Imitation is the Sincerest form of Flattery

Yesterday Andrina was playing in the bathroom while I was putting on my makeup in the morning. My little Sweetie watched with great interest while I used my brushes and she had to do it too. Here's a picture of Andrina "applying" some mineral foundation:
Of course there wasn't any makeup on the brushes when Andrina played with them but it was just so sweet that I had to get some pictures. I only wish she hadn't taken off her jammies before she did this as she is more little girl than baby now (sniff!). She really is Mommy's Little Girl!

Art Class

Andrina had her first art class at Gymboree today (it was supposed to be last Friday but we would have been the only ones there so they asked us to wait until today when 3 other mommy-kid pairs would be there too). Andrina seemed to really like it. She played with play-dough for the first time, and colored and painted. She was the youngest child there by 5 months so she didn't follow directions as good as the other kids but there is a world of difference between 2 and 2 and 1/2 years old. Plus it was her first time there and the other kids had been there many times before. So hopefully it will be a little smoother next week. Andrina and I enjoyed it overall so we will go again next week.

Secure

Today and Tuesday were both tear-free and cry-free when I took Andrina to school. Both times she was happy to go run off to start playing and for a change, I had to be the one to go after her and give her hugs and kisses goodbye. I am so happy that she is secure yet today I say "goodbye" to a part of our bond. Slowly but surely, my baby will need me less and less. Even that term, how much longer can I call her a "baby" and get away with it? When I said that today was a tear-free day at school, that was only partly true. I was the one who silently cried by myself when I got back to the car and I realized these early days, weeks, months, and years of my precious child's life will soon give way to time's fate. She will continue to grow and develop and become more independent. I always knew it but now I can actually feel it. The experience has started and I honestly am hating it. Yes, it has to happen. Yes, it needs to happen or it would be unfair to Andrina if it didn't. But I wish I could freeze time and Andrina and I could stay in our love affair forever. Days filled with playing and reading, giggling and cuddling, of my child wanting and needing me more than anyone. This is definitely the best time of my life and I am going to continue to savor it for as long as I can.

Still a Messy Baby...

...at 6 months old...

and 26 months old!

Of course the very visable red spaghetti sauce adds and extra impact too! And look how much Andrina has grown! 2 years, 2 months old today too!

Andrina's Little Puggie

Yesterday Andrina was with "her" little dog Teenie (but we all call Teenie "Puggie") and instead of just petting and hugging Puggie like she usually does, Andrina took out some toy food, put it up to Puggie's mouth saying, "here" and making chewing sounds like she does when we pretend to eat food together! It was so cute and such a little kid way to play! I didn't get it on video, I'm going to have to make sure I have the camera ready for the next time they may play like this!

"Here" Puggie, have a hamburger bun. "Thhhaat thhhaat"...

Gymboree

Today I signed Andrina up for an art class through our local Gymboree for next Friday. I'm very excited about being able to do this with her. I've noticed lately that when I pick her up after school, she is actually involved in the activity the class is doing, instead of just playing on her own like she did even up to a month ago. So it seems that she might now be at the age where she could enjoy and benefit from a structured activity instead of just running around and playing and not being involved. Similar to how I gave up on story time at our library last year because Andrina would never sit still to actually listen to the story once she was mobile.

I chose the art class over the play & learn class because the play & learn seems to be very similar to what she does at the children's museum except it is more structured. I also did not want to do a music class with her because I really don't want to be in a room full of toddlers all making "music" at the same time. Maybe we can try those other classes in another year or so. But I am very excited about this new way we can continue to bond together and that we might be able to make some local mom & toddler friends as all of our current ones live an hour away. I hope I'll have some pictures and good news to post after our first class next Friday!

Giving Up Her Nap?

Today is the 3rd day in a row that Andrina has not slept during her naptime. She may be getting to the point where she won't need to sleep during the day any more, I'm not sure if this will stick or if maybe she will fall asleep during her nap some days and won't other days. Sigh, my baby girl is more little girl and less baby everyday...

Learning Colors

Andrina and I have been working on her learning colors. We haven't been working too hard on it, I will just tell her the colors of objects and ask her and correct her when she gets them wrong. Well, today she got all the colors I asked her about right! Andrina correctly identified pink, green, yellow, red, and purple! Yea baby girl!