SECOND MOLARS (26 MONTHS, 1 WK)

S second molars are coming in. You can see pieces of the 2nd molar pop through the bottom gums and her top gums are swollen. S has been cranky and not sleeping well. On top of it, she's been saying that "S no like (her) bed" during naptimes and bedtimes. She wants to fall asleep with momma.

Momma hopes everything will go back to normal -- sleep routines and S attitude after the molars come in. Then, finally, there will be no more teething! However, brushing teeth will probably still be a battle.

I LIKE, I NO LIKE (26 MONTHS, 1 WK)

S voices her opinions more strongly. She started using the phrases: "I like" and "I no like." When momma asked her if she wanted to try okra for the first time, S responded with "I no like okra." Later, during nap time, momma heard her talking to herself, "I no like okra. Daddy like okra. Momma like okra. (Pause) S like okra." Then she reversed it. "Daddy no like okra. Momma no like okra. S no like okra."

Yesterday, S was eating cheese and said (profoundly) to momma that "S like cheese. Daddy like cheese. Momma no like cheese. She's allergic."

FRIENDS (25 MONTHS, 4 WKS)

S is enjoying friendships more and more. She often asks for her friends: Tess, Talia, and Alexandra. She likes sharing with them, although it resembles more like insisting her toys on them. She likes hugging them and getting close to them, which often results in having one of her playmate pushing her away. Although her friends have yet to enjoy this friendliness, momma and daddy enjoy seeing her so loving to her friends.

NO MAMMA (25 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS)

S's is striving to do many things by herself, e.g. get into her car seat and buckle her seat belt. Momma is happy that S is trying to do so many things by herself but momma hears "no momma" alot. Often, it is followed by S trying to push momma's fingers away.

Along with "No momma," momma also hears "S wanna..." Driving home from the library this week, S wanted to go to Chick Fil A for lunch. S kept saying in the back seat, "S no wanna go home. S no wanna go home." By the time momma got home, S had worked herself up, got out of the car, and laid down in the driveway. Yep, S no wanna go home!

NO ACCIDENTS (25 MONTH, 3 WKS)

Today was the first day that S didn't have any potty accident. She sometimes doesn't want to sit on the potty when she was too busy, but if momma and daddy can find a break in activities for her to sit on it then she's willing to do it. Since today, she's been doing pretty well, holding "it" for up to two hours and having one to two accidents a day.

Momma and daddy has promised a party for S if she has a week of no accidents. Here's more accident free days! Knock on wood!

WHAT'S THIS? (25 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

S favorite question lately has been, "What's this?" She asks it over and over, often pointing to the same thing. Momma thinks she's asking for fun and reassurance.

CHICK-FIL-A (25 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

S had a great time today at the playscape at Chick-Fil-A. For the first time, momma saw her play on it with other kiddos around. Usually, S hangs back when there is alot of noise and older children. She was hesitant at first but after some time, she was willing to try to go up the stairs by herself and then the slide. She slid six times, crawled under the playscape and jumped around before calling it quits. Momma and daddy is seeing S emerge from her cocoon to become more of a social butterfly.

TRIK-ING (25 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

S started to ride her tricycle better. Momma and S rode around the neighborhood on Monday. Momma pushed the tricycle (with the push stick) while S steered. On Wednesday, daddy and S rode the trike to the small park. S pedaled by herself with occasional prompting from daddy. Today, she and Alexandra rode the trikes (off-and-on) around the driveway. S still goes backwards sometimes and needs the occassional push to get going again when she's stuck.

Yippee! S is learning how to trike! Momma and daddy can't wait until when we all go biking as a family.

TILT-A-WORLD (25 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

S spent a Friday and Saturday (June 27 & 28th) with Mimi and Poppy while momma and daddy went to daddy's high school reunion. S had a great time playing with her cousins Ariana and Miranda. She watched them sing in a little show on Friday and then afterwards they all hit the church carnaval, where S rode the "Tilt-A-World" ride. Afterwards, all she said was "I went round and round and round" while circling her hand back and forth.

Saturday was also non-stop fun for M & S. There were another party and a fish fry. S also had her first taste of chocolate candy (M&M and a small Crunch bar) at Mimi and Poppy. She had so much fun that she didn't want to go home with momma and daddy.

I LIKE; I LOVE (25 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

She started using the phrase "I like" and "I love" correctly. She often tells us how much she loves her blankie. There's also phases of "I love juice" and "Tree is green; I like trees." But the best ones are the unprompted "I love momma" and "I love daddy."

She even said to daddy one night when he came home from work: "I miss you so much."

ALPHABET (25 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

Just right before 25 months, S started singing the alphabet song. She even includes the phrase, "now, I know my ABC, won't you sing with me," at the end. Before, she would sing pieces of the alphabet song skipping parts in the middle. "What a little genius!" says momma and daddy.