23 Months Old

Oh no! In one short month my baby will be 2 years old! 2!! Time keeps on creeping up on me. Every time I say I'll do something tomorrow, or next month, I realize that the time keeps passing by without stopping. I need to fix that and make sure I'm really taking everything in and spending quality time with Harlow. Sometimes life gets busy. There are errands to run, dinner to be made, house to be cleaned, baths to be taken, laundry to be done and appointments to be met. At the end of each day I always say, "Shoot, I should have done....". I need to make a point in letting Harlow enjoy life, enjoy being a child. She needs to play more and experience new things. The summer is quickly approaching and we'll be gone from home for 4 months. I get really sad about leaving for Pete's work every summer but lately it's more of a sadness for Harlow. She will be so sad not to see her friends at tumble and swim, or her cousins, grandparents and aunts and uncles.

"...I think any mama can agree that one of the best ways to feel loved is when someone loves your child." - Kelle Hampton

Harlow is so loved, and to me that is one of life's greatest gifts. I know that she has snuggled in to each persons heart just like she has mine. It's a good feeling to know that she is loved by so many people. There is always someone willing to look after her, play with her or talk to her. Her 2nd birthday is just around the corner and I can't wait to see her excitement when she realizes all of the people at her birthday party are there especially for her. It is such a good feeling to have so many people celebrate her!

But before I get ahead of myself, she's not 2 yet! At 23 months she is full of independence. Lately I have been hearing her say "all my self" a lot! (translated = all by myself) Sometimes it's fun to see what she's trying to do, even more fun to watch when she really does accomplish something herself. But other times it makes me cringe! For example, when she tries to climb up and down the stairs, I think my heart about leaps out of my chest every time! She is also an entertainer. Lately she has been singing and dancing up a storm. She can quickly learn the words to songs and sing them back. She LOVES to dance, and she is very specific on what she dances to. She is currently obsessed with The Fresh Beat Band, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and 80's old school music. I can't wait to enroll her in her first dance class, hopefully this summer in Texas (that's where we're going this year) we'll be able to find a good dance studio.

She also has so much to say these days. She talks about everything. And she can repeat everything. It is so fun to hear what she is thinking about. Well, everything is fun to hear except when she calls me by my first name. The first time was funny, the billion times after, not so much.

Harlow's Newest Words/Sentences:

-Good job
-I hungry
-I sleepy
-I broke it
-That's my bum bum
-All better
-Whole wide world (Every day I make sure to tell Harlow that she is my favorite person in the whole wide world and she ALWAYS repeats, whole wide world back to me.)
-So much (as in, I love you so much)
-Noggin, Dude...
-She can sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
-and Ring Around the Rosies
-and 5 little Monkeys
-and The Wheels on the Bus
-Oh my gosh
-This is fun
-Disneyland
-Disney Store
-I have no idea
-Sharmela :(
-Be safe
-Be careful
-Crazy hair
-Bambi
-Peter pan
-Peter Pan's shadow
-Throw it
-Catch
-I no take nap
-Where's my baby?
-I color
-Where's my bellybutton?
-Where's Gus Gus?
-I go outside
-That's yours
-This is mine
-I sit your lap
-Lay down
-Stand up
-Sit down
-Timeout
-Basketball game
-Music
-Fresh Beat Band
-But mom...
-I want some too
-Stupid (I have no idea where she learned this, she obviously didn't know what it meant when she said it but she sure did get in trouble!)
-Change my diaper
-I go back bed
-You're driving
-Bookstore
-Don't worry
-All together
-All day long
-I be right back, ok?
-Stand corner (She had her first time out this month, it worked like a charm!)
-Same size
-Slippery
-I done now?
-Birthday party
-All my friends
-She's so cute
-Cousin
-Sometimes

I wish I could keep track of all the things she can say, I know I'm missing so many. She is talking up a storm, and can narrate any situation we are in. Sometimes good and sometimes bad, like when I'm in a dressing room and she decides to chant, mommy naked, naked, naked. :(

Check out Harlow's 23 month photo shoot:
































Harlow Emi Hafen, you're my favorite in the whole wide world!