Month 27

Funny faces with Daddy - what's new? I made too much noise as I came out to snap this photo, because from inside the house they looked so beautiful, relaxing, enjoying the cool mountain air.

This post is late. As with everything lately, I have put off blogging in order to have more time getting ready for Cali next week. This summer has been non-stop. I like it that way, so no complaints, but it leaves no room for any extras.

But....I have to make some time for this post. Because it's about a little girl. The one sitting beside me right now eating a tangerine fruit bar. How appropriate. The one I still get to pull out of a crib every morning.

My Darling Clementine, (I know she can't read this right now. Someday, though. Someday.)

Yesterday you turned 27 months.

And you ran away from me while we shopped at Target.

You'd never done that before.

It was scary.

But I got you back safe and sound.

Then I scolded you.

Can't have you doing that again, yunno?

At 27 months you are a ray of sunshine. You really are. Daddy and I marvel at every little thing you do as if you were some new species of human with supernatural abilities or something. It's just that - we adore you, you see? The way you shake your body to the strumming of Daddy's guitar is seriously the cutest thing ever. You've already got so much passion inside of you. So much feist. I catch daddy staring at you sometimes like he just can't believe you are here.

I totally know the feeling.

Even your brothers get it. They both have to kiss you goodnight - every night - or Mommy and Daddy have serious hell to pay. During the day, Ethan will sometimes reads to you in your chair and I swear when I walk in the room and witness the two of you squeezed in side by side, it makes my day. And Sebastian? Well, he simply adores you. He gets a big kick out of the faces you make - and there are plenty. He helps a lot with you - buckling and unbuckling, getting you "snackies" like they have....

You're a lucky girl to have so much love.

At 27 months toys are abundant. But the one item you care most about is your black purse that belonged to Nana. You carry it everywhere and it's full of your beloved princess figurines and play jewelry. I love to watch you as you take out princess after princess, setting them up in a row so you can see them all.

You also love my jewelry box and will climb onto my vanity chair just to take a peek inside. Today, you wanted to try on a pair of my Tarina Tarantino earrings, but they were slightly too long for you so you put them up to your ear to see how they would look. It was really cute and I wish I caught you doing it on video. You always put my jewelry back where it belongs because you know it's Mama's. I look forward to the days when you will actually borrow from me. I think that's pretty cool.

At 27 months you have already been potty trained, but it lasted for only 3 weeks. We went on vacation and you decided that you no longer wanted to go on "Froggy" (your personal potty.) So you're back in diapers and it's not a big deal as I know we will try again - seriously - when we get back from Cali. It stressed me out for a while there - you were doing fantastic. But you're still just 2 years old and it will happen. No more worries.

At 27 months you are happy, innocent. You are full of joy and smiles and I'm doing my best to make sure you stay this way for as long as possible. You have every reason in the world to smile. You are loved. You are safe. You are, without a doubt, the most beautiful girl in the world.

With Cousin Miranda (Panda) in Flagstaff.

So silly. All the time. I can't get enough of it - always making me smile.

Sleeping on my back. I love carrying her like this.

Birds of a feather...

And she's a tree hugger! Are you kidding me??? I love this pic - her expression is priceless. She's really loving that tree!

Nature girl like her daddy. She will smell every flower. And she did.

This photo just makes me laugh. Too cute.

Until next month...