Two!

Maggie has been two for nearly a month now. (Where the last month went I do not know)

I can't express enough how FUN we are finding this stage. Granted, she has her days, as all two year olds do, but in general this is one of our favorite stages so far.

Most days find us answering some form of a "W" question - Who, What, Where, Why? (When hasn't come up yet...still working on the concept of time) She mainly loves "What." What's dat?" "What's dat noise?" "Whatchoo doin, Mama?" "Whatchoo fixin, Mama?" "What's her name?" "What's that monkey's name?"

She still refers to herself in the third person. (Perhaps a result of watching too much Elmo??) It's a trait that has become SO endearing to Gary and me...we will be really sad when she starts saying I, Me and My. She loves to say "Maggie do by Maggie's self." Also, when she doesn't want to put shoes on she says, "Maggie just go outside with Maggie's feet." AH! Kills me every time.

Also - while on the subject of grammar/vocabulary - she has an incredible vocabulary that is growing every day. However, there are some words that she just CAN'T get:
Dessert = Bessert
Squirrel = Squillo
Concrete = Honky

She loves to say that she forgot something - usually as a stall tactic. For example, after the last story is read at night, she will often race to the door, turn around and say, "Oh wait - Maggie forgot something downstairs." And spin around and slam the door and she's off like a shot. She didn't forget anything.

She continues to love her brother. I often find them holding hands or Howard being smothered in kisses. One of my favorite things she says right now - usually in the morning when she sees him for the first time. "Oh - it's Howard (or Howie or H-man)...he's so cute."

She continues to dislike vegetables. Veggie chips, snap pea crisps, sweet potato fries and veggie burgers are my current bag of tricks. I find hummus and ketchup to be remarkable vehicles for any of these things, as she sees them all as remarkable vehicles for her "dips." I believe I am truly failing as a mother.

Eating hummus by the spoonful.

It's been strange to experience the beginning of a school year as a pre-preschooler. We are enjoying so many fun activities geared toward toddlers...mainly storytime at the library (which we have been known to attend 3+ sessions in one week), but we have also discovered some fun playgroups and activities that Maggie is really enjoying. It is fun to see her respond to other adults and kids in a more structured setting. As you can imagine, she soaks everything in, and leans more to the side of observation than participation...although that scale is leaning, too.

Her favorite thing to do right now is color. She loves to make "M's" and circles, and plows through about a ream of paper a day. She is very serious and intent on her coloring, yet so expressive and proud when she does something she knows you'll praise her for. "Look! Maggie draw an M!"

"Howard colored on table." Right.

"Maggie, what are you drawing?" "M for Howard."

I had to take a picture of this - because after weeks of drawing "M's" I randomly asked her to draw a circle (we have never even practiced this) and she did!

She also loves to read. We have found her reading/reciting entire books on her own. This has also been a great new strategy for me to employ on car rides and in the stroller.

Reading about "Tor," Wheaton's new mascot based on Perry Mastadon.

Playing with dad in her tunnel. For a solid week this box provided ample coloring and play space.

Hanging out with Unca Paul.

I came upstairs at Gary's folks' a couple of weeks ago to find her sitting on Paul's bed just chatting to him. I have no idea what they were talking about, but it was such a precious conversation to observe. Of course, as soon as she saw me, I got a very firm, "No, Mama. Go away."

With her main man.

That hair.

That hair tamed. FINALLY. A solution to those impossible hair days.

Riding in style.

She loves to mimic...from phrases that she uses in and out of context to things she does...we know she is always watching (and listening!).

"Bye bye, Mama. See you later. Maggie going to work."

"Maggie have Maggie's purses."

I will now end this insanely long post. And I promise to TRY to post more often than once a month.