Life.Is.Good.: 22 Months at the Beginning of 2012!

Twenty-two months! And now, we're just shy of 2 months until our baby girl turns TWO! How is that even possible? Crazy to think how fast it all goes, and how many fun memories we have made in these nearly two years! I was reading back over some past blog posts from this time last year (which is why I LOVE this blog), and then looking at Kinsley now and how much she has changed! Still the same funny girl, with the same determined spirit, the same contagious laugh, and the same sweet disposition. We are so lucky. At 22 months, she is really showing signs that she is truly not a baby anymore, but a big girl. I think that there are only three things keeping her as our "baby" for a little bit longer: diapers, paci's, and her crib. Other than that, she is just amazing us with how big she is getting. And not to mention, how daring and adventurous she continues to be. In the past month, (and on top of the normal pieces of furniture that she climbs with ease), we have found her climbing bar stools in our kitchen, attempting to get to the top of our bar top table. Awesome. But she has also nearly mastered the art of going backwards down the stairs. Whew. However, all of this climbing caught up with her this past week, when she went to "jump" from the fireplace ledge to Hunter's large dog pillow, and tweaked her ankle - he first major injury (of many, I am afraid). It was a pain cry I haven't heard before, and we definitely knew something wasn't right when she ceased to put any pressure at all on her left foot. A trip to the doctor and Northside Radiology confirmed that she has a "sprained ankle." Booo. It hasn't been easy to keep her off of it, and she is still not walking (nor running, as she normally does, all the time) like normal. But once again proving that she is definitely our child - I don't think that I ever played a soccer game growing up where I didn't have a brace on one or both of my ankles.

She's doing great at school - there was absolutely no issue with going back after the long and restful two week break. She is now eating "hot lunch" on Friday's with all of the other kids, still doing great eating at the toddler table, still sleeping soundly on her mat, and bringing home lots of adorable artwork on a daily basis! She still loves all the same foods (and add to those the newly-discovered love of marshmallows and Cheese-Its, and will ask for both by name, granted it comes out as "mah-mohs" and "chew-itz") and is loving playing in her playroom after a very generous Christmas! But the thing I am probably most proud of: Kinsley can get along with anyone, boy or girl, new friend or old friend. She is proving, even as we approach the "two's" that she loves to share and loves to play with others. Makes me smile every time.

And last but certainly not least, another major milestone occurred over the past month. I almost hesitated to put this in the blog because it has been such a strange phenomenon around this house, and something that none of us understood, particularly me, but were told to not to worry one bit by our pediatrician. See, up until this past month, I have been a "mama-less mommy." I had never heard the word "mama" from my daughter's lips. She knows exactly who I am, and if you asked her where mama was or who her mama was, she would just grin and point or run to me. But if you asked her to say "mama?" Nothing. I had stressed about it and there have been tears once or twice. I learned never take anything for granted. Some babies say mama at 6 months old. I think Kinsley first said "dadda" that early. I had to wait 21 1/2 months to hear those sweet words. Some mom's get so tired of hearing "mama this" or "mama-that," but not me. I cherish it! I will say, I have no idea what happened. One random day when I picked her up from school right after the New Year, she proclaimed "MAMA!" three times as she ran to me. Her teacher probably had no idea why I started tearing up. And now, it is her favorite word. "MAMA-this" and "MAMA-that" all the time at our house. I am soaking it up! I am not sure what clicked, but something did. She is now repeating and saying nearly everything that we say, including all of her grandparents names. Like I said, major milestone. MAJOR. Made this past month exceptionally great!

So, here are some photos of our adventurous, happy little girl at the start of 2012! Getting closer to becoming a big 2-year-old. Now, mommy needs to get to work on some birthday-party-planning...