A WEEK AWAY (27 MONTHS, 1 WK)

S has been spending the week with Mimi and Poppy while the kitchen is being renovated. Momma and daddy miss S very much.

BED TIME (27 MONTHS)

S has started to sleep in her big (toddler) bed. She's been sleeping in it (consistently) for a week. The best part for S is thet she can get up and walk out and find momma or daddy when she wakes up.

Momma likes how more independent this makes S feels but naps have gotten shorter because of it. Once the "wow" factor wears off, momma hopes naps will go back to normal.

Daddy has also changed his schedule so he's home early now (6 pm). He is enjoying this change. He gets to give S a bath, read her bedtime stories and sing her songs before going to sleep. Maybe, the bedtime "no"s will quiet down with daddy putting her to sleep.

BEACH (27 MONTH)

S had her first outing to the beach at Corpus. Although the sky was cloudy, it was perfect weather for playing in the waves and sand. In the mornings, S loved jumping the waves with daddy and Om Ngoi (maternal grandfather). In the afternoons, everyone jumped into the pool. She even spent an afternoon at the Texas State Aquarium looking the sharks and divers cleaning out the aquariums.

What a great first time at the beach! Momma feels like they have a future beach bunny and surfer on her hands! (Florida here we come!)

COOL DOWN (26 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

S cooks in her play kitchen everyday. She often repeats many of the things momma says when cooking. She often says "too hot," "wait for it to cool down," "touch it," and "spit out, too hot" after she puts something in the microwave and serves it. It's too funny to momma.

Speaking of cooking, S is helping momma more and more in the kitchen. She mixes together the ingrediants and turns on and off the mixer. Momma and S take much pride in what they make together.

CONJUCTIONS & PREPOSITION (26 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

S grammar has improved; she's using the words: "with, for, under, over, on, through," and "of." Daddy thinks the use of the word "of" is the most abstract of them all and is impressed.

BTW, Daddy's favorite phase is "open up it."

TIME TO GO (26 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

"Time to go!" has been a battle for momma and S. S takes alot of cajoling to go to the market, to go home from the park, and to come outside or inside. Sometimes momma resorts to bribing, sometimes to waiting it out, sometimes to games, sometimes to threats, and physical force (as a last resort). So far, the timer has worked best.

There's just so much to do for S and adult time does not match toddler time when it comes to exploring and having fun. What is momma and S to do?!