two and a half

My baby girl is now two and a half. I used to love doing the monthly posts on her so I could remember what she was like at each age and what skills she was learning. I haven't done one in a while so I decided that 2.5 needed its own post.

My first thought in describing Isabel at this age is entertaining. She is constantly singing and dancing. These songs are either songs she knows or ones she is making up as she goes along. Either way they are loud and funny! She is also always telling us stories about things that happened recently or funny things her babies have done. Basically, the child is never quiet unless around people she doesn't know very well. Although it is hard to believe sometimes, she is actually pretty shy until she gets to know someone well.

Isabel is also a smart little girl (I think anyway). She has an amazing memory which can be good or bad for mommy! :) She knows the words to tons of songs and has memorized parts of many of her books. She knows her colors and can sing her ABCs. Recently we have been working on shapes and recognizing letters and she knows most of them....when she wants to!

She is definitely two and a strong-willed little girl. I think she will always be a leader and very rarely a follower. She loves being in charge and helping other children (whether they want this help or not). Isabel is at a hard age, especially with a new baby brother. There are times when she desperately wants her independence and other times when she wants to be a baby again. A few months ago, she would have been deeply offended if I suggested she sit in the basket at Walmart or in a high chair. Now that Will does these things, she cries if she can't. Although it can be so frustrating dealing with her constantly changing mind, I try to remember that she is only 2 and I hear this kind of thing is actually pretty common. I also hear that 3 can be harder than 2 but have chosen not to believe that.

Isabel loves her baby dolls more than anything in the world. She has 4 that go with us many places and all sleep with her. They all have names and she tells us stories about each one as well as their likes and dislikes. Her babies also get in trouble for doing things and have to sit in time out. Isabel is a good little mommy and I love watching her with her babies. She can be a great big sister too and is actually quite helpful a lot of the time (unless of course Will has decided to chew on one of her toys).

Overall Isabel is a beautiful, happy, energetic, nurturing and loving little girl. She is a precious daughter, big sister, and granddaughter. We love her so much and cannot imagine life without her. I can't believe how fast she is growing up. Last week I told her that I didn't want her to grow up. She looked at me like I was crazy and said, "mommy, I have to be a doctor!"