Lucy at Four

My beautiful and brilliant Lucy is four!

I wish I was better at updating this blog. I never want to forget every detail of her childhood and about these days raising a little girl. It's been more fulfilling than I could have imagined, and it gets better every day. Don't get me wrong -- her getting older is the most bittersweet feeling that rocks me every hour. I look at photos of her at two months, two years, last year -- and I get weepy. I never realized these years would move as quickly as they do. I want to freeze time; I try in my own way by snapping countless photos of her. But it doesn't work, she keeps growing!

I've never met anyone like her. She's cute as a button, super sassy, hilarious, and SOOO smart. She connects things in a way that 35 year old Amy sometimes doesn't. While she's lost some of her dramatic toddler-ness, she can still get fired up and weepy over something silly.

Her current loves: TOYS including mashems, Disney princess, anything Paw Patrol, Frozen, Shopkins, Legos, PlayDoh and most of all watching anonymous hands unwrap toys on YouTube. She loves going to the mall and possibly getting a toy or special treat like a "juice" (Orange Julius). She has a big sweet tooth and loves anything sugary.

She sometimes takes her afternoon nap, but isn't a beast if she doesn't. She would stay up all night if we let her -- her once 8 pm bedtime is now more like 9:30/10. She sleeps through the night without issue. We're working on not peeing in her Pull-up overnight. She's been otherwise potty-trained since January at 3 years, 3 months. At her last doctor visit, she was 36.4 pounds and 38" tall.

She's a pretty independent kid, though she does get clingy when I leave her like dropping her off at daycare. She plays well with other kids for the most part. Her best friends are Nathan and Noah. Most of all she loves her honorary grandparents Susan and Kevin. Her favorite stuffed animals are dogs Sam, Samson and Buster. Her lovey is still her beloved "Beeky" who she often turns to in times of stress.

I still carry her as often as my arms will allow, and she loves snuggling on my lap just as much as I do. While I miss my little baby, I can't get over how fun she is now at four. Most of the time I really do feel like she's my best friend.

Lucy (December and January 2015)

"I got a book"
Oop-Oops
Dada bad. Twee On.
Minnie Bow Show
Be nice, Dada, be nice!
Here you go, Mama.
2, 5, 10
Doney (Donnie)
Seeva
Beeky Beeky Beeky
While reading: "Doggy in the doggy"

Ever since she turned two, Lucy's been learning and developing at a rapid rate. Her language is the most progressed, but I've also noticed her reasoning, identification, and memory.

She doesn't sing much, but maybe that's coming up in the future.

She likes to help -- that's my best form of redirection right now.

Lucy has a strong will and will routinely drop to the ground to pout, but doesn't tell me why she's upset. The power struggles are always a source of contention between me and her.

Lucy at 2 1/2

Fank a yow (Thank you)

MickyMeenie 

What happen? 

Mama take Dada so-a! Be nice! Timeout!

Anna-Elsa-Olaf

Sorry Doc, Sorry Lucy hit you

Doc Stuffin snack
Sammy cute! Sammy's my fwend.
Dada stink
Why Busta get timeout? He take MickeyMeenie!
The sun hit me.
Mama potty? Mama get MMs?

Lucy: Are you precious: Lucy: No, I'm a cutie!

Paw Patrol

I want Shake it Off!
Your dress pwetttty!

Lucy: Where's Mommy? Wes: At work. Lucy: Taking pictures?

At 2 1/2 years old, Lucy weighs 29 lbs, is 37" tall - at 50th percentiles for both. Pretty healthy kid overall - not sick often.

Sam is CUTE!

Lucy at 3 Years Old

Our big girl is now considered a preschooler. At 3 years, 2 months on January 1, she became potty trained and with few accidents started wearing big girl underwear (cotton Disney Princess, Frozen, and My Little Pony) exclusively (save for nap and overnight). I had been feeling for several months that I'd be sending her to high school in diapers, so I'm amazed she did it so quickly once we introduced panties this time around.

A week after the potty training, she graduated from crib to full-sized bed! And also got her first haircut. With so many giant milestones in such a short time, I've become a little weepy and really missing the tiny Buggy girl she used to be. But as a trade off, she really is so much fun to be with now. She's slowly able to reason with now, a little less tantrumy. She calls me her "best fwend." And she is mine. I can't believe how amazing she is -- brilliant (I'm told), funny, outgoing, and so so beautiful.

She's now 32 lbs and 38" tall -- still 50th percentile, though she looks leaner than she is. She loves playing with little collectible toys like Shopkins and Fashems. Mostly she loves watching YouTube videos of adults opening up these toys. Her favorite food is chicken, and she has a huge sweet tooth.

We have her registered in her fourth session of swim classes, and she loves it. She could play in the water all day if we let her. I hope to register her for dance class in the fall.

Since I've had a ton more downtime with it being off season for photography, I've been able to spend a lot more time with Lucy and Wes, which I'm so thankful for. As much as I enjoy my photography business, I hate feeling like I'm missing out on Lucy growing up. As much as she frustrates me, I miss her every second I'm not with her. I made the coolest little kid, and she's only newly 3!

Lucy at 25 Months

Lucyisms

CeeCee mah book (Lucy's book)

Mama toot (Mom passed gas)

I lob oo (I love you)

Soddy, mama (I'm sorry, mom)

MINE

Where's Wes? Wes! Wes! 

Kiki, Minnie, Deezee, Duck, Goofy, Pudu (Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Donald, Goofy, Pluto)

Pwetty twee (Pretty tree upon seeing the lighted Christmas tree)

Nack (Snack, notably Target fruit snacks

Bop on (Turn the light on)

Wadoo (Water)

Hug! Kiss! 

9, 2, 9, 2 (how she counts)

Mama coffee

Dadda juice (Diet Pepsi) 

Pease and too-oo (Please and thank you)

Kenin and Sunin (Kevin and Susan)

No no Gobby! 

At her two year dr. appointment, she clocked in at 27 lbs, 36" tall, -- a perfect 50th percentile and following her growth curve. I always worry she's not eating enough, getting all her nutrients, but she is growing and thriving.

likes: chicken, fruit snacks, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, music, Italian ice with Daddy, talking, wrestling/tickling, storytime, CeeCee car, her beek (blanket), Elmo, books, playing with bops (buttons and light switches), Orange Juliuses from Dairy Queen, baby dolls
hates: the doctor's office, not getting what she wants, being told to wait, other kids playing with her toys or toys she thinks are hers, being cooperative, getting out of the bath, getting her teeth brushed, daycare dropoff, sharing

A few days after her first birthday, she successfully peed on the potty! She has sat on the potty a few times but this was the first time she did anything on it. I made a huge deal out of it, but she was kind of whatever about it. She's attempted a few times since, but just sits there and plays. I don't want to force it too much, so I've been following her cues. It's promising she's shown an interest at least. I may step up efforts over the next few months and see what happens.

I say it every month, but this girl continues to blow my mind with her beauty, intelligence, humor, and personality. I honestly look forward to every day with her -- sometimes my fuse is very short, but I still wouldn't change it.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Lucy!

I have a two year old!! I've been prepping myself the last few months, mentally thinking of her as 2 so that the impact wouldn't be as rough. It helped!

I'm looking forward to the "terrible twos" as odd as that sounds. She is maturing so much in such a short spam of time that by the time she is hitting her third birthday, she'll be a whole other kid.

We celebrated her second birthday at the community room at our mall. The theme was picked out months ago -- Minnie Mouse! For over a year, her biggest TV crush has been Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so even though I have a distaste for most character things, I knew she would have picked it if she could tell me. From the second she ran in the door, I knew she loved being the birthday girl -- part of that probably had to do her tulle skirt. She was literally bouncing off the walls and oohing over her Minnie cake. SO worth it!

Her favorite gift was Rody, a durable bouncing horse, from her honorary grandparents. At the end of the party, she sat on her cake table and helped herself to a cupcake.

Lucy at 23 and 24 Months

I didn't get to blog Lucy the last few months, so hopefully I can remember everything right now!

calls light switches and buttons "bop"
Nina Needs to Go
"Uh oh. mama poop."
"Honey mama"
Exaggerated head nod
Signing for "mook" and "nack"
"Bug-GEE"
Animal sounds
Mama hone, Dada key, Mama car
A bus!
Baby cwhy-ding
Baby pewp
Giving me bits of non-food right away and saying "yuck"
Reading to herself and getting inklings of words she knows "nine toes"
Saying no a lot
New fascination with Dora the Explorer
Loves to dance and listen to music

We don't see the doctor until later this month so I have no idea what her height and weight stats are! I'm guessing close to 25 lbs. She seems pretty tall for her age. Physically, she's looking way more like a kid and not a baby. Her hair is getting so light and long, especially the back layer. Her hair is so naturally layered I can't ponytail it yet. People say they're seeing more of me in her these days. Health-wise, she's been okay -- a few little bouts of pink eye last month, but overall ::knock on wood:: nothing major, but we're just hitting yucky flu season so I won't hold my breath too much.

She doesn't eat nearly as much as I'd hope she does. I think she does a decent job of eating while at daycare, but at home she'd just rather snack all day and drink milk. She appears to be growing and thriving so I am trying not to stress about it.

She is still very feisty and stubborn, lots of highs and lows. She's pretty selfish and not great about sharing her toys with friends. She is recognizing people through photos (though most adult men are "dada."

More in her TWO YEAR blog post!