Author: Brand_New_World_Betsy

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Originally uploaded by griffey

Happy Birthday, my big girl!

You can run, jump, dance, climb, sing, hum, make funny faces, play tickle monster, and make people laugh. You love books and to “read” to your stuffed animals and baby dolls (and sometimes to mommy and daddy). You’re a little addicted to Ni Hao, Kai Lan. But sometimes you like to watch the old Frosty the Snowman cartoon. Your favorite toys change from day-to-day, but you adore your new tricycle, Mr. Potato Heads, kitchen stuff, tea sets, play doh, markers and paper, bath crayons, and all your “lovies.”

Your favorite place is Shan’s Chinese Buffet, which is where we had your birthday party, since you love it so much. You ate noodles, broccoli, fish, and chicken plus two bowls of ice cream and most of the icing off your cake (vanilla, of course, your favorite).

You love “school,” especially art and music class, and you have so much fun with your friends and your wonderful teachers.

We are so proud of you and, to quote one of your favorite books, “We love everything that you will be and all the things you are.”

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Originally uploaded by griffey

Eliza is really, really into playing with her little kitchen, plastic food, and play pots and pans. So today, when we let her “help” us bake Christmas cookies, she was in heaven.

She stood on a step stool for no less than 45 minutes in complete and total concentration: pouring flour, sugar, and salt from one bowl to another, stirring, adding cinnamon, feeling it with her fingers, trying out the measuring cups and spoons, having an absolute blast. She got herself (and the kitchen) so messy, but it was so interesting to see her so focused and so joyful.

Maybe she’s a famous chef in the making? Nothing would make us prouder, I believe!

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Originally uploaded by griffey

Here’s the post-Thanksgiving aftermath, Eliza and her cousin Parker taking a bath. Eliza thought it was hilarious. Parker just sort of sat in the corner and wondered how he got there. Luckily, they get along really well, despite Eliza’s bossy bear tendencies.

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Originally uploaded by griffey

After spending all day Friday as a clown, Eliza changed her mind and decided she would trick-or-treat as a butterfly. Good thing we had a backup costume. Here she is with her dad, trick-or-treating at the mall in Chattanooga. Hard to tell who had a better time.

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Originally uploaded by griffey

For over a month, any time we’ve asked Eliza what she wants to be for Halloween, she has replied “a clown.” Not a fairy, not a princess, not a butterfly or a bumblebee. Not even her beloved friends like Dora, Foofa, or Muno. A clown. Why??? We’re not sure.

Here’s a sneak peak of Eliza, trick-or-treating this weekend as a cute little clown!

Eliza – First School Picture

Originally uploaded by griffey

Just wanted to post Eliza’s first ever school picture, taken at 21 months old. I have NO idea how they got her to pose like that (or sit still for so long). The giant smile is no surprise…that’s honestly how she looks the majority of the time. The cow lick is just an added bonus! And, by the way, this is an outfit she picked out. She absolutely insisted on wearing her “chick shirt” for picture day.

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Originally uploaded by griffey

We love everything about fall, and I think it’s rubbing off on Eliza. Could it be the Little People toys we’ve gotten her (trick-or-treat house and hayride set)? Could it be the awesome trip to Bear Wallow Farm in Nancy, KY where she picked out her own pumpkin, petted animals, and led all her cousins through a corn maze? Could it be the beautiful fall leaves, which she now picks up to take home, along with rocks, pinecones, and other treasures? Could it be all the books about Halloween and her impending excitement about trick-or-treating?

Who knows, but these past few weeks have been Eliza (and mommy and daddy) heaven.

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Eliza has learned to say “What’s that?” and now we’re doomed. It’s not the dreaded “why,” but it’s pretty close. Because she asks all the time, about everything, even when she knows the answer perfectly well. “Eliza, it’s a spoon. You know what a spoon is. You’ve said it since you were 13 months old.”

She’s not saying “Who’s that?” yet, but instead points to strangers and asks “This one?” as in, what’s this one’s name? She doesn’t yet realize that mom and dad don’t know everything.

IMG_0841, originally uploaded by griffey.

I think the most fascinating process in Eliza’s growth and development so far is watching her learn about emotions: what they are, how to talk about them, and how to recognize them in others.

Every morning, daddy says, “How do you feel?” And she always says, “Happy!” She also reports on the well-being of her classmates at daycare. So-and-so cries. So-and-so sad. And she knows the word “scary,” and uses it more or less correctly, like when she pointed at the covers of some of Jason’s videogames and said, “Mommy, that’s scary.” So I moved them. She looks carefully at the faces in her books, and tells me which ones are angry, sad, happy, surprised.

But the best of all is hearing her say, “I love you,” which comes out more like “I duv u.” But we know what it means. And it’s awesome.

IMG_2067, originally uploaded by griffey.

Eliza has been going through what some call a “sleep regression.” Probably due to some crazy developmental stuff that’s keeping her body and brain too jacked up to settle down properly, she has decided she hates going to bed. This is the same child who was “Ferberized” at 6 months and has gone to bed easily and happily since then and slept through the night with no problem. All of a sudden, she is afraid of the dark, or doesn’t want to be away from mommy and daddy, or simply doesn’t want to go to bed. So for a week, bedtime has become traumatic for everyone.

We tried a nightlight. It made things worse (creepy shadows). She has plenty of “lovies” in the bed with her and her “bankie,” which is the same one she’s always had. We use the same iron clad (and, until now, successful) wind-down routine: bath, books, singing, bed.

Last night was a little bit better. I’m not sure what made a difference, though. Hopefully every night will get a little better until this phase is finally over.