Addie's 2 Year Old Class

Addie is doing really well in her 2 year old class room, the same wonderful room, Carter had 17 months earlier. Mrs. Cissy is the best thing I could have ever been blessed with especially as a new mom with Carter. She potty trained Carter at 2 years old and help me get through the roller coaster ride of having a 2 year old. She tells me when to worry and more importantly, when NOT to worry about certain behaviors or stages!

This is the first class, at 24 months, where they begin to have a very structured learning time every single morning. A few of the morning rituals includes singing "Good Morning How Are You" in English and Spanish, going around the room and she asks each person, "How are you today?" where she waits for each one to raise their hands up in the air and say "Happy!" They practice counting on the calendar to whatever day it is, they go through all the days of the week and even a "special helper of the day" gets to go to the window and report back if it is raining, sunny or cloudy and they discuss the weather. Addison is excelling at all the lessons and we couldn't be happier with her development as she comes home daily singing yet another new song or saying a set of new words. Her newest accomplishments just this week are being able to point to majority of letters when asked where each letter is, saying 1-10 in Spanish and recent new questions of "Why??" all the time and "Whatcha doing????"

This is Ms. Rachel who has been in this room since Carter was there and we were so sad to see her leave to finish her last semester in college. We will miss her as she has made this 2 year room so special knowing she is taking care of both my babies!

Just 6 More Months Of This....

Based on my memories with Carter, the days of Addie proactively running up to me and saying, "Mama pick up!" are numbered. I can't remember Carter wanting to be carried around for no reason a few months shy of turning 3. In the last month, Addie, has wanted to be carried and hugged more than ever and I am trying to always STOP what I am doing, NO MATTER WHAT, and enjoy these moments while they last...

My babies are growing up so fast and I am committed to taking every moment in and with the help of this blog, when I am 80, I can always look back on these little memories...

Addie at 25 months.

Sweet Addie... not much more to say about you at 25 months but that you are like a fine wine that keeps getting better with age!

Addie's 2 Year Old Check Up

                             May 2009 - 1 year birthday                             May 2010 - 2 year birthday

Addie had her 2 year old well-visit today with Dr. Cuming and she is right on track to becoming a intelligent super model! LOL She was at 30.3 lbs (80% percentile) and 36 inches (95th percentile.) Doctor says his guess, by measuring her height at 18 months and seeing that she is still tracking at the same consistent percentiles, is 5 foot 7 inches as an adult... that is 1.5 inches taller than me so we will have to wait and see!

Developmentally he was extremely happy with her in all areas, measuring above average in 4 of 5 areas including speech, social and emotional and fine motor skills.

#1 On Addie's Top 10 List At 2 Years Old!

#1. - Her "Bubba!"

I always knew I wanted my children close in age and I am thankful for our decision every single day. The relationship these two have developed over the last year makes every single long, hard, & exhausting day and night worth it, without a doubt. Although they are 17 months apart in age, they are only 2 pounds different on the scale. They play so well together and I have to give majority of the credit to Carter. I had no idea that a 2 year old, now 3 year old, could be so patient with what can many times be an obnoxious little pester at his heels. He has always handled it so well and now welcomes the constant companionship. Being able to leave the two of them in the game room for 30 minutes at a time, speaks volumes to Carter's easy going and patient personality. They are truly inseparable and are comforted by each other's company. Listening to them hold a conversation in the mornings, over breakfast, and during bath time in the evenings is one of the most incredible feelings I've ever had; my two babies growing up together loving each other.   

Addie's Top 10 At 2 Years Old: #2

#2. Dogs!!! (without a doubt)

From a very early age, Addie has been very dedicated to her own puppies. Her affinity for her 4 legged friends only seems to strengthen as the months pass by. She now will spot a dog in another car while we are driving, yelling "DOG' and pointing.  She knows all the dogs in the neighborhood and takes any and ALL opportunities to meet any new ones she comes across. She loves staring out the widow in the car and looking for dogs being walked. She is not intimidated with any dogs, even large ones and we are working on her learning to to ask permission first to approach and touch.  Recently we were at a friends for a play date and they had a large Doberman crated. She just excitedly ran over and stuck her whole hand inside in order to pet him. Of course, he was very good with children, but we do have a long way with Addie to teach her that not ALL dogs are as nice as Maverick and Smokey and allow her to literally hang on them. Perhaps she will be a future Veterinarian, like her Uncle Herb.

Addie's Top 10: #3

#3 - Her Night Time Routine
Consistently over the last year, Addie has a specific order she likes to follow as part of going to bed. After reading books in Carter's bed, we start giving 5 very important kisses! Addie calls out each dog - Maverick and Smokey and subsequently gives them about 5 kisses "night-night!" Then she askes for her "Bubba, " then one last kiss from her daddy and mommy. Since there are a few regular nights where one of us isn't here during this process, we found a remedy that she considers a fine alternative.

After we get all of the babies she wants and doesn't want in her bed, this is my favorite part. The lights were completly out, so the video clip is sound only but this is the sweet voice I get to hear every single night.

She then wants us to "pat" her night night...

She even will "pat" herself to sleep sometimes!

Addie's Top 10: #7, #6, #5, & #4

#7. Her INDEPENDENCE & CONFIDENCE!
She loves going outside completely by herself and exploring and playing. When we get home in the afternoons, she will open the back door, and go throw tennis balls for the dogs for 45 minutes. If we allow her to go out the front, she will yell "park" and take off next door unconcerned if we are in tow. On many recent warm spring nights, while I have the sprinkler running in the backyard, she will sneak out before bath to play in it.

#6. Her Babies & Blanket

Although she isn't obsessed with them, she has taken a stronger liking to them. She really isn't particular except that whatever baby she has must have a blanket, so she can "pat" it night-night. She is really into baby Easton and although she hasn't seen him in 10 days, still talks about him everyday.

#5. Daddy and Mommy. :)

Addie is a daddy's girl (which I truly LOVE!) This is especially true when I am out of town for any length of time or if I am gone in the evening for work. However, it does seem to to work the opposite too! So when Blake has been gone for a while, Addie prefers her mommy when daddy returns (at least for a while!) I tell Blake that is why I really don't mind that he has to travel so much for work... it gives me one-on-one time with the kids that I adore, especially at their ages.

#4. Elmo Books!

What else can you say, Addie LOVES her Elmo and although she gets excited to watch Elmo on TV, she never really sticks around to watch it. She really isn't into TV as much as Carter. She loves to read her books before bed in Carter's bed and then she gets to read her one last one in her own bed!

Addie's Top 10 at 2: #10, #9, & #8

Addie is quickly approaching the final hours of her second year.

I have done the same posts with Carter the last 2 birthdays - 2  years & 3 years. This is one of my favorite posts to do each year for the kids because it makes it so easy to remember a lot of the little things. So here it goes, it's time to take a "snap shot" of Addie Brown as she completes her second year of life, her favorite things and all the noteworthy passions of this particular amazing 2 year old.

#10 - MEME

Addie is blessed to have 6 amazingly special grandparents however one stands out at this age, probably due to the fact that she gets to spend 3 1/2 full days with her every 4-6 weeks when MeMe makes the long 6 hour trip to San Antonio to see the kids. She is so dedicated to all of her grandkids and Addie is especially dedicated to her at this age. MeMe's name get's brought up in the house almost every day. It can be anytime it is time to go "potty," the kids get to choose between their potty and "Meme's Potty" a.k.a. the guest bathroom.  If anyone steps foot in our front guest bedroom, Carter and Addie are quick to tell them, "That is MeMe's bed!" She remembers every single little tiny toy and book she brings them and if I ever ask her, "Who is coming over?" Her quick first answer is MEME!

#9 - TALKING!!

This girl can communicate and I LOVE IT!!!!  I decided to try something new and set a timer for 1 hour and listened to her for 1 hour tonight, with no prompting or asking her questions, and this is what she said. It was actually more than I even thought.

6PM - Start
"Momma, all done." (after finishing her dinner)
Mommy, out! (when wanting out of her seat at the table)
"Basketball"
"Yea bubba!" (while sitting on the stairs cheering for Carter while he shot baskets)
"No, no, no, no Bubba"
"Mommy, potty."
"Pee Pee prize" (asking me for her reward when she proactively told me)
"Mommy on" (while bringing some dress up clothes to help her put on)
"Necklace, wear it" (asking me to help put it on her)
"Bracelet bubba" (when she found Carter's green bracelet under the couch)
"Sorry bubba!" (After she pinched him)
"Please" (when wanting a car from Carter)
"Wheee.... down" (while sending cars down a race track)
"Mommy, tickle me mommy."
"This... OUT!" (while on her tip toes pointing to the play cash register)
"Money!" (when the drawer opened)
"No work" (when bringing me a toy drill not working)
"Neck... bandaid" and pointing to her neck telling me she hurt it)
"Flashlight"
"Mommy... screwdriver" (wanting me to help screw in a bolt)
"No! Sit down!" (When I got up to use the restroom)
"Mommy, jump!" (and wanting me to catch her off the couch)
"Addie's turn!" (when wanting to do airplane after her brother)
"Thank you" (after I told her "bless you" after she sneezed)
7PM

In the last week she will randomly bust out with her "ABC's," her favorite sections is "Q, R, S, T, U, V ..." She is always singing, "Clean up, clean up" when she is picking up her toys.

#8 - Ella Perkins
These girls have spent nearly every memorable moment together in the last 730 days! With over 1000 pictures documenting their every move, it's fair to say they will have a strong bond once they finally get to the same school in 2022 as they enter Churchill together as freshmen. Although I know most toddlers don't "play together," more and more, we are finding them by themselves on the playground. The fact that they have always gone to the same daycare, has made leaving Addie every day so much easier knowing they have the comfort of each other once there. They, themselves, are the closest thing they may every have to true sisters.