Smart Little One

All my kids are pretty smart, if I do say so myself. Naomi is right up there with them. At three years old she can already identify all the letters in the alphabet and make all their sounds (well, except for the letters that make more than one sound). I was going over them with her today and we got to the letter 'U' and I asked her what it was. She told me and then we tried the sound. I asked her what sound it made and she said, "U" so I said she was right, that the long sound of the letter was 'U'. She pointed to herself and said, "Me!" She thought I was saying "you"! What a funny girl.

Yesterday morning, as Kevin was getting ready to leave for work, he started to tickle me. I tend to get a little loud, so Naomi gently reminded me, "Mommy, remember. No screaming." I tried to be a little quieter, as I laughed at her reprimand.

Sweet little two year old

To nap, or not to nap.

That is the question.

I know every mother with a two-year-old had this problem.

Maybe.

They are still young and need a nap.

But if they sleep too long, 

they won't go to sleep at night.

If you try to wake them up,

they are groggy and a bit cranky.

Just can't seem to find a middle ground.

So, Naomi found her own middle ground.

I still can't believe she went to sleep,

on the back of the couch.

No child is allowed on the back of the couch,

so why did she pick there to go to sleep?

Silly sweet girl!

Love her to pieces!

Love us some outside playing!

I just can't get enough of these kids! They are so fun and cute. They love to be outside. This is RoseMarie's first time in the swing (or pretty close) and she was a little nervous at first. She had a blast!

Soo fun!

Cheesy smile!

Look at those cheeks!

What a little monkey!

Just trying out my camera lenses

When we got home from the reunion, I used my camera body with some old lenses that I have on hand. I remembered one didn't work at all, but it did for a few pictures. After that, the camera body wouldn't recognize the lens. Bummer.

Kemiah lost a tooth!

She got her hair cut at the reunion, so short and cute.

Naomi is just a silly little girl.

She loves to be with me, even if I'm just sitting at my table in the school room.

Not sure what Domonique is doing.

It's only a nickname

The other night we all got a really good laugh. Naomi started asking everyone about their nickname, and you know most anything a 2 year old says is cute. She would ask, "Are you nickname..." and then she'd say an animal. It was so cute, as she went to each sibling and said their animal nickname. Then she came to me and said, "Momma, are you nickname... hippo?" I busted out loud laughing! Good thing she's so cute.

Figuring out the drawing thing

Creativity at it's finest - at her mother's knees.

I love when they started to "draw" and think it is so amazing that they can "create" something. She was so proud and happy and thrilled.

Early reader... sort of

Naomi has started to enjoy books alone. She will flip the pages and look at the pictures. I really enjoyed watching her today, as she seemed to really enjoy the book.

She is so fun to watch, as she scampers to the bookcase, grabs a book, goes to the couch and gets all settled in to enjoy herself. What a cute little girl!

She really needs a nap

 She knows when I start to head up the stairs that I'm going to put her down for a nap so she starts to say stuff to make me not put her to bed (even though she doesn't say the no or not word). Some days I don't put her down because I lose track of time. Some days she is just so happy playing with her sisters that I feel bad putting her to bed. Then I feel bad when she's cranky at night or when she falls asleep before it's time to go to bed for the night. Sleep on little one!

Poor thing!

OUch! I heard her fall and bonk and it was bad! She cried and cried but I was on the other side of the house so it took a while for us to get together. I finally figured out that she had a big bump on her head and didn't find the "cut" until later. Fortunately, it was not a bleeder like all the other head wounds we have had. Strange, but so glad! We put ice on it for as long as I could get her to cuddle with me and the bump wasn't nearly as big later that night. Tough little girl!

A little more cutting

I decided to trim her bangs yesterday.

They were driving me crazy so I just cut them.

She looks so different now.

But she still loves to smile at the camera.

Just showing the back again.

Today I put pig-tails in her hair

and she left them in for a long time.

What a cutie pie!

Lookin' much better!

Wispy hair in the back

Trimmed and leveled off

Probably not the best hair cut but the wispy was really buggin' me. Cute little girl.

Finally got around to it!

Camdilyn's birthday card from Grammy and Gaffa arrived late, so my mother sent Naomi's very early. We received it a week before her birthday and I called my mother to let her know it arrived in plenty of time. She then said it was up to me to remember to open it on her birthday. Well, that didn't happen. And I kept forgetting and set the card aside and never got around to it until today! Yikes! She enjoyed opening it anyway so here's Naomi's second birthday card from Grammy and Gaffa!

Here's a card from Sister Rodriguez, which did arrive late.

Happy Birthday to the Halloween baby!

Since today is Halloween, we get to celebrate something special - NAOMI! She is 2 now, and what's even more exciting is that she will actually say the word two! She enjoyed her orange pancakes with ice cream for breakfast!

What a cheesy smile!

We went to story time at the library, because it is Tuesday! It was a dress up party and we took glazed popcorn to share - because it's Naomi's birthday! What an extra fun way to celebrate her special day! This is the closest any of my kids get to having a friends' party! Perfect!

For dinner we enjoyed french toast. Nothing too exciting but I knew she would eat it. She was very excited for her party and loves to say "me"!

She tried to blow them out.

Here, Dad. I'm done.

Here's the party crew!

Present from Grandma and Grandpa Nichols.

Opening their card.

First $2 bill

Present from Grandma and Grandpa Graham.

Hugging that doll really tightly.

I think she likes it.

She's preparing for the next present.

She has learned from watching that previous party people.

Her very own bag of candy!

Watch out for the next present!

This one is from Xiomara.

A baby doll with a toilet.

You might be wondering why she feels she needs to duck and cover.

Her Dad hands out the presents, 

and tends to bonk the birthday person in the head,

with each gift.

This one is from Kemiah.

She made her a yarn doll,

with accessories.

A bed, hooded towel, shelf with books.

So sweet.

There's the proof!

New beginner LeapPad!

We'll see how long this one lasts.

Books to go along with it.

Hand puppets that are so cute.

So we got two sets!

Time for cupcakes!

Cheesy smile makes it fantastic!

Just the sweetest little 2 year old I know! She is funny and happy and playful. She is learning every day and still loves to have milk in a bottle when she wakes up and before bed! She's a smart little girl and I love to watch her play, sing, dance and look at books. What a joy!