2.5

It's Ruthie's half birthday today! So I'll be reflecting on where she's at and what she's up to these days. Let's just say we're smack dab in the middle of toddler hood so basically we never know what we're going to get when it comes to what mood we'll be getting from her from one minute to the next. 

Dearest Ruthie, 

  Spring and early summer were rough, I felt like you were more unhappy than happy and there were many days that started with no less than 6 crazy crying fits before breakfast. Not to mention getting you dressed and shoes on was (sometimes still is) a Battle Royale. There were some really rough days but of course there were many many awesome and fun days and more often than not that is what I'll remember. We had so many fun picnic lunches and played at so many parks. We had fun working on our challenges for the summer reading program at the library and we finally got the bike carrier hooked up for some family bike rides. Your motto of the summer could be, "Mommy (or Daddy) will you play with me?" in your singsong-y cute voice. It's hard to say no. 

Later summer we think you turned a corner and have recently seemed to have been in a much better overall mood! You still have at least one or a few fits every day and they are epic and dramatic- but we wouldn't expect anything less. You are SO observant and have starting asking questions of Why? One day you looked up at the barn star on our garage (which birds recently built a nest behind) and asked, "Mommy why doze birds put a ness up dare and put a star on it?" Not to mention books and your continued love of reading...you are always happy to cuddle in the reading corner and read with me, sometimes you surprise me and take the book in your own lap and tell me the story back in your own words-it is too cute. You love any and all Curious George "George Monkey books".You make up songs about what you are doing and sing along with the right tune more often than not. You let everyone know that your favorite color is orange and everyone we pass in the grocery store gets an enthusiastic, "HI! I'm Ruthie!" You are such a joy (most days)!  

I looked back at a video of you one year ago and couldn't believe how much you've changed. You were only saying singular words here or there and 'talking' but nothing intelligible like now as we have whole conversations recalling our day and favorite things. Your blonde hair is halfway down your back now and curls at the end, I never want to cut it but you HATE getting it combed or put in any sort of ponytail! 

You continue to be my good little eater and you 'help' me make things in the kitchen, cracking eggs and whisking vigorously- making quite the fun mess. You favorite things to eat are any carb, 'smoovies' (frozen banana + other random fruit and greens smoothies), bell peppers (especially orange ones) and carrots, pizza, pancakes, cereal, and tomatoes- all the tomatoes! I think you single handedly picked and ate all the grape tomatoes we grew this year. Gardening with you was a blast this year- you loved to stand right in the garden and pick and eat pea pods, cucumbers and tomatoes. You loved pulling up the carrots and eating them right out of the garden- after washing them in your water table of course.

You've been a champ as we forged ahead with potty training this summer and

The summer of you at 2- one to remember fondly, thank you for being you sweet and crazy girl! On to the next season!