So, over the weekend Aubrey turned 22 months old. Two more months to go until I can stop referring to her age in months. That will be nice. I'm really looking forward to being able to just say, "She's 2.""Love is a battlefield" is the most accurate way to describe this current stage. There are sweet victories, devastating defeats, blood, sweat, and tears and that's all usually before lunchtime.
So, what's Miss Aubrey like these days? Let me tell you 22 things! (aka: this blog is my excuse for a baby-book). Warning...only grandparents will want to read this much detail. :)
1. Aubrey is EXTREMELY independent. "Aubie do it!" is heard on a regular basis. She is convinced she can do everything herself, but every once in awhile, she will realize she's in over her head. When this happens, she says, "Mama, help please!" followed by a chirpy, "Thank you, Mama!".
2. Following her independence, she is BOSSY. I have to tell her at least once a day, "Aubrey, you are not the boss."
3. Aubrey is one determined little girl. She will figure something out. Sure, she might get mad, throw it, yell and scream at it, but she always goes back and works on it until she has mastered it. I love that about her. We just need to work on the frustration aspect, and help turn that into a healthy work ethic. Hmmm...come to think of it, I could stand to work on that too! :)
4. As saucy as Miss Aubrey might be, she is the most tender-hearted, loving little girl in the world. She generously doles out hugs and kisses and takes impeccable care of her baby-dolls and stuffed animals.
5. Aubrey is mesmerized by older kids. She always enthusiastically says, "HI!" to them and then laughs at any/everything they do. Finally, whatever they are doing, Miss Aubrey joins in. Since she is so tall, she actually doesn't look too out of place.
6. Aubrey has started coming to us when she knows she has done something wrong or if she's scared. Just the other day she grabbed Daniel's keys and took off into another room. She pushed the red "alarm" button, and we could hear the alarm/horn from the garage. Sure enough Aubrey came bolting back to us saying, "Uh oh! Uh Oh! Mama! Daddy!" She looked scared and in trouble at the same time. She knew she did it, it sounded bad, and she didn't know how to make it stop. I pray that she always knows she can come running to us when she's made a mistake or is scared. Even if it's as silly as a car alarm.
7. Aubrey Ruth is a mess! Literally. She absolutely despises when I try to fix her hair. She bats at my hand and says, "NO, Mama!" It's a struggle, to say the least. Just when I have her "good to go" she will run and wallow herself on the couch or floor rubbing her freshly done hair all out of place. A mess, I tell you!
8. She 100% refuses to wear jeans or shorts of any kind. She loves wearing dresses with or without leggings. She cannot fit into anything under a 2T anymore and has been wearing several 3T things already. And of course, her #1 choice would be to go completely nude. She has also taught herself how to take off her clothes, including her diaper. I foresee lots of problems in the near future.
9. And despite the fact that Aubrey adores shoes, she will only wear these white sandals from Payless. I have purchased 4 pairs this summer. I'm not sure what we are going to do when Fall rolls around. By the way, she wears a toddler size 8!
10. Aubrey seems to have inherited her Daddy's sense of direction. When we're driving in the car, she will be able to tell where we are going within a few turns. It's amazing. Even places we haven't been to in months, she somehow remembers. I literally have to plan my daily routes to avoid certain places if we don't have time to go to whatever attraction is in that direction. It's even gotten to the point when we pull out of our driveway, depending on which way we turn, she will start chanting places in that direction: Church! School! Park! Shopping! Bank! Zoo! And whenever we pull into our neighborhood, there's always a little voice in the backseat that cheers, "Hoooooome!"
11. Aubrey is a smartypants. She can say and identify all numbers (from 1-15 or higher some days). She also knows all her letters both sequentially and randomly. She can't recite the ABCs yet, but she can fill-in the ABC gaps when we sing the song and pause at a certain letters. She knows all her colors and shapes too. She can identify every single body part there is to know, even "nipples" (or "nip-bumps" as she calls them) thanks to Daniel.
12. The girl is a hoot.
13. She loves finding spiders and then running to tell me all about it. It's so cute because she calls them "soupy sibers" which translates: "spooky spiders". She loves most any insect (butterflies are completely magical to her) but isn't a fan of mosquitoes (who is!?) and will say, "GET SQUITOES!" in her meanest voice if one shows up while we're playing outside.
14. Aubrey has recently become obsessed with watching videos of herself as a baby (remember Indian Girl? Or this oldie?). She doesn't realize it's her, which makes it all even cuter/funnier.
15. She is a total rock-star in her MDO class, and she LOVES going to "school". She literally thrives around other kids and teachers.
16. Aubrey is definitely a performer.
17. She is fearless but has a healthy dose of caution before proceeding with most things.
18. Aubrey is still strictly a Sesame Street only watcher. She will watch the occasional Curious George, but overall she isn't interested in TV much at all. This is both good and bad. Good that she's not a veg-head -- bad because I could use some time to get dinner fixed or grab a shower during the day.
19. I don't think there's anything she can't say now. Some things, of course, only I can understand. But for the most part she can communicate what she wants/needs, and I love it!
20. Aubrey obeys really well for her age (I pray this lasts!). Sure she still has meltdowns, but I'm chalking that up as just part of Toddlerhood. The parenting method that seems to work best with her is the "consequence" method, also known as the "If, Then" method. For example: "Aubrey, we do not throw rocks. If you throw one more rock, then we have to go inside." And I always follow through with my consequences. It's one of those things I noticed parents didn't do before I became a mother, and I said, "When I'm a parent, if I give a consequence I will follow through!" I will also never be a parent who "Counts to three!" -- I want Aubrey to obey when I tell her the first time, not until I get to 3. In my mind that puts the child in charge (waiting until the last second) and not the parent. Now don't get me wrong, there are lots of other things I said "When I'm a parent, I will never xyz..." that, well... let's just say it's much easier to be a parent when you don't have kids! I've eaten many, many, many of pre-motherhood words! :)
21. Aubrey takes one nap a day usually around 12 - 12:30. This nap can range anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. If it's less than 90 minutes, she's a bear the rest of the day. Longer than 90 minutes and it's generally an afternoon with smiles and giggles. She still goes to bed around 7 and sleeps until 6:30-7. If she sleeps until 7:30 I feel like I won the lottery.
22. Last, but not least, I think Aubrey is officially turning into a Daddy's girl. Aubrey has always loved Daniel, but recently I think he's moved ahead of me. I'm okay with it (insert sobbing). No, seriously, it's so sweet to see that relationship growing. Aubrey actually gets really upset if Daniel hugs or kisses me in front her. She will start yelling, "NO DADDY! NO DADDY!" Sorry little lady, he's MINE! :) And when it's time to go to bed each night, Aubrey "lets" me kiss her on the cheek, but with Daddy? Oh no, she says, "Kiss on the lips!" Of course, Daniel thinks this is the best thing in the world. And truthfully, I think so too. :)
