Gratitude: Pumpkin...

How could I possibly let this month go by without dedicating a post to Aubrey Kate?

Well, I couldn't.

This afternoon when we put her down for nap, she said, "Look at this mess!" in reference to all the toys in her crib.

We laughed out loud.

Girly speaks truth.  It really is a mess.  She likes her friends to be close.

Now, I have to be honest, I don't say "look at this mess"...maybe ever.  She must have picked that up from some cartoon.  Yes, we have messes but I don't focus on the mess but on the cleaning up of said mess.

Chris likes to joke that one day, she'll develop a personality.

I do not believe her tiny body is capable of holding any more personality.

So here are just a few little facts about my Pumpkin.

1.  Physically, she is skinny and tall.  We're in 3T outfits because the 2T's are too short in the waist and in her arms.  That is odd to me considering she was wearing 24 months this summer.  But it seems she has gotten long.  But if it's a skirt, it has to be 2T or even 24 months.  Otherwise it will fall off of her.  Tall and skinny.

2.  Verbally, she is so articulate and expressive.  No idea if she's advanced in her verbal skills for her age because we don't play the comparison game all that well.  But she is a parrot for sure.  She loves to say "actually" and for that, I am totally to blame.  Our only battle is about my name.  She wants to call me Mom and I do not like it.  I'll be "mom" some day but for now, I'd prefer to be Momma or Mommy.  She will also call Chris "Babe" sometimes since that's what I call him.  It's really not cute but it kinda is.

3.  She LOVES school.  I get a complete run down on each day.  Who ate what, who cried for their mommy, who's sick, who got in trouble, etc.  Music time is her favorite and we love learning her new songs.  And there are a lot of them.  She makes two craft projects each day so that's four pictures to hang up on the showcase each week.  It thrills her to death to watch me hang her masterpieces up.

4.  Great eater!  Girly loves food.  Any and all.  She'll try most anything...as long as we don't ask her to.  We prove the this by simply not putting something on her plate.  Instead, she will want ours and then we get her some to eat.  Works almost every time.  She prefers dark meat chicken over white.  Just like me.  She still loves all things fruit and veggie.  Loves to snack on carrots and often asks for green beans for dinner.  Of course she likes junk too.  Animal crackers, Daddy's chips, crackers, fruit snacks...  The list goes forever.

5.  Slowly, she is learning to play on her own.  Just this week, she's started reading to her baby dolls.  She'll get them all laid out of their pillows with a blanket over them.  Then she'll sit in front of the doll semi-circle and read books to them.  Now, most of the books all say the exact same thing.  According to her.  "I told you I could do it on my own."  She was saying that over and over this morning in the bathroom while we were all getting ready for church.  About drove Chris crazy.  I can totally block it out.  She still loves her puzzles.  Loves her kitchen.  Loves her flash cards.

6.  The temper tantrums have certainly decreased.  She seems to be fairly reasonable about most things. Of course, I usually give her two choices.  Or at least they appear to be choices to her.  I pick out two outfits from which she can choose.  Clothing seems to be the biggest battle.  She had a meltdown Saturday because she didn't want to try on a coat I'd bought her.  I suspect she will be very opinionated about her attire...very soon.

7.  She is very sensitive.  Really, it doesn't take much to make her cry.  I tread lightly when it comes to discipline sometimes.  Like this morning when she woke her brother up by reaching out and stopping the swing.  She wanted our attention (we were talking to each other...the nerve) and well, she got it.  She knew we were not happy and started crying.  I talked with her gently and then distracted her.  If she does it again, I'll punish her but in my experience with her, the gentle correction often works better. Especially since it was something she's never done before.  I am probably overly concerned about her level of sensitivity.  I know Chris is the same way so I know how he would react to my words and actions.  That helps guide me when I'm not sure of the path to take.

8.  She is horribly stubborn.  Lately, she's been wanting to each just a few bites of her meals in favor of play.  Then she wants to eat something else.  So, like today, she wanted a peanut butter sandwich for lunch.  Ate half.  And then decided she wanted a cheese sandwich.  Nope.  Doesn't work that way.  But instead of eating the peanut butter sandwich, she just went down for nap without eating much of a lunch.  Now, she'd had a bowl of cereal, banana and a snack at church.  She wasn't starving.  Potty training is another example.  We did that for one day this week and the second morning, she refused to wear the new underwear.  She wanted the diaper.  Okay.  We'll try again later but I'm not pushing her.  She knows when she needs to go potty because she'll tell me but if she wants to be that stubborn, so be it.

9.  Hates having her picture taken.  I bribed her with a marshmellow to get a smile out of her Saturday morning.  It's a shame, really, because she is beautiful.

10.  She keeps us laughing.  Never a dull moment in this house.  She is full of questions and curiosities.  I love it.  Keeps me thinking too.

Enjoy the videos of her singing and doing the animal noises.  It's not really amazing that she's doing either but it certainly is cute.

Thank you, Lord, for the miracle of Aubrey Kate.  You did immeasurably more with her.  She is a joy and we love being her parents.  Thank you for choosing our family for her!

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