Today Ava learned to ride a bike (no training wheels!). We had been practicing gliding with the pedals and crank removed, and then she got the hang of riding with pedals but the last part to master was getting started from a stop. A few hours of practice today and now she has got it down. Go Ava!
2 years old. That’s how old Annalise is. two. the age of “i do it”, “again”, and “let me hold you.” Annalise is full of cute words and independence.
Her newest words are
~ “can I?” can i dink it mommy?, can I play wight der mommy?
~ “weally” It’s weally hard. dat helitopter is weally loud.
~ “Who dat?” Lisey points to people standing near us and asks, “who dat mommy?” at the park or grocery store I just use a generic term. But at parties where I should know people, I tell her their name, or ask their name. Which inevitably causes me to have a conversation with that person. Lise seems determined to change her introverted mommy!
~ all of her g’s are prounounced as d’s. It’s stinkin cute that she says, damma, dampa, and dabby!
Here’s a little clip from her birthday party:
When asked what her name is, she says, Leelee. Ava calls her maple seed.
She has a sense of humor, she’s timid, she’s polite, she loves to wear dresses, dance, and sing. She’s perfect! We love you Annalise. Happy 2nd Birthday!
Something is very different at our house.
Is it cleaner? Not so much.
Did we get a new pet? Maybe. if you count the stink bug in the roly-poly house and the caterillar in the butterfly habitat. but that’s not really different, we always have a lot of unusual pets around here. (thanks nana nancy for the 100+ lady bugs!)
Did we replace our carpet with hardwood floors? i wish.
What’s different is that our shy little girl is suddenly a social butterfly! It’s a different that I am not quite comfortable with. but I’m getting there. Ava be-bops around the neighborhood and is making a lot of friends.
All of her playdates from birth until now have been very structured and planned. I know the parents and I know the kids. Now, Ava is always outside playing with someone. someone I don’t know. someone who’s parents I’ve never met! There’s a gladness and a sadness in my heart. I miss her. and I’m proud of her. She makes wise choices while with her friends, and always comes home to ask before going into someone’s house or their backyard. I am especially happy when her friends want to play at our house! I try to make them love it too, by offering fun activities and delicious snacks. She’s got one friend who only wants to play at his house. Ava has been gone at his house for up to 4 hours! Sometimes I try to make up excuses as to why she needs to come home. she’s not in any sports, dance class is over, we’ve already done our grocery shopping, there’s really no reason that she has to come home… “ava come home, annalise and I miss you.” somehow I don’t think that would fly with her.
We’ve entered a new chapter in parenting. and to be honest, i’m terrified.
