Cece is doing well. Thriving really. She is a busy, busy almost two year old. This toddler thing is no joke. She never stops moving, this kid. It was no easy task getting these pictures of her and as you can see, it's nearly impossible to get a picture of her where her tongue isn't sticking out of her mouth. Who taught her that? On days when we are lucky enough to be together for the full day (Sat - Sun - Mon), I think I go through as many emotions as she does. She is our bright shining sun, the center of our universe and the focus of intense love, but man, oh man, she can be quite challenge at times too. And we aren't even to the "terrible twos" yet!
The thing about toddlers is that they are exhausting and frustrating and opinionated and volatile and hilarious and cuddly and sweet all wrapped up in one very squirmy, very cute package (the cuteness is by design, clearly). There are days when I'm literally watching my hair turn grey and just hoping to survive until bedtime and then there are others when I can't get enough of her cuddles and happily conform to her demands to read every book on the shelf before she finally gives in to the pull of gravity on tiny little eyelids and I reluctantly tuck her in for the night. Toddlers have a way of making you forget (almost) all the tantrums, food fights and and defiance. Sometimes all it takes is one little sway of tiny hips to the beat of the music aisle in Target or to see the way their face lights up when they first see you at daycare pickup or the sound of their sweet little voice when they say "ov ye" to mean I love you. And the spontaneous hugs. Oh my goodness, those are the best.
Some things about Cece: she moves, a lot. Her only speed is a full run. She has no fear of heights or animals, though she does tend to get alarmed by any flying insect and will repeatedly call out "bee, bee" when she sees a fly, moth or yes, an actual bee. She loves to draw, color and paint. She loves to eat pencils, crayons and paint. Dirt, sand and rocks too. Perhaps that makes up for her increasingly picky appetite? Toddler staples like mac and cheese and chicken nuggets are her favorite. Loves fruit and some veggies, particularly corn on the cob. Cheese. Yogurt. Still won't drink anything but water.
She's still on the small size and probably always will be, but what she lacks in stature she makes up for in toughness. At her last check up she weighed 23 pounds but she's built solid with strong legs, a round booty and pot belly to boot. Her knees are perpetually skinned and while she likes to point out her "boo-boos" she doesn't tolerate band-aids for very long, at least not yet.
Her vocabulary is really expanding, thanks in large part to being in "school" three days a week and being around other kids more frequently. As I said before, there's something about a little squeaky toddler voice that really just makes you melt. It's a good thing too, because her favorite word these days is "No!". She says it with such conviction though that it's sometimes hard not to smile.
She's keenly aware that something is going on in my belly. She talks about the "Beebee" and likes to rub my belly and lift up my shirt to see my grossly distorted belly button. This can make for awkward moments when this goes down in a public place because really, even I don't want to look at my big swollen belly. It's unclear yet how she'll react to the actual baby. Only time will tell. I suspect we better squirrel away extra patience though, it could be a wild ride with two needy babes demanding our attention.
Oh, Cecelia. You are a little heartbreaker, that's for sure. We love you so, so much and while some days with you can be challenging, we wouldn't want you any other way!
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