The Eye of the Storm

This post is about Shye because obviously she is the storm. I wanted to write down how good she has been lately because I feel like it isn't going to last. That's the way it always goes as a parent: you finally get the hang of things and something changes (i.e. molars, new sleeping pattern, developmental milestones, becoming pregnant again, having a new baby, etc.) and you are thrown for a loop. Our latest loop was the dreaded two-year molars. Shye's took four months to come in. FOUR MONTHS. Four months of the super cranks, extra clingyness, and constant whining. We barely survived to tell the tale.

Miss Cranks

And then it seemed like in June, after the Great Teething Episode was over, she suddenly grew up overnight. She stopped drinking a bottle (ok, I took it away but she did great, she hasn't asked for it once). She started sleeping the whole night in her own bed (most nights anyway). She has become a voracious eater, always asking for something from the pantry and/or the fridge. Her favorite things are hummus, apple squeezies, cheerios, pizza, sharp cheddar cheese, pesto pasta, alfredo pasta, cherries, strawberries, grapes, protein shakes, beans and rice, ravioli, pico de gallo, cool ranch doritos, french fries, and curry. She sprouted a couple inches too. The day after her second birthday I was going through her birthday photos and I was marveling at how babylike she still looked when so many of her friends her age looked more like toddlers and sometimes even mini-adults. And then, seriously like the very next day she started growing and losing her baby chubs and generally looking older. I've been really missing those baby chubs. Can I have another baby now please?

I swear Shye is an old soul. Though she isn't particularly affectionate, she has a very gentle, sweet, sensitive personality. She doesn't ever hit anyone...except herself (that is how she lets me know she is REALLY mad at me, it's kinda funny actually). She has never scratched or bitten. When another kid takes something from her she will carefully and slowly push them away. I worry about her being the kid that always gets pushed around. But I'm not exactly sure how you are supposed to teach that hitting and shoving isn't ok but also to not take any crap from the kid that is doing the hitting and shoving. She is very sensitive and gets upset when I get upset. She frequently puts herself in time-out if I just tell her off. And she almost always comes out of time-out ready to give me a sorry hug. She is becoming much more obedient too. But she often lets me know that even though she is obeying me, she is NOT happy about it. She is very cautious and careful, she has been since she was a baby. I don't ever have to worry about her jumping off things or falling off of things because she is so careful.

Such an old soul. She even practices yoga.

And some other random fun stuff about this girl of mine.

She loves wind and rain. Like really loves it. The other night we were sitting outside on the front lawn when a big gust of wind swept through and Shye literally jumped up and was like "woohoo!"

She generally dislikes having to hold hands, unless there are two adults walking with her and then she will insist on it. Mostly because she is hoping she will get swung in the air.

She goes to nursery now by herself, which is huge. It only took like 7 months of us accompanying her for her to finally realize how much fun nursery can be. And we can usually make it through all of sacrament meeting without having to take her out. Though I'm still not really able to listen to the talks because I'm too focused on keeping her entertained and quiet. But baby steps, right?

Such a camera ham.

She hides to do her business these days. If she can't hide then she will put her arm over her face. I guess she needs to focus?  Oh and when she is done she does not want to talk about it. In fact, she gets extremely offended if you just ask her if she has a poopy.

Selfie!

She is super into herself lately. She loves making faces in the mirror and watching her shadow. She is very into selfies and will pose for them now. Obviously my proudest parenting achievement to date.

We love our sweet Shye-shye!