She Thinks She Can Read

We are in a phase where Bella wants me to sing every song or read every story an infinite number of times until she has it memorized.  Hence she knows every nursery rhyme I ever learned and is steadily memorizing all of her books.  Half the time I lay my head back, close my eyes, and "read" to her from a half napping state....I am inundated with Dr. Seuss!!  Here is a video (sorry it's so long) of her taking a turn "reading".

My Little Dancing Queen

I am certainly not blessed with any athletic ability but I did do dance all through high school and loved it.  As a way to try and meet people I signed Bella up for a Mommy & Me dance class.  There are 5 precious little girls in the class all about age two.  We have been three weeks in a row now and Bella has the routine for our dance day memorized.  If I tell her we are going to dance with Miss Melinda she will say "eat smoothie and egg?" because she knows that's our get out of the house quick breakfast!  She then knows it's time for her 'princess shoes', as she calls them, and tutu.  As soon as we get to the studio she can't contain her excitement, "ask Miss Winda dance now?" and of course once we finally start class Bella asks for the parachute or beanie bags or whatever activity SHE wants to do.  She has a blast jumping up and down, dancing, running in circles, pretending she's an airplane, and watching herself in the mirror.  I just can't help but laugh at her cuteness!  Of course there is no dance technique what so ever but that's not what the class is for.  It's about having a good time and what I like about it is someone else is giving her instructions that she has to follow.  She has to stay on her mat, freeze, and follow what Miss Melinda is doing.  Although David is convinced Bella is going to be a little soccer player, I think we have a little dancer on our hands!!

My Little Chatterbox

There are times when having an early talker can be quite a challenge.  Lets just say I have had an opinionated child on my hand for many months now! But most of the time the talking has me laughing. 

She thinks it is really funny that mommy and daddy have names and likes to remind us, "that mommy Ayse.  That daddy David."

I'll ask her if she knows mommy loves her and she says yes.  I ask her if Jesus loves her and she says yes.  When I ask her how does she know Jesus loves her?  She responds "Bible tells me so" (and here I thought she was just mindlessly repeating words to songs!)

She is so big into pretend play and is always going shopping.  If you ask her where she is going she will tell you Target and always asks for "coupons" and "money" and you have to pretend to put them in her hand....YIKES!

Listening to my little chatterbox is actually a great way to me accountable for what I say and how I say it because she repeats it all in the exact manner that I do.  The funniest is when she has conversations I would have with her with herself.  This usually happens the minute she wakes up in the morning or after a nap.  I mean she literally goes from being fast asleep, slingshots up to her feet, and begins her imitation of me:

"Good morning.  Good dreams?  All done sleeping.  Play toys"

or my new favorite

"Uh-oh.  What happened?  It's ok.  Try again.  Good job"

"Mommy hold you.  Daddy no hold you.  Why?  Ooooo-K, daddy hold you too"

"Go church.  No crying.  Mommy come back.  Good girl"

The last conversation we have had a lot recently.  I do a women's bible study Tuesday mornings which means I have to put Bella in the nursery.  The first week I took her she cried hysterically for an hour before they finally came and got me and by that time she was dry-heaving she was so upset.  I think it was because the room for her age group is tiny and only has a few things to play with that are intended for babies.  So today I asked if she could join the 2-4 year olds and she had a BLAST.  Apparently the theme for the day was firetrucks and so she had colored a picture of a firetruck and they even had the Belton fire department out there so the kids could actually see a fire engine!! I was told she did shed a tear when they put on the siren, but who can blame the kid! She talked about it all day and was so excited about the sticker the fireman gave her and kept reminding me that it was "so fun" and "mommy came back"!  Aw, I kind of feel like I sent her off to school without knowing what I was doing!  But how awesome that the activities are that structured just for the two hours I drop her off!  She's such a big girl and she will tell you what a big girl she is.....(excuse the runny nose):

I know she's thinking "when are we going to Disney, mommy?!"

 My little Texas girl

 My little shadow!

 She washes up very thoroughly!

David-The Godfather!

A few weekends back David's niece, McKenzie, was baptised in Austin.  David was asked to be the Godfather.  It was a wonderful celebration in which David's Dad and step mom were also able to attend all the way from Florida.  My parents also joined us so it was the first time Bella got to be with all her Grandparents at one time!  We were honored to be a part of McKenzie's special day.

Allison (McK mommy), Jeremy (McK daddy), David, and Charlotte (godmother)

Opening baptism presents before our lunch

Bella and McKenzie dancing away

It was also David's 34th birthday and my dad's birthday so it was so great being able to celebrate all together.  Bella must have sang happy birthday about 100 times and still to this day sings happy birthday at least 2 or 3 times a day and inserts the name of whatever she is playing with..."Happy birthday to choo-choo train"!!