The Beauty of 2 1/2...

I know I say this about every stage....but this one is truly the best (I know I said that about the last stage too. So let's just call me a parenting optimist and leave it at that.) Two and a half is great because they are physically capable of doing more and they are so enthusiastic about doing it all themselves. So if you're on top of your game, you can really use this time to establish good habits and teach good life lessons. I didn't realize that she would be capable of doing as much as she does by this age. I figured this kind of comprehension wouldn't start until she was at least 3. I'm not suggesting she's advanced, I'm just saying that I had no idea some of these things would be possible at this age. Like flossing her teeth properly or memorizing books. When I think of her age as "two" I think of her as my little toddler. But then I watch her and I just think "You're a little girl now. A preschooler. A little lady. You're just not a baby anymore."

She's gotten a lot more affectionate with us. She will tell us first that she loves us or missed us while she napped. Nothing can melt me more than when she puts her arm around my neck, looks into my eyes and says "I sure love you Mom. I missed you." Of course NO ONE gets the amount of "love yous" and "missed yous" as Kyla does. Kyla still remains McKenna's favorite person in the world and vice versa. You wouldn't believe how their faces light up when they see each other for the first time every morning.

McKenna has gotten really independent. Dressing herself everyday (multiple times a day) brushing her teeth on her own, going potty on her own, puts movies on without help, can operate the remote control and the microwave (not that she's allowed without supervision of course), helps to take care of her sister, cleans her own room, helps me with chores. She loves doing chores and is so proud when I ask for her help (wouldn't it be great if that lasted? LOL!) She also loves to help me cook dinner and she'll tell Erick "Here Daddy. I made you dinner all by myself." I'm just so proud whenever I hear her having full conversations or when I see her master something that I know she is so determined to master.

A few cute things I don't want to forget:

When she puts on one of her princess dresses, she says "Oooh, milky smooth." She means "silky smooth" but some how it got twisted into "milky smooth". LOL!

(BRB I have to stop to go give her a "ballerina bun" in her hair).

Whenever she wakes up from a bad dream, I always hug her and say "Shh, it's ok. Mommy is here. You don't need to be scared. Mommy and Daddy are always close by." Well her and Erick were playing a silly video game that starts with some ominous music and she put her arm around me and she said "It's ok Mommy. You don't need to be scared. Kenna is always close by."

Ok so speaking of her ballerina hair, you know how I've mentioned that she loves to do a dozen costume changes every day? She has to try on all her princess and fairy clothes, complete with VERY specific hairstyles for each, and finished off with a touch of blush and lip gloss. This is a big part of her day. So I've decided that one of the things we're gonna do for her third birthday is take her to Libby Lu for the Princess makeover. She will LOVE it. Of course her birthday is still four months away but last time her and I were at Downtown Disney, we stopped in the store and she was in princess hEaVeN so I made the decision right then and there. I can't wait for that! I wonder if I'll be able to wait until her bday...= D

We have a new "discipline" tool in place. I don't know that discipline is really the word I want to use. There are times when McKenna is just getting worked up too easily and too often. Not necessarily misbehaving but just getting frustrated really easily. This is common on days when we have to skip naps or maybe if we've been on the go too much. So we've started to do "calm-down" time. If she keeps having melt-downs I ask her "Do you need some time to calm down?" And instead of time-out, she is then put in her chair with a little bag of books that she can read to help her calm down. She LOVES this because she does calm down instantly and she knows she's allowed to get up anytime she wants. I don't want her to feel punished because she's tired and cranky. And I don't want her to think of books as punishment. So this is just something we use to "calm down and relax". Now if she misbehaves, she does still get time-outs, pennies taken out of the wishing jar or early naptimes if it's necessary. But this has been a really great way to positively redirect those tantrums that are a result of things outside of her control.

Now Kyla, she is a rolling fool. That kid is all over the place. McKenna has considered it her personal mission to make sure that Kyla is always safe. Even though I'm always in the room with them, she will immediately call my attention to Kyla if she thinks that Kyla is getting too close to something that could harm her. She will frantically call out to me to "Save her! Save her!" And there have even been a few instances when I apparently didn't act quickly enough (LOL I assure you, Kyla was never actually in any danger but McKenna felt she was) and McKenna would grab Kyla's feet (Kyla is on her belly now) and McKenna would drag her sister backwards away from the impending doom. It is hilarious to watch this little two year old, dragging her baby sister across the room on her belly, by her feet, backwards. Kyla thinks it's the funniest game in the world and McKenna thinks its a near-death experience.

AND...Kyla's first two teeth broke through! Erick discovered them yesterday and they are so cute!! I'm glad I got some good pics of her gummy smile because those days are long gone now. Here come those baby teeth!

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Ok, a couple of scrap announcements I wanted to make....

* My friend Traci is taking the plunge and opening her own scrap-for-hire business called Cotton Blossom Scraps. She is having a logo contest and you could win a $50 gift certificate of YOUR choosing! C'mon....I know you've got an idea in your head already. You heard "Cotton Blossom" and you immediately got a beautiful image in your head right? DO something with it. Give it a go. Send it to Traci. Read more details here.

* I know there is always a need for more boy scrap items. So I wanted to point out Gina's new "Andy's Things" collection available at SBB. A neat little fact about these kits - all of the drawings are by her brother Andrew. Isn't that cool? I just loved his artwork and I loved what Gina did with them. Everything turned out so cute! She is currently selling them in four-packs and will soon sell them individually. But it is cheaper to buy them in groups so if you're looking to save a buck...

Andy's Things: Collection 1
Andy's Things: Collection 2

* Christine Haskell is officially selling as a digital designer! She just released brand new items (2 kits and 2 alpha sets) at Liddy's Loft. Be sure to check her out!

And of course

Recent LOs

Sprinkler Head

Credits: Everything here is from the beautiful "A Little Something" line by Kim Christensen. Everything from "A Little Something Pretty" kit and solids pack, except for the staple which is from "A Little Something Playful". Fonts are CK Paris and FG Linnea.

Sugar Baby with the Champagne Eyes

Credits: These Van Morrison lyrics always remind me of McKenna's eyes. I knew one day I'd want to scrap them with this photo. I just had to wait for the perfect papers to surface. Papers (Bramble Manor), envelope, tape, staple (Essentials pack) by Iron Orchid Designs and available at Scrapartist. Emulsion Transfer available at ACOT. Black stamp by Taran Conyers and background brush by Michelle Coleman. Fonts are Beyond Wonderland, CK Paris and Blackjack.

Kyla Girl

Credits: Welcome to the GMD team Aggie! I loved lifting your beautiful creativity. Papers are Jen Wilson's "Sweet Little Things". Flowers by Amy Martin. Monogram by Tammy Bankston. Floral stamp by Kate Teague. Stitching is a mystery file. Let me know if they look familiar. See Aggie's original here.

Practically Perfect

Credits: Welcome to the GMD Team Janet! Well, I did the best I could but your LO is so beautiful with the stunning photography that it was a challenge to try to measure up! Fortunately, you had a great design so even with my tv in the background the LO still came out pretty = D Everything is from Mindy Terasawa's "Touch of Spring" freebie with the exception of the blue beads (Holly McCaig), stitching (Dani Mogstad) and the paper tear (Traci Murphy). Fonts are Petrascript and CK Cosmopolitan. See Janet's original here.

First Beach Trip

Credits: See....boy kits aren't just for boys. ; ) I had a blast working with Gina Miller's new "Andy's Things Collection: Under the Sea" kit. The glitter and the netting were the perfect touches for this LO. Everything is from the kit except for the kraft paper (Kristin Tilly), the staple (Shabby Princess), the paper tear action (Atomic Cupcake) and the journal strip (from Gina's "Note This: Take 2" pack). Fonts are Mom's Typewriter, 2peas Fleamarket and 4990810.

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Ok, I just realized that I forgot to tell the NY&CO story. I'll tell that next time since this post has gotten long enough.

Question of the Day: The networks are gonna cancel ALL television shows but you get to pick one to stay on the air. What show do you pick? News doesn't count. A show you watch for entertainment. Which one would you absolutely insist stay on the air?