Although it has only been 15 weeks since Gotcha Day... Amaris wants to grow up quickly!
We so desperately want her to stay our baby for awhile, but she learns too fast.
This is our littlest princess and we adore her beyond words...
I can't imagine my life without her... she is a bundle of energy and a bundle of joy...
wrapped up in this adorable little body!
Age 28 months:
Within a month of Gotcha Day, she was counting to 5 and beginning to say her ABC's. She knew that "A" stood for Amaris and "G" stood for Gabriella. She could easily remove her diaper at whim... especially during nap time... so that it wouldn't get messy. She still enjoys her bottle at night time, and I really enjoy night time. She can sit on the baby chair to go potty, but she can also challenge herself as well... like attempting to help mama dump whatever is in the potty chair (yeah... that never works out quite like mama would hope). By the end of July, she could use the toilet seat with the princess seat on top to go potty. She is a total mess-maker. She is learning how to do puzzles... she can easily do puzzles up to 12 pieces if they have a certain shape that fits. She says words and phrases EXACTLY and as incorrectly as Gabriella. Our favorite: when she wants food, she says: "So, so yummy?" Her most annoying "help": feeding the dogs, 5-6 cups of dog food at a time... and, scooping the rest onto the floor. (After multiple attempts to teach her the right way to feed the dogs, she lost that privilege). Amaris is extremely creative and often chooses to do something in a different way... just to see if she can. Take for instance the way to go potty... maybe she was reminiscing the good ole days with the orphanage squatty potty. We discovered quickly that she can sleep in possibly ANY way!
I know there is a right way and a different way... I will choose the later.
If you would like to enjoy this on-going post of the many ways she sleeps, you can find it here:
Age 29 months:
By August, she could recite most of her ABC's and count to 10... missing only a couple numbers. She was climbing on top of the princess toilet seat without my help... oh, and climbing on top of the castle bed as well. She can cause an incredible storm in the castle room... whipping out all of the toys and games before Gabriella even lets me know what is going on. She finds ways to capture your heart... without even trying... she loves to wear everyone's shoes... especially Baba's. She is attempting to put on her seat belt in her car seat, but it is tricky. She hates strawberries and grapes... and throws them or feeds them to the dog (despite my instruction). She can brush her teeth. Her most annoying "help": turning on the dishwasher multiple times a day. Give this girl 2-3 minutes, and she can win your heart forever.
World's sneakiest tornado maker... even her sister doesn't notice!
Age 30 months:
By September, she decided that she can take the yucky vitamin that only big girls get... (when I realized she hated it... I no longer gave it to her and told her only big girls get it... days later, she demanded it). She counts to 13, missing only the number 4. She can draw circles and straight lines and attempts to draw a picture of herself. She can say her ABC's even better. She prays at her meals. She was climbing on top of the princess toilet seat without any help, and without me knowing. She began speaking to us with her own baby-talk language... and, oh is it so adorable... she still says everything we have taught her, but this is in addition. I have removed the shelf with all the games from the castle room and put it into their closet... no more storms! Amaris is able to play picture bingo and match 2 cards of 9 pictures, simultaneously, with as much speed as her 5 1/2 year old sister... while identifying bingo cards for her sister's games as well. She is attempting to buckle her own car seat. She has learned to ride a bike... simply by watching Gabriella. She can scream and mimic Gabriella in any way, shape or form. She now likes strawberries. She still throws grapes. She loves oranges. She will eat salad, if I feed it to her. You can ask her to get you just about anything of hers, and she will know exactly where it is. Her most annoying behavior: screaming like Gabriella... whether it is excitement because the bus has arrived, she's ticked because she didn't get her way, or just because it is a bit too quiet in our home and we need to stir things up a bit. I have taught 500 preschoolers ages 3-5, Amaris is probably in the top 5 most outgoing and friendly children I have ever met in my life. She is as sweet as can be... or, as silly as can be... within just a second or two.
Sweet or silly in seconds!
Age 31 months:
By October, she decided she didn't need the princess toilet seat a top the regular toilet... Mama is worried someone is going to get an unusual bath someday. She is attempting to help open the window shades... by scaling bears and the wall. (Geez!) She can color in the lines when she wants. She is starting to watch 30 minute videos: the favorite: Leap Frog Letter Factory. While some of you hate TV, I can guarantee you would LOVE it if you had my busy 2 year old. If she just watches a 1/3 of that 30 minute show, I can iron 15-20 little girl outfits... every 10 minutes counts! She prefers meat and nuts, hates cookies and drinks 20 or more ounces of purified water a day. She can brush her teeth while balancing her body on the edge of the counter... while I am not looking... yikes! She loves to brush her teeth... I almost need to lock her toothbrushes up just to protect her from accidental injury. Amaris is an athlete... she LOVES to do anything physical... I literally have to watch almost every move she makes. She has been caught standing ON TOP of the media chairs, scaling walls, climbing up railings (and attempting to go over), climbing counters, standing on chairs and kid tables, jumping from couches, climbing the castle... it never ends. I try to pre-think her as much as possible. She also is an experimenter... if it MIGHT fit, she will try it anyway... take for instance, the photos below where she has decided to get into her baby doll stroller.
Our super athlete!
Our little one that can do just about anything... there are no obstacles too great!
Our little one that will attempt ANYTHING!
Yep, she broke it!
