Gabrielle 2.5 years old

*Just a few months late.

  I can't believe how much  you know, how fast your learning, and how silly you are.  It makes me happy and sad at the same time.  My first baby girl is growing up on me.  You know your ABC's by sight and sound.  You can count to 10 and 20 with help.  You know most of your colors, and are learning your shapes. 
  You just seem to absorb everything that is around you.  I know most kids do but for being stuck with me everyday you are just amazing me.  You are a very determined little one too!  You will let EVERYONE know when you want something and when you don't.  As with just about everything right now, it's when you want to do something.  We've started time outs and trying to talk things out.  Sometimes it works and sometimes not.  But you are getting the hang of it. 
  You are getting the hang of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  For a while everything was lunch.  And if you are in a mood every meal is still lunch and you will yell at anyone who says different.  You like all of the typical kid foods and say "Eeewww" to the stuff you don't like if we are lucky enough to get you to taste it.  You are now getting better at eating sandwiches and hamburgers with out taking them all apart first.
  Even with your crazy long hair, you've already had about 3-4 hair cuts.  You have a bad habit of chewing  your hair and your nails.
  You are still LOUD and shriek and yell and squeal with laughter.  Layla is your partner in crime.  You two copy everything the other does.  She frustrates you because she isn't quite big enough to do everything you do.  But just be patient it's coming.  Poor Ethan catches the short end of the stick.  You tattle on him already.  His name sounds like Oy'than when you say it.  But he is your big brother and you love him dearly and won't let him get an inch!
  The last few months your new sayings have been "I don't want it", "No", "Wow, that's beautiful", "Go away", "Let go", "Don't touch"....needless to say you are very vocal on what you want.  Your speech is getting more clear.  We still pick words out of what you are saying and can mostly figure out what you mean.   
  But each day you are growing and learning and doing.  I just love you so so much!

*Here are a few snapshots of the past few months.