Just like that Reegan is two. Just like that she is big. Well, relatively.
She has long hair (see the pictures) and almost a full set of teeth (eye teeth have just broken through and waiting for 2 year molars). She's got an ever expanding vocabulary and her own personality. Like those before her, oh the difference a year makes.
After two years with Riley I totally came to the conclusion that the 2nd year is way underrated. There's so much talk of all the milestones of the first year...sleeping all night, sitting up, first meals, etc, etc. Those are great achievements, but in my opinion they pale in fun comparison to things like COMPREHENSION and TALKING. I love the 2nd year. Children begin to reward you by communicating (more clearly) with you. They become just enough more independent (helping get dressed, feeding themselves). And they grow out of the blubbering little bump on a log into a boisterous toddler with spunk and a sense of humor...and actual opinions that they can verbalize.
Reegan has been an easy going girl since the day AFTER she was born (I can't really remember the first day because I was so busy being exhausted and all). I remember leaving the hospital and she was just chillin in her car sleep and then she just fell asleep. And when I looked at her I just felt this sense of ease and peacefulness. She is still very easy going. She has her temper tantrums and is starting to be pickier about food (especially meat)...but she mostly loves to laugh and play and watch Dora or read a Dora book or wear a Dora shirt. Or even just talk about Dora. And then maybe play some more. Oh and she loves to "EAT. EAT." This is often what we hear first thing in the morning when we enter her room. Then if she sees us preparing dinner she will climb up on a chair and chant Eat. Eat. She is a great sleeper...12 hours at night and 2 hour nap in the afternoon. She likes to read Dora books in bed, but is only allowed the board books because after a few attempts she has proven she will rip up even the books she loves. I think that freedom is just TOO tempting.
Have I mentioned she LOVEs Dora? More than life itself.
I love Reegan's language and talking. It reminds me of how much I loved when Riley was in the earlier stages of talking (before it became "oh my gosh, will you ever stop talking?" :). I keep thinking I never want to forget some of her token phrases. So here it is in writing to remind me "My too." is what she says if she wants something as well (as in "Riley do you want some ice cream?" "My too"). "Pease" (she tilts her head, ups the pitch of her voice nearly high enough to break glass)...impossible to say no with that kind of cuteness. "Swiper, No Swiping" (Dora reference) and I love, love, love when she says "Ahh Man" (What Swiper from Dora says). My all time favorite right now is "See Dat?" (As in "Did you See that mommy?") and "I did it" (also learned from Dora :)
Reegan enjoys playing with babies and taking care of them. She likes to put them night night and then come into us to say "Daddy qiet (quiet). Baby seeping (sleeping)". But mostly she loves being active...jumping, running around and playing with balls. She likes to play catch and kick the ball. I asked her today if she wanted to play basketball, she said yes...got out her little basketball and started kicking it. She has some mad dribbling skills already (soccer dribbling that is). At times we have thought she will definitely be our tomboy with her interest in sports and trucks and disinterest in wearing dresses or anything that seems too girly (besides pink dora shirts). But she also loves dancing at Riley's dance class. She can almost do Riley's whole dance routine. So who knows where her interests will fall.
She is a fish like her sister and loves swimming. This year she has really crossed over from learning the rescue side and can now actually swim. And loves it. She likes jumping off the side with Riley but we have to watch her close because she does not clear the edge enough.
She is starting to learn her colors and shapes, but doesn't really seem in a rush for any of it. She loves green and always recognizes/knows that one. But sometimes she isn't all that interested in the rest of them...like "hey, instead of talking about what color plate this is, how about we just put some food on it?" or "instead of discussing whether this is a triangle or circle that goes in this spot, let's just build a tower out of these?"
I am sure there are a million other little facts I could share about this sweet, lovable and funny little girl, but I will close with saying she is completely a daddy's girl. To the point that she will often pick him over me. If she is sick or hurt or tired she often wants him to comfort her. She will totally take me if he is not around, but at first view she is like "wait, this is not what I wanted...Daddy, Daddy, save me." Oh yeah this reminds me of Reegan's newest phrase "Help me." I am not sure where she learned this but the other day I was putting her in her booster seat for lunch and she goes "Jaclyn, help me. Help me" Cracked us all up.
