Dear Ainsley,
There is something special about turning 2. One minute...you're still the baby with baby ways and a baby voice and then... the next minute... you're a little person with a sense on humor and things to say. The last few weeks I've seen such a change in you. I cannot help but wonder how much is you and how much it's my perception of you... but Ainsley... you seem so much more grown up!
Speaking of sense of humor... yours is quite developed. I sense within you a smart-ass in the making. For example...during one of our trips to N.C... you had placed Bunny behind yourself to hide her... and then asked me to find it on the floor... and after I've searched for it.. twisting all over the place... you... with a big grin on your face.. produced it from behind... "It's right here!" you shouted. You definitely seem to be showing signs of having my ticklish sense of humor.
Of course... you show signs of having a lot of my qualities. You really are a Mini Me you know.
Ainsley, you are such a Snuggle Bunny... I love it because your sister isn't that overly touchy. You have always been a "touch baby." When you were a newborn in the hospital... I literally had to hold your arms over your chest and breathe on you face... like a Mama cat does to a kitten... for you to stay calm. I love the snuggles and the hugs and the nosey noseys. I love it when you climb in my lap to ask me to make you a baby burrito (where I wrap you in a blanket and rock you).
You just went to your 2 year visit. You weight 23 pounds and are 31 inches tall. You still wear size 4 shoes... yes... baby shoes... although I think you may switch to size 5 in a few months! Whoo Hoo!
You are also still bowlegged and pigeon toed.
That temper of yours that I have mentioned in the past ... really doesn't exist anymore. You are sensitive and can cry easily... still with those giant crocodile tears... but you're easy to calm down... and you easily will correct a bad behavior and apologize. Generally, your temperament is sunny and happy.
You still have issues with doing chores...like cleaning up... but as long as I literally tell you every move to make (pick up those dolls... put them in the box... put the puzzle pieces on the table ) you do fine with minimum fuss. Though, of course, you'll happily let Aidan clean everything up while you pretend to be busy if we let you. Recently, to help with that... I've made it a policy that if you aren't helping then you must do it all... no matter how big the mess is. Hopefully that will help spur you to pull your weight.
I'm trying to get you to ride the tricycle but you seem to prefer to let us do the pushing. Unfortunately, you are too much like me in that if someone else is willing to do the work... you don't mind stepping aside and letting them. You're not very "driven" yet to do things.
You can speak in sentences now. For awhile you were capable of it but only did it around a chosen few. (mostly Me and McMama) You play the baby around people... especially...*cough*...
Daddy. It is only recently that he's heard you use your sentences. I cannot blame you for playing baby though... you get a lot of attention that way... because you're cute... and you get away with things more often... and because when you do speak a whole sentence in that tiny voice of yours ... you get a big reaction. The funny thing is that because you're ... so small?... so young?...my baby?... I still find
myself taken aback when you use full sentences. A part of me is as surprised as if the cat started speaking to me... which doesn't make logical sense because I know you can... but that's how it is.
Just yesterday... I started showing you
Meet the Letters. Honestly, you know more of the sounds the letters make then the letters themselves. I'm also somewhat experimenting to see how you learn and if videos work for you. I'm thinking you might be more of a hands-on learner... but we'll see.
I feel guilty about you a lot. You've never gotten the amount of attention Aidan has... the amount of one-on-one play she has. I feel this slights you. Therefore, lately I've been making a very conscience effort to spend time with just you. Admittedly though, I'm still not doing enough for my satisfaction.
I started trying to potty train you and then stopped for awhile. Yesterday, I started it again. I think you quite capable of doing it but I haven't been consistent and I admit... I haven't felt like messing with it. But! You're doing well today. Apparently, if you are rewarded with a "sucker" after going... you'll go without a fuss. We'll have to see how this goes as well.
You love to peek under things... through things... over things... and yell out "I SEEE YOOUU!."
Your favorite toy is still a ball but you also like Barbies, Snap and Style dolls, Little Ponies, Potato Head, and Baby dolls.
You politely tell me "No Thank You" ...whether I'm asking if you need to stand with your nose on the wall or if I ask you if you want some water. It makes me smile. It's adorable.
You carry a favorite Winnie-the-Pooh blanket around and always ask to have the "blanket on"... so we then must wrap it around your shoulders like a cape.
You giggle a lot.
You parrot things all day long... especially something Aidan says. It annoys Aidan somewhat and she'll yell at you "stop copying me!"
You're working on learning your colors and counting.
Barney is still the only thing you'll watch consistently and all the way through. I like to watch you watching it... you're so engrossed with it and often I'll find a small smile playing about your lips.
Ainsley... sometimes I look at you and my heart hurts from all the love ... all the emotions I feel towards you. You're my little sunshine.... my Little Bit.
