End of Summer & Almost 2!

Is it really possible that in less than a month Lily will be 2?? It's Indian Summer in Seattle so we took Lily to the beach at Carkeek Park to splash around and enjoy one of the final nice weekends of the year. Watching her explore, stomp and throw rocks really drove home how grown up she already is. Just last summer she couldn't walk and now she is a very independent, clever little person - a true character with a fierce will, sweet disposition, boundless energy and a giggle that makes me melt. Here's what's new that I may not have mentioned...

- Nodding. Lily figured out "no" and shaking her head long ago. Now she also has the cutest nod when we ask her if she has had a good day, would she like to read a book, etc

- Words, words, and more words. Seems like every day she surprises us with a new word she knows. It's amazing how something as simple as identifying a circle can delight you. She still has no "L", which means "help" is instead "HEP!!!" complete with spit spray. Also amazing how when it's your child you don't mind the shower.

- Friends! Lily has quite the cute daycare crew with Asher, Bixby and Lila being her favorite friends. It's so cute that she now calls them by name and is actually sorta playing with them, not just near them. Of course if any of them tries to sit on my lap she will shove them off with a loud "MINE!", but she is still a toddler, not a charm school graduate.

- Swinging! In true monkey form Lily loooooves to hang by her arms and swing away. She will hang from the sides of the treadmill, the bar at the top of the 10 ft slide at the park (gasp!), really anything that seems swingable. She also loves Curious George, pointing and yelling GEORGE! when he comes on TV. She recognizes a kindred spirit when she sees one.

- Peaceful resistance. When we go get the mail Lily is usually pretty good about holding my hand and doing her run/skip along side me. However, once at the mailbox all she wants to do is squat and play in the gravel. Her new way to prolong gravel time? Sitting. She doesn't say no, she does whine...she simply sits. It's so effective in fact that she now employs it whenever she isn't ready to leave to zoo, the school courtyard, the grocery store, the park...you get the idea. Very MLK of her. Also has earned me more than a few looks.

- Speaking of amusing strangers, I do believe I've created a monster. Several weeks ago we were meeting Uncle Tom and Auntie Katie for brunch. Walking past a clothes store, Lily stopped, pointed at a dress and said "cuuuuuute!" I agreed, it was a cute dress. Then we walked past the next window and she said "ohhhh - SHOES!" Um. Ok. Very funny to the lady standing nearby, but an alarming forshadowing for moi.

- Pen and "Book". Lily's favorite "toy" these days is a pen I've removed the ink from and the checkbook. I have no idea why, but I fear it may have to do with the aforementioned shopping inclination.

- Big girl bed!!! Labor Day weekend we reconfigured Lily's crib into a toddler bed and she handled it like a pro. She's slept through every night since the swap and been a champ about entertaining herself if she wakes up before we do. True, the first morning she had completely emptied the wipes, but it's a small price to pay when we consider the transition horror stories we've all heard. She thank God she's such a champion sleeper!

Almost 2....she's rocked 1, can't wait to see what the next year brings!