So Lily has definitely hit her 2’s. Almost everything she comes in contact with is claimed by a loud “MINE!”. We were sitting in church today and there was a little boy sitting behind us. Every time he would look at her she would remind everyone that whatever she was holding was hers and would start scowling at him. She even reached over the back of our bench, grabbed the hymn book from the bench behind us and proclaimed that the book was hers. When we are at home she likes to claim things as well. Whenever we get up from a seat she’ll go to it and say it’s “Lily’s chair.” Some days when I dress her she’ll cry that it’s “Lily’s shirt” and I have to remind her that I’m just helping her put it on. I can’t really get upset with her because I know it’s completely normal. I try over and over to remind her that certain things belong to all of us or that we can share, but I know it mostly falls on deaf ears. Lily also likes to throw tiny tantrums when she doesn’t get her way. Luckily a big hug and some loving words usually calm her down. I also have a surefire defense for the tantrums if a hug doesn’t work. Once Lily stops truly freaking out I tell her that I don’t want her to smile- that whatever she does she can’t smile- and I go back and forth between scowling and smiling at her and soon enough she is giggling along with me. I know that whining and crying are almost all toddlers know about communicating their displeasure so I am trying my best to help her learn how to communicate more effectively as she grows older. I know that she’ll get it someday and I just need to be patient and loving. She is so sweet and I can see a little angel smiling back at me when I look at her.
She is such a little songbird! She is always singing her ABC’s and many other songs. We love to sing together and have little dance parties. Lily is very interested in copying me in all that I do. She wants to put on makeup and nail polish like me. She wants to help me sweep the floors and do laundry. Sometimes it’s more detrimental than helpful but I love that she has the interest. I want to encourage her to do all that she can and explore her abilities. I think we tend to underestimate what little ones can do but I try to let her try new things. I love to see her joy in her little accomplishments.
Lily is definitely expanding her memory every day. She found a santa hat and calls it “Christmas,” 4 months after the holiday. She talks about many different family members and things she’s done with them. She’s always talking about her grandparents and her experiences with them, like her trip to see her grandpa and grandma Aragon and their cat. The use of Skype with our families has been a big help. She loves talking to relatives and being on camera. I am so grateful for video chats because of the familiarity with family members we visit infrequently. It is just amazing to see how she learns and how she is growing every day. I see her little mind expanding and I just love it! I can’t see where her future takes us.
