2 1/2

 I am absolutely blown away by these girls. This post has been sitting unfinished for weeks now.

Rosie and Evie were jumping on my bed a few mornings ago and I decided to pull out my camera. I have had in the back of my mind that I wanted to do a 2 1/2 year post sometime this month (January) and fearing that that was never going to happen-- I thought I would try to take some quick portrait shots. They wouldn't sit together for more than two seconds (or even stay sitting up for that matter), they wouldn't look at me or smile on command and were just being wiggly and silly.  After about 10 minutes I decided it was a bust and I would try again another day.

 I finally went back and looked at the photos during their nap and they literally made me cry. The pictures aren't anything amazing or special but the girls...now that's another story. My daughters.

 Two and a half is an amazing age. Eve and Rose have grown into such lovely little girls. Things we tried doing with them a year ago are all of sudden so much more fun and a lot less work. Recently we have taken them bowling, sledding, swimming, and to a movie at the theater and had such a good time. We have our fair share of tantrums and whining and just being a stinker but that just comes with the toddler terrority. They love cooking and baking with me in the kitchen, painting, coloring, and going to gymnastics and library story time. They love singing and going to nursery and the day care at the gym. They love going to the park and we are lucky we have had such a warm winter. They hate having their hair done. They are learning their numbers and letters. They love seeing their cousins and grandparents and talk about them incessantly. They want a million stories and a million songs before bedtime. Their favorite books right now are The Runaway Bunny and Babies Birthday. There favorite songs are Over the River and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. They are lately obsessed with bubble baths and an obnoxious show called Caillou. They love jumping on our bed or taking the couch cushions off to jump into a pillow pile.They love playing hide and seek, chasing games and on the IPad. They love playing with their toy kitchen, shopping carts, and babies. These girls want kisses and band aids for every owie imagined or not. They are much more interested in seeing and playing with their friends then they ever have been. They love spinning around in circles until they are crazy dizzy and collapsing on top of each other. I love how they burst into laughter over unexpected things and their developing sense of humor.

I have read back on previous milestone posts I have written and while much of their likes and dislikes have stayed the same, they also seem to change so quickly. These posts are difficult because I hate to label or define them by certain things that switch and change and are sometimes true for both girls. I will never be able to write everything down but I think it's worth it to note a few things that seem to ring true at this point in time.

EVELYN IRENE:

 

 

 Evie is still my girl with the fiercer temper. She doesn't like to be messed with or taunted by her sister. She often says : "Mommy, Rosie bugger!" which translates to "Mommy, Rosie is bugging/bothering me." Evie is also the cuddlier of the two. She is shy and takes longer to warm up but has lately been much more out going and affectionate to the people she knows. She has a tender heart. Her favorite color is orange. She loves pooches and loves to get right down in their faces and snuggle them. Evelyn has a wonderful imagination. She is always in her own little world making two dolls or two crackers or her two hands talk to each other which is almost always in complete babble. She gets lost in what she is doing whether a game she is playing on her own or a TV show. She has the best gruff mad-scientist-type laugh. She loves to swing at the park and could do so forever. Evie loves princesses especially Ariel. She has just barely started asserting her independence and wanting to do things on her own and has learned how to climb out of her pack n play when we travel. Until recently, she would always say "mommy do it" when asked to do anything. She loves to help me clean and is more of a hindrance when she tries to stand under me and help push the vacuum. She loves to sing to herself and has zero interest in the potty. "No! Diaper! Baby!". She is very stubborn and couldn't care less about rewards. I love it when she is surprised or pretends to be and gasps out loud with her eyes wide and her mouth in a perfect "O".  Evie my blue eyed beauty.


ROSEMARY NELL:

Rosie, Rosie, Rosie. This girl is full of personality. She is more outgoing and is very, very busy. She gets into a lot of mischief and seems to be the leader of the two when it comes to causing trouble. She used to be the one I worried more with language but has made great strides and is the bigger talker right now. She is very clever and has great fine motor skills. She loves to taunt her sister just to get a rise out of her or take her toys and throw them where Evie can't reach them. Tsk, tsk. Rosie is also more accommodating, more willing to share, and more quick to apologize. She loves praise and I think sometimes is working to be viewed as the "good child" (which she gets from me :) ). She will do just about anything for a candy heart or marshmallow. She still loves to dress up and have her nails painted. Her favorite color is pink. She loves the slides at the park. Rosie is brave and will try new things like swinging on the rope swing into the pit at gymnastics. She especially likes to help me in the kitchen and wear her little apron. She loves to say "try it again" when she wants you to repeat something or "don't do that again!" when you do something like wipe her face after dinner. As far as potty training, I don't know where we stand with this gal. We have great days and not so great days. She sometimes gets really discouraged and doesn't want to do it at all and that makes me want to quit. Plus she won't poop in the potty so that's a major issue. She wants to brush her teeth, get dressed, buckle her seat belt, put on her socks and shoes all on her own and ofter yells "MY do it!". Rosie my feisty little sweetheart. 

Oh my girls. I am so lucky to have you and spend my days with you. You are kind and sweet, curious and mischievous, and perfect in every way. You drive me crazy but bring me so much happiness. I love you.