She's TWO!!!

So almost 1 month ago Pj turned the big number two! I can't believe that I have a full-fledged toddler in my house. She has definitely left babyhood behind and is growing and maturing daily. As promised forever ago here is an update of Pj today!

   Pj is a very lovable and delightful child. She has a very big smile and a contagious laugh/giggle. She loves "wunny" (funny) things and is quick to exclaim, "Daddy wunny" or "Mommy wunny" or "Payten wunny!". She is very ticklish and enjoys being tickled. If we are having a tickling fight she will often ask for "moe" when we are done or will place our hands on her belly and say "tiggle tiggle tiggle"! She loves to tickle us as well, but it more often feels like little scratches! One of her newest favourite things is doing "criss cross". She loves to receive it but also loves to do criss-cross to Mommy and Daddy. Pj is very affectionate. She is often willing to give kisses and big hugs. Sometimes she will refuse but it doesn't take long before she is running over to give out multiple hugs and kisses. She has a lot of concern for those who are hurt. If I say "Ow" during the day she is quick to run over to kiss "mommy's owies bedder". Last week we took Pj's Aunt Tara (who had just sprained her ankle) to do groceries. Pj was very concerned about Aunt Tara's hobbling and kept telling me to help Tara (I think she would have been most happy if I had just carried Tara around the store!)  

   Pj plays well. Right now some of her favourite things are colouring, playing outside (with sidewalk chalk, going for a walk, running down the hill, or kicking a soccer ball), doing puzzles, and playing with her many babies. She is a very good mother to her babies - they are all often nursed (while Mommy nurses Big C), have their diapers changed regularly, eat every meal with us (with their own filled plate and cup), go for long walks in her stroller or baby carrier, enjoy swinging in Big C's swing, and are tucked in for naps. She enjoys quiet time (on days that she isn't tired enough to nap) and likes to play with her special quiet time activities (magnet board(s), peg board(s) and lacing activities). 

   Pj sleeps relatively well - although in the past couple of months she has been less consistent. She typically is in bed by 8pm and wakes up around 8am. Lately she has been staying awake in her room playing quietly later (sometimes until midnight!) and waking up earlier (5am!). She naps almost every other day. When she naps its for about 1 hour (sometimes 2). She likes to sleep in the car during our afternoon errand drives (which I find adorable!). 

   Pj LOVES her little brother. She is quick to run to him when he starts crying. She likes to make sure that he always has his soother (sooder), blanket, elephant toy (elphant), and any other paraphernalia she might decide he needs. She cuddles (coodles) him and kisses him pretty much all the time! I have to be careful that she doesn't overdo her loving of him! She is pretty gentle but doesn't realize how little he really is. I think that she is very excited for when he is bigger and can actually play with her! Sometimes I find him covered in whatever toy she is playing with and she will be sitting playing right beside talking to him and telling him how to play :). 

   Pj is eating at her own booster chair at the "big people" table. She feeds herself relatively well but does make a mess. She doesn't eat a lot but some of her favourite foods are fruit (all fruit - apples, pears, oranges, grapes, berries), cookies & chips, vegetables (especially mushrooms??!), meat (chicken and pork), and yogurt. Her all time favourite thing is her "bubba melk". She still has one in the morning and one before bed at night (and sometimes one during the day depending on what is happening :)!). She does not like sandwiches (she'll eat the toppings off but leave the bread). She calls all drinks (other than milk) "appel joose"! 

   Pj can count to 14 and say most of her alphabet (especially the last half after 'm'). She has a very good memory and has memorized a lot of different songs: "Our God is so Great", "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", "Praise God", "Create in me a Clean Heart", "Jesus Loves Me", "The Alphabet Song", and "Holy, Holy, Holy". She also easily memorized her memory work from Sunday School (which she started the month she turned 2) - the first verse of Genesis. She knows lots of her colours but is most consistent with "lellow" and "green". She "likes" to watch hockey and knows to say "go leefs go!". 

   Pj has A LOT of words. Every day it feels like she is learning more words and using more complex sentence structure. Some of our favourite PJ phrases are "help you me?" (for both when she needs help and when she is offering help), "don waaaant it" (not really a fun one to hear but cute!), "huh?" (this one gets a little tiring all day every day), "peese" (so cute), "dank tu" (thank you - she's pretty good at saying this without prompting), and "bye ____________" (she says bye to our house, to the stores we visit, to people, to plants, to trees, to cars, to animals, and to food.

   We can not imagine our lives without Pj. Although she definitely has taught us what toddler tantrums are (wow!) she has mostly taught us about love and fun! She brings so much laughter to our home and we are always entertained by her antics. She is starting to play silly (with silly faces and walks/dances) and she loves to make us laugh. We love her so much: for her tantrums, her lovableness, her silliness, and her character! 

Selfie!!!

   Pj - we pray that God will continue to guide your steps in all that you do. We already can see His love in your life in the way you hold onto songs of praise. Our hope for you is that you will know Him and His love and peace that transcends all understanding.