A Two Year Old

We are a month into being a two year old.  There was a night where Jolynn spent the night at the Desvousges house.  It was spur of the moment, Erin was going to babysit the following day so we just decided to leave Jolynn there Thursday night.  Well, we didn't bring any sleeping stuff with us - including her BLANKEY.  She didn't ask for it and slept fine without it.  So we didn't mention it the next night and she didn't either.  Then the next, and the next.  We are up to 2 weeks now since she has had it and I think it is over.  She switched briefly to sucking her fingers, which I was okay with because it was easier to wash her hands than wash that stinky blanket.

The Potty Training Train has pretty much left the station.  She has not shown any interest in trying to go on the potty, wear underpants, or even wear the pull ups.  I'm okay with this, because I want HER to be ready as much as us.  I'm not going to force the issue.  We still ask all the time, before bed and when she wakes up.  She still has no interest.  The only time she has shown interest is when she sees an older child (not an adult) going too.  If Shirley needs to go, so does Jolynn.  If the older girl at daycare has to go, so does Jolynn.

Jolynn's vocabulary has grown significantly in the last month.  Almost putting sentences (although choppy) together.  Singing songs to the point where you can recognize what she is singing.  And the politeness scale is off the charts.  Please, thank you, bless you (didn't see that one coming when I sneezed!).  She can go into the fridge and get what she wants if you put it on the lower shelf where she can reach.  We put her milk there so she can get and put away her milk whenever she wants it.  She also helps clean up by putting her dishes in the sink.  We are still working on picking up toys on command.  She does well helping you clean them up, but not so good at picking them up by herself.

We went through a few weeks of sleeping in our bed at night.  We were having monster issues in her room.  It's not that she takes up a ton of room, but it is much nicer knowing you can spread out and not smother your child accidentally.  So Jon and I have traded off nights putting her to bed now.  We're down to 30-45 min to get her to sleep.  Jon is really good at this and I couldn't figure out what he was doing that worked so well.  He is consistent and firm.  He sits in the rocking chair which he moved right next to her bed.  She has to lay in her bed while he reads a few books.  When she starts to yawn and say "me tired too", that's when we know she's ready for sleeping.  We turn off the lights but stay next to her bed until she is completely asleep. We also purchased a Dora night light that shines a picture of Dora on the ceiling.  All of these steps seem to be working.  We (I) just have to keep it up.

There's our monthly update (as far as Jolynn is concerned).  I will try to post more about the goings on this month.  It has been a busy summer and I just haven't had the time to blog about everything, let alone take pictures of everything to go along with the posts.

2 Years Old!

My baby is a toddler.  So starts the week of celebrations.  Tonight we went to the Lifetouch family picnic.  She danced, played basketball, and ran all over.  Today she will go to Chucky Cheese with Grandma and Grandpa Benson because they can't make it to her birthday party on Saturday.  She has her 2 year check up on Friday.  Then after her birthday party on Saturday we are going to visit my dad again in Luck, WI.

Again, she amazes me every morning.  She is almost forming sentences.  She does somersaults.  She loves to jump.  She is a daredevil.  We've started swimming at Grandma and Grandpa Moritz's.  I'm pretty sure she's going to turn into a fish.

 I've become very bad at taking photos with an actual camera.  Most are taken on my phone and posted straight to Facebook.  These are the latest photos taken with an actual camera.

Tent City-Memorial Weekend 2012

just arriving at the campground

hiding out in the tent during the rain

Listening to music by the fire and eating chili

Our first tent camping experience was a success!  Jolynn was such a great camper.  I was all prepared to be there one night because I thought for sure she wouldn't sleep well.  She did better than that.  She slept through a crazy storm with thunder and lightening!  She also napped through kids, trucks, and dogs passing by.  The mosquitoes weren't bad, but they still found the sweet nectar of Jolynn.  She is just like me in that when bit she just swells up, poor girl.  It was a bit too cool to do any swimming.  She was able to see lots of bugs, helping gather wood for fires, and danced to music around the campfire.  She was a big hit with everyone there.  She played soccer with some kids and we went for lots of walks, usually ending up in a strangers campsite (she saw other kids and had to say hi).

found a caterpillar on mom's shoe

helping gather wood for fire

Jolynn's Florida vacation

I'm a little behind in my postings.  While I was at BOW Jolynn stayed with Grandpa Moritz.  I returned late Sunday night, Sunday morning she was already on a plane with Grandpa on her way to Florida.  That's right, Grandpa took her by HIMSELF.  What a trooper.  They both did awesome.  I didn't get many photos from them, but they called every night so she could say good night to us.  Grandma Moritz was there too, for work.  So the days were spent poolside with Grandpa and then after work she played with Grandma.  I'm pretty sure Jolynn had lots of fun and didn't miss us at all.  For the next 3 days she was home she would wake up in the morning and call out for Gampa.

That was probably her last free flight.  Before the age of 2 she has flown 3 times - all times at least one direction was in first class.

23 Months

the months have been going by so fast I forget to track everything that happens.  Potty training is still going slowly.  I don't want to rush things.  No need getting her upset or myself.  She's not even two.  She goes when she goes and we try and do the every 20 min thing, but most of the time she just says she doesn't have to go.  We even tried regular underwear one day.  She thought she was hot stuff!  Strutted around in her little tighty whities.  Only one accident while wearing the underwear (poop at Grandma/pa Moritz's).

You can call her Miss Independent.  She puts her dishes in the sink, garbage in the can, if you help her she will pick up her toys (that's not quite on her own yet, but should be),  Jon also taught her to open the fridge, so now she gets her own snacks and milk if we put it on the first shelf.

The big girl bed is going well.  She generally doesn't get out once she is put to bed.  We've had some doosy storms here lately and some she sleeps right through, others she ends up in bed with us.  I love my snuggle time.  We've gotten used to her being between us so it doesn't bother us as much as it used to.

this past month she went with Grandpa and Grandma Moritz to Florida.  See different post for details.

The end of last month she had her first tent camping experience.  See different post for details.

Family celebrations for the July and August birthdays will be at the annual Moritz 4th of July party (held July 7th this year).  Invitations are about to go out for her 2nd birthday party!  Little smaller this time - just close friends.  It will be at the Oakdale Moritz house - food, friends, and pool fun!

22 months

CRAZY! I've stopped saying how many months Jolynn is when people ask.  I just say almost two.  I have to watch myself when I do things with her or tell her to do something, expecting that she will be able to do it.  She acts older than I think so I often have to remind myself that she isn't even 2 yet.  Like with potty training.  We have been letting her take the reigns on this one.  I didn't want to push it and everyone has told me that she is pretty young for it anyway.  This last week she has been going before bed and when she wakes up.  The other day she went 4 times on the big toilet.  At daycare, Mary was able to get her to go once also.  We are pretty busy the next 3 weekends, so full blown potty training isn't going to start until mid June.  I'm pretty sure she will be fully trained (fingers crossed) before she is 2.  My mom and I went shopping and she bought training pants - the kind that are like underwear but thicker (more absorbent than regular underwear).  Jolynn gets very excited when she doesn't have to wear a diaper.

Other than potty training, there hasn't been any big news.  She talks ALL.THE.TIME. And loves to sing and dance.  Choppy sentences are starting to form.

Here are a few photos from a recent session through my work (Lifetouch).

21 Months

Today Jolynn is 21 months.  I just happened to notice it was the 18th.  I just can't believe how time is just flying by.  3 more months and my baby will be 2.  I don't think you heard me...TWO!

Sentences are starting to form.  Bubbles Pop means: blow bubbles, I want to pop them.
Her manners have also formed this past week.  I have to give the credit to daycare.  We do use it a lot in our home, but I think it is emphasized more at daycare.  She now says Thank you for EVERYTHING.  We reply with you're welcome.

Potty training hasn't gone full force yet.  We toy with it here and there.  I let her run around for a while with out a diaper.  She can say diaper too.  However, everything is poopy.  If she goes potty, she says poopy.  If she farts, she says poopy.  When I do finally buckle down and do the training deal, I wish I could have a veteran with me.  Someone who knows the ropes and can anticipate the action (eliminating some accidents hopefully).

My mom recently posted a photo on Facebook of me when I was 2 years old.  I weighed 23 pounds and was 33 inches.  Not a far cry from Jolynn.  Gee, I wonder who she is taking after. :)