we go through as parents, it is all a continual learning experience.  One thing is for sure, we have no idea what we are doing until we are in the thick of it.  It is terrifying to think of it that way, but its so true!  We are learning as we go.. but one thing is for sure, we will never love them too much.