2.5yo and GROWING

Having a 2.5 year old is an adorable stage, because she is saying the cutest phrases and everything is so new in her surroundings.  Buuuut boy oh boy, is it the most frustrating stage yet.  Lots of tantrums, mood swings, always wanting mommy (especially since I'm pregnant), little sleep, and many behavioral problems.  The lists below are looooong, but a lot of this is for memories for us to look back on years from now.  

Favorites:

• Food:  Ha!  I don't even know why this is in the "favorites" section.  Food is definitely NOT a favorite of hers and never has been to be honest.  
• She loves loves loves her milk 
• Fruit can be hit or miss, but she loves going to the farmers market to get strawberries.  She loved daddies watermelon in the summer and grapes on occasion
• Pinkberry- Original flavor "ice cream" with rainbow sprinkles and gummies
• Anything crunchy- Goldfish (who doesn't), Pirates Booty, Ritz Crackers
• Cinnamon anything- Cinnamon toast, Cinnamon rolls, Cinnamon pretzels, Churros 
• Gummy Prenatal Vitamins...no idea why, probably because mommy takes them daily
• Oreo's-The mini ones which are given for prizes, potty training, and if she deserves one before bed

• Phrases:
• "It's not night night time anymore"
• "Moon and stars are sleeping"
• "Daddy, stop talking!"
• "I want to go walk Georgia"
• "Want some mommy/daddy?"  Typically when she gives us something messy, wet, dirty, gross.  This usually is not a questions, but more a statement, with a tilt of the head and with a question mark at the end.  
• "My eyes/nose are running" (after mommy made her cry...Mason wrote this)
• "Sit down for oooone more minute" (after trying to put her to bed/nap)
• "Awww, it's so cute/tiny/little" With regards to anything small, puppies, penguins, babies, toys, cookies
• "That's my bim him!"  Mason and I still aren't sure what a bim bim is, because every day it's something different
• "Pleeeease"  This was a great idea to teach her manners, however she is now so smart that she knows exactly when to use it with those puppy dog eyes because she will get what she wants...with in reason. 

• Interests:
• Anything Disney princess related- Her favorite princess, is Rapunzel, with Anna and Elsa a close second/third.   She frequently sleeps in her princess crown.  We have also visited many public places with this $1 Target princess crown that many of y'all have seen in photos.  
• Penguins- She has an obsession with "Penny" who is her lovie that she sleeps with every night.  We watch penguin movies on You Tube, have a penguin dress, penguin jacket, she's going to be a penguin for halloween, and we've found just about every toddler destination in the Bay Area that has penguins.  She loved the March of the Penguins event at the San Francisco Zoo where she got to see the "fuzzy" baby penguins.  
• Books-She is always wanting us to ready her books, go to book stores, library and typically she takes multiple books with her to bed before she falls asleep.   
• Disney...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  She sees Disney cruise commercials and says she wants to "go there."  At least Mason has a Disney "partner in crime."
• Petting Zoos-She loves feeding the goats, sheep, horses, chasing chickens...you name it she loves it!  Mommy gets a little nervous each time we go and is very diligent about hand washing when we leave.  I've seen one too many patients with HUS after visiting petting zoos. 

• Places to Go:
• Barre class- This is usually mommy and Hadley's Thursday/Friday routine before gymnastics, play dates or errands.  On the weekends, it also gives daddy some alone time because she looooooves the child care.  She loves Ms. Jenna and Ms. Caitlynn.  Thank you Barre 3 Willow Glen for a fabulous time for both mommy and Hadley
• Gymnastics- Well at at least for the 1st 30 min.  She is now in the "big girl class" at Airborne Gymnastics, which teaches more gymnastics skills, following directions and listening skills.  Well, my little angel doesn't do the best with following direction.  
• Starbucks- She orders her "purple milk" in a big girl cup, just like mommy.  Purple milk essentially is what Starbucks used to sell, the Horizon vanilla milk, which was discontinued in the stores.  Now she gets iced whole milk with vanilla syrup.  Essentially it tastes like a vanilla milkshake if you ask me.  There is a Starbucks across the street from my Barre 3 class, so if she behaves she gets milk.  
• Library- Her new favorite place to go because everything is free, there are tiny tables, computer games and movies!
• Cow's House aka Chick fil'a- Who doesn't love Chick-fil-a?  She is half southern so she naturally has to love it.  She really only likes it for the cinnamon roles, milk and indoor playground.  
• Grocery Store- This is daddies job in the house, therefore she she always gets a treat to pick out!  Anything from Frozen cereal, which tastes like cardboard with Anna/Elsa/Olaf in the front of the box, milk, fruit, or snacks for school.    

• TV shows/Movies:
• Disney Junior!! Sophia the First, Doc McStuffins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sheriff Callie, and the list goes on.  
• Sesame Street- Or as Hadley calls "Elmo!"  She dances and claps her hands when it's time for the letter of the day, loves when "all of them" show up on the screen, and mommy loved the show even more when the word on the street was "frustrated."  What a great learning moment.  Elmo got frustrated and had to ask for help.  She also loves Super Grover and Abby with her wand
• Bubble Guppies- Mainly her show to get her past long car rides.  This has saved us driving up to San Francisco, Monterrey and Sacramento several times.  
• Cars- Ev.er.y night after her bath she watches Cars for about 15 minutes.  She is a true girly girl, but she loves loves Lightening McQueen, Tow Mater, and Sally
• Frozen, Tangled, Cinderella- Really do I need to explain?!
• Dumbo- She thinks baby Dumbo is "aw so cute."  But really her all time favorite part is the song "Baby Mine" when Dumbo goes to see his mommy and they show all the baby animals sleeping.  That song will always be Mason and Hadley's song because she loves when we rock her and sing that song.  Maybe a wedding first dance song?!

• Milestones:
• Potty Trained- Although we don't enjoy being woken up at 2am to take her to the potty, she has been completely day and night time potty trained since August 1st!
• Graduated from Speech Therapy
• Dresses herself- Typically stripes, polka dots and colors totally are mismatched.  I sometimes wonder how people's kids are always in adorable clothes, because she totally hates it when I pick out "no I don't want that" outfits.  We have ran errands several times in princess dresses...with the crown of course. 

• Things I don't like:
• New foods or anything a different color/texture/brand
• Public potties...especially the electric ones.  Thank you Starbucks for traumatizing my child in the bathroom!  Right now this is a BIG one!  She is absolutely terrified of public restrooms, electric air dryers after washing your hands and anything different from the bathrooms at school, church, home and sometimes barre.  If it's outside that comfort zone she gets terrified just talking about it.