Here we are at age 26 months, where things are easier and harder than they've ever been. The mornings are easier because she sleeps in a bit longer and doesn't demand breakfast right away. She'd rather watch a TV show than be held. This gives us time to get ready (we both currently work outside the home) or slowly make plans for the day. She can feed herself most of the time and doesn't require much clean-up. And, there are less diapers to change. Other times are harder because she has her own ideas and so badly wants to do things herself, but she can't quite communicate to us what they are. We had a rough start to this parenting thing (which I think about a lot), but it really is such a joy to be her mom.

ROONEY, 26 MONTHS

Likes to direct which way we should turn when driving in the car
Points out all the basketball hoops in our neighborhood while driving by
Is very cautious and careful...I can trust her with my favorite glass bowl on the hardwood floor or a full box of crackers in the van
Doesn't like to have dirty hands
Is very shy when meeting new people
Saw her first movie (at home): Frozen! (We have since purchased the soundtrack and seen the movie a dozen times.)
Successfully went on the potty for the first time on Sunday, March 30 (at a hotel, nonetheless)!
Went poop on the potty for the first time on Friday, April 21 (at daycare)
Can count to 10 and is starting to know 11, 12, 13
Her left foot is bigger than her right...enough to make it noticeable when putting on her shoes. I'm assuming this is "normal," but I plan to bring it up at her next well-child checkup...which I guess is 10 months away :)
Reminds me SO much of myself...we have the same personality
Keeps her paci to mostly just the crib and car (huge breakthrough for us in the past month!!!)

FAVORITE FOODS

Macaroni and cheese
Strawberries
Sunbutter
Sausage links
Meatballs
Chips and cheese dip
Donuts
Pirate's Booty
Water

SLEEP

Bedtime: 7:00-7:30 pm
Night sleep: 10.5-12 hours (some night it takes her a while to fall asleep)
Morning wake time: 6:30-8:00 am
Nap time: 1:00 pm
Nap duration: 1.5-3 hours

She still sleeps in a crib with her sleep sack and pacifier. I'm ready to be done with the sleep sack, but she loves it.

SPEECH

Her vocabulary has exploded in the past month. She now says "I" instead of "me" and repeats lots of words and phrases she hears.

She can't quite say "Rooney" yet. It sounds like "ooo-ree" or "aerie" or aww-ree" :) BUT there was a character named Rodney on TV and she could say that just fine, so I think she'll get the hang of it soon!

My favorite was when she told me "I love you very much" for the first time ever, without any prompt. That was special! My not-favorite was when she told me, "No! Stay away a me!"

Common words/phrases:

"Mine"
"I no want it!"
"I want it!"
"I wanna watch it!"
"I wanna eat it!"
"I wanna read it!"
"Go that way"
"That's mine's" (mine)
"My mommy"
"Where daddy go?"
"I do it mySELF"
"It's not hot 'more" (anymore)
"It's not spicy 'more" (anymore)
"My head's broken" (made me laugh...she had just scratched her head)

PLAYING

Crazy about babies ... she feeds her doll (my old Cabbage Patch Doll), changes its diaper, puts it to bed, brings it in the van and shopping cart
Reading books and doing puzzles at the library
Stickers
Loves to be outside at the playground or riding bikes or in her wagon or walking
Is very helpful in the kitchen with unloading the silverware or washing strawberries and celery (she climbs up in her Learning Tower)

HEALTH

This week we took her to the doctor for sickness for the FIRST TIME IN HER LIFE (yes, you read that right). She is battling some respiratory congestion (wheezing, coughing), but we are managing it well with natural remedies and essential oils.
We see the chiropractor weekly
We bathe her twice a week
Teeth: 16

POTTY TRAINING

We have dipped our toes into the potty training process. I bought her a potty chair and seat, but other than that, we haven't been proactive about it. She actually prefers to sit on the big potty without a potty seat (even better if she is fully naked). She sees me go potty occasionally, as well as her cousin Mylie, which has definitely piqued her interest. She has gone successfully twice (#1 and #2). I was not there either time...which is crazy since I am the one who usually takes her. We don't have any books about how to do this or any books to read to Rooney about the process, so we're just taking it as it comes and trying to use common sense or tidbits we've heard from other parents. I like that she is getting interested, but it's also somewhat of a hassle, especially if we're out and about (at a restaurant she may ask to go three or four times, which gets old when she doesn't go, but I feel like I can't say no). The process has been interesting and I am realizing that while she shows some signs of being ready, it seems like she can't quite "hold" or "control" it yet, so most of our tries are not successful. We don't ever ask her if she needs to go potty...for now we're just taking her lead on this thing.

Rooney, I love watching you play and get lost in your imagination. It takes a while to get you there, though. When we show up at the park, sometimes you are attached to my leg for 10 minutes before getting brave enough to climb the steps and go down the slide. But when you do, you have so much fun and feel so much adventure and pride in yourself. I feel that my job right now is to push you out of your comfort zone but stay within your maturity level. To expect big things from you, but still let you be a kid. It feels so good to be the one to guide you through this life. xo, Mom

Rooney, 26 months

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