Diagnosis: A Typical 2 Year Old

That's how Peyton's doctor put it at her 2 year physical this week! It's always nice to hear reassuring words such as those as to the good times and not so good but NORMAL times with a 2 year old!

Here are Peyton's 2 year stats:

Height- 36.5" (still very tall in the 98th percentile!)

Weight- 26 lbs 2 ozs (43rd percentile)

Head- 18.74"

Apart from a mild ear infection that 10 days of the pink stuff will handle no problem, Peyton received a welcomed clean bill of health from Dr. Morris. What a relief considering where we were this month last year with our little monkey.

Thought I'd also use this post to jot down some things for you Miss Peyton that you like and have also made very clear that you do not like at this point in your 3rd year of adventures!

Likes

• Playing with wa-wa (water), more wa-wa & MORE wa-wa!
• Looking at books- especially ones with animals so you can tell us what sound each makes
• Giving the cutest kisses to Mommy, Daddy & Sissy
• Eating only the frosting off of donuts, cupcakes, pretty much anything topped with icing and you even try scraping it off a pop tart!
• Greeting Sissy with a big hug when she comes downstairs first thing in the morning b/c you are always the first one up :)
• Feeding "puppy" her food piece by piece
• Watching Elmo, The Wiggles, Barney & Yo Gabba Gabba
• Having Mommy carry you and wiggling your little index finger in the direction of what you want- darn words where are you when I need you?!

Dislikes

• Sitting in your carseat- you want to be a big girl like Sissy!
• Going to bed before anyone else when there's still so much fun to be had
• Sitting in a cart at the store with Mommy- there are so many neat things for your little fingers to touch!
• When you're trying so hard to tell us something but we just don't get it!
• Eating things that don't contain lots of sugar- YUCK- bring on the m&ms!

We love you Peyton and most of the time consider you anything but typical :)! Your little personality is really starting to pop and you round out our family just perfectly. Here's to your 3rd year of exploring, growing & shining!

Our Little Reader!

Wow has Kylie learned a lot in these first months of Kindergarten! The things we are most impressed with are her reading and writing. This past week we were settling down to read her "If you Give a Moose a Muffin" before bed when Kylie asked if she could read it to us instead! "Ok....if you say so" was kinda the look she got from Mommy & Daddy! But she proceeded to read the entire book to us without hesitation, minus maybe 5-10 words!! Pete and I were speechless. I mean we know Kylie catches on really quickly to things and she has known her numbers and alphabet for years already (in English & Spanish!) but to watch her read us a book from start to end was amazing. One of those really special moments as a parent you'll never forget.

This week Kylie brought home a book tote along with her normal items. Inside there was a note from Mrs. Porter, 2 small books and a long form to fill out. We're to have Kylie read the books to us several times over 3-4 days and then return them in her tote for 2 new ones. And we also have to sign off each time that we are doing this- feels a little bit like homework has begun!!

So here is Kylie reading the first 2 of many books she will master as a Kindergartener- and these were much much easier than the one she read to us ;)!

Great Reading Kylie!!

(apologies on the video- not sure why it's so dark & quiet b/c it sure wasn't at the time!)

Photos from Peyton's 2nd Birthday Fun!

**You might want to read the post following this one first as it gives more context to some of the birthday fun :)!

Peyton's 2nd Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Peyton and Elmo! Although Elmo has 38 years on her, Peyton has had a fantastic time celebrating her second birthday "Elmo style"!

We were joined by family, friends & neighbors for Peyton's Elmo party on Saturday. Birthday fare included a variety of appetizers including the oh so popular homemade BLT dip, bagel dogs, italian beef, potato salad and LOTS of sweets! An Elmo cupcake tree, ice cream cups, cookies, candy...I better stop there before Dr. Sam (our family dentist) gets wind of this post :).

And of course we played lots of party games: Pin the nose on Elmo, Where's Elmo's Dorothy?, and last but not least an Elmo pinata filled with candy and toys! Everyone had a great time playing and winning "valuable" prizes :). We then opened all of the wonderful gifts Peyton received that ranged from special books & adorable outfits to Elmo toys and her very own talking vaccum!

Today, on Peyton's actual birthday, we took Kylie to school and then went to the community center so Mommy could return some books & dvds to the library and Peyton could play with some of her buddies in the childcare room. Once it was made known that it was Peyton's birthday today, everyone sang Happy Birthday to her which she loved! She even did a little birthday dance as they sang!

This afternoon we went to Toys R Us for her birthday club goodies and instead of a toy Peyton chose one of her all time favorite things to play with- an umbrella, a Tinkerbell umbrella! Then it was off to meet Daddy & Paige at McDonalds Playland for a fun night to cap off a fun birthday day! After everyone ate, we had cake & ice cream that Mommy had brought and Peyton opened one last b-day gift: a Tinkerbell teapot filled to the brim with plates, spoons, pots and cups. For all of you that know Peyton, these days she couldn't be happier than when she's having tea parties or cooking in her kitchen with LOTS of water!

As expected after such a fun filled day and not wanting anything to do with a nap, the birthday girl fell fast asleep on our way home!

Happy 2nd Birthday Peyton! We are so blessed to have you healthy and to have your little smile and laughter to brighten our days! It is so exciting watching you grow and learn more each day and Mommy, Daddy & Sissy are looking forward to all of the adventures to come in the next 365 days until your 3rd birthday :)!

Our Mama Monkey