Friends

Staley loves her friends.  She has friends at the baby-sitters.  Her cousins are her friends.  She loves the neighbor kids.  She is friends with the children of my friends and co-workers.  But lately, she's also been spending some time with a few other friends...her imaginary ones. 

Lately, Staley has been talking a lot about her 'friends' coming over or her friends being at her house.  They sometimes eat with us, sitting at the table in specific chairs assigned by Staley.  She will talk about playing with her friends or having her friends come to her birthday party.  Much like naming her bears, Staley has named her  new 'friends' according to colors.  She has 'the pink one', 'the green one', and 'the blue one.'  She has told me that the pink one's name is Katie, but this isn't consistent.  What is consistent is that Staley seems very fond of these friends.

Yellow Bear is also a very special friend.  Yellow Bear goes most places we go.  Yellow Bear spends all naps and bedtimes in the crib with Staley.  Although all her bears sleep with her now, Yellow Bear is always the one that she cuddles up with as she's going to sleep.  He eats with us, plays with us, reads with us.  Staley often includes Yellow Bear in her play or reads books to him.  One morning, Staley and I were walking down the stairs for breakfast.  I heard her sweetly say, "I love you."  I turned around to tell her that I loved her too when I heard her say, "You want to eat breakfast with me?"  She was looking down at Yellow Bear as she carried him down the stairs, and I realized that she was talking to Yellow Bear, not me.  And tonight as we were putting Staley down for bed, she said, "Hi, Yellow Bear.  I like your ribbon.  It's very nice."

Yellow Bear enjoying some of Staley's cooking.

It's sweet how much Staley loves Yellow Bear.  I enjoy watching Staley's imagination come alive with her new 'friends.'  But I also think that maybe my company just isn't meeting all of Staley's play and social needs anymore.  It's probably a good thing that Peanut is on the way...before the pink one, the blue one, and the green one decide to set up a permanent residence here.

My Favorite Age

When Staley was a newborn, I thought that was my favorite age.  She was so snuggly and cuddly.  I could spend hours just holding her while she slept.  She was so tiny and helpless, making me feel like my only job in the world was to love and protect her.  Those tiny fingers.  Those tiny toes.  I couldn't imagine anything better.

Then when Staley was 6 months old, I thought that was my favorite age.  She was learning so much.  She was sitting and rolling and playing with toys.  It was so easy (and so fun) to make her smile and laugh.  Her schedule was set, and it was so fun to take her new places and show her new things.  Everything was new to her, and it was amazing viewing the world through a fresh set of eyes.  I couldn't imagine anything better.

But at one year, I was sure that THAT was my favorite age.  Staley was becoming her own little person.  She was walking and talking.  She could understand what I told her, and could communicate what she wanted.  She was learning new things everyday, and it was so amazing to me how someone so small could absorb so much.  I was astounded by the daily learning and growing, the connections that were being made.  I loved the little person that Staley was becoming.  I couldn't imagine anything better.

Then I determined that 18 months was my favorite age.  My little talker was amusing me daily with what she could say.  She was starting to pretend, to take turns, to be so fun to play with.  She loved going places, and I loved taking her.  She found such pleasure in all the little things in life--in puddles, in sticks, in treats, in animals.  Independence began emerging, and I watched my baby girl start to grow into someone who wanted to do things 'all by myself.'  What a fun way to recapture all the little joys in life by watching my daughter's eyes light up with new discoveries.  I couldn't imagine anything better.

Until now.  Staley will be 2 on Friday.  And I love, love, love this age.  It's definitely my favorite.  Staley is my happy, loving, funny, joyful, singing, dancing, social bundle of joy.  I love that she wants to be independent, yet still wants to cuddle and hold my hand and sit on my lap.  I love that she can engage in a conversation with me and tell me all about her day, yet still needs me to explain things to her and answer lots of questions.  I love that Staley has her own sense of humor and makes her own jokes, yet I can still always make her smile and laugh.  I love that Staley can pretend and 'read' to herself, yet still always wants to include me in her play.  I love that Staley enjoys playing with her friends and spending time with her baby-sitter, yet still runs to greet me with an exuberant smile and hug when I pick her up.   I love that Staley naps (mostly) and sleeps so well, yet still wakes up happily asking for her 'mama.'  I love that Staley has her own opinions, exerts her independence, and speaks her mind, yet still remains her easy-going little self.  My little Staley fills my heart and my life each and every day.  I can't imagine anything better.

Memory Lane

It's amazing how fast time flies...and how quickly she grows...and how I just can't get enough of my baby girl.

January 2011

January 2012

January 2013

Interview at 2

As hard as it is to believe, my Staley will turn 2 on Friday.  In honor of Staley's birthday week, I interviewed her yesterday.

When is your birthday?  January 11
How old will you be?  2
What do you want at your birthday party?  Party hats and games and cake and ice cream and a Sesame Street balloon.
What kind of cake do you want?  A 'frinkle' (sprinkle) cupcake.
What kind of ice cream do you want?  I will have vanilla and you will have vanilla and Daddy will have vanilla and all my cousins want chocolate.
What is your favorite color?  Yellow.
Who is your favorite princess?  Snow White.
Who is your favorite bear?  Yellow bear.
What is your favorite food?  Bacon and eggs and pancakes.
What is your favorite animal?  Zebra.
What is your favorite song?  As I was walking down the street...
What is your favorite toy?  This one (as she looked around her room and picked up a seahorse rattle that was randomly lying on the floor.)
You like the seahorse rattle better than your kitchen?  I yike (like) my kitchen too.
What is your favorite movie?  Strawberry Shortcake (although she had just watched it for the first time earlier in the day.)
What is your favorite book?  (Again looking around her room, she picked 'Peek-a-who' off her shelf and said) I yike this one.
Who do you like to play with?  Cade and Olivia
What do you like to do with Daddy?  Play.
What else do you like to do with Daddy?  Go to the pool and go to the park and swing and slide.
What do you like to do with Mommy?  Go swimming at the pool.

So that's Staley at 2...in her own words.

Still Not Ready

Alternative Title:  Potty Time-Take 2

Several months ago, Staley showed an interest in using her potty (which has been well documented in this blog here and here.)  She lost interest and returned to her blissful existance of diapers and sporadic potty sitting when she felt the need for an M&M.

On Sunday of this past week, I had to go into work for a few hours in the morning.  Apparently, when Zach was getting her dressed for the day, she said, "I don't need a diaper.  I wear big girl underpants."  So when I returned home from work, Staley happily told me all about the Cinderella underpants she was wearing.  She wore her underpants all day on Sunday (except during nap), successfully used her potty once, and didn't have an accident until the very end of the day.

So Monday morning, we picked right up where we left off employing the potty training tool kit--underpants, potty sitting, M&Ms.  Unfortunately, despite multiple potty breaks, Staley had not one, but two accidents Monday morning.  After her second accident, she said, "I don't want my underpants.  I want my diaper."  And since then, she does not want to wear her big girl underpants and has generally been asking to sit on her potty only when she wants an M&M.

She's still young.  We're not rushing her.  I know it will come.  But apparently right now, she's still not ready.

Potty Talk

This evening before dinner, Staley and I were in the living room with Zach.  I excused myself by saying, "I'll be right back.  I just have to go use the potty."  Immediately Staley said, "I come with you.  I read you a story."  She then proceeded to grab one of her books, follow me into the bathroom, and 'read' to me while I went potty.

I guess she thought I was missing out since, for Staley, potty time is also reading time.  It was so sweet of her, although I was kind of hoping she'd offer me an M&M when I was done.

The Lorax

'The Lorax' is one of Zach's favorite Dr. Seuss books.  Before Staley was even born, we bought that book for her collection.  Over her first 2 years, we've read it several times but it's always been a little too long and little too wordy for Staley to make it all the way through.  It's never been a consistent request and it's never been one of her favorites...until now.

So why does Staley now love 'The Lorax'?  Well, I've determined that it's not the moral of the story that she relates to.  It's not the great illustrations, the flow of the words, or even the silly Dr. Seuss-y rhymes.  Nope.  It's the length.  Staley consistently asks to read the Lorax (one of her longest books)...before nap or bedtime. 

Lately Staley has been working pretty hard to put off bedtime and naptime.  Asking for one more dance, one more story, or one more song has become a regular part of her bedtime routine.  We've caught on, so we give her the plan up front--3 dances, 2 books, 1 song.  So now, when it comes time for her final book, she always asks for 'The Lorax.'  In the same way that when we tell her she can choose one last Zoodle game, she usually chooses the never-ending game 'Higgledy House', Staley has figured out how to put off naptime and bedtime a few minutes longer.  It's a smart plan, and I can't argue or complain.  I enjoy the truffala trees, brown barbaloots, and a useful thneed as much as the next person.