"that's me"

how cute is that face!
remember when i used to do those monthly charis updates? yeah, i've been a slacker. so, this can be her 28 month update! she is up to so much and constantly amazing us. we are learning how to parent a two-year-old as she is looking for autonomy. we are trying to figure out what battles to fight and which ones to let go of. we are trying to figure out discipline. holy moly this is tough. i mean if she asks for time out does that mean it's no longer working? hmmm....

she said she was drawing "america"

- she is a talkasorous-rex! especially in the car. we both feel like her vocabulary has grown so much in the past few months. i remember keeping track of her words then her mini sentences. now she's just talking a lot and using words that i don't remember "teaching" her. It's as if she has this storage compartment that everything we say goes to then she starts to use them as she makes connections. i think this is why i studied child development...it's fascinating for sure. so let's just focus on her talking:

she's into saying things like, "it's not pasta, it's noodle" or "it's not home, it's house" or "it's not mommy, it's Amy" and recently "it's not Ju-Ju, it's Julie" (referring to my sister who she's always called ju-ju and still refers to the twins as "ju-ju babies."

ju-ju babies

"that's me." when she burbs or passes gas she really does say, "that's me." and she'll also say excuse me but "that's me" is pretty funny. recently at church she told the dad helping out that she passed gas. that is my girl!!!

recently when we went to Blowing Rock we decided to drive at night, so i got her up around 10p and we went to pick up Adam from work. she woke up saying, "we go get daddy for work and go for mountains." (she uses "for" instead of "to" a lot). and was in a good mood. i still thought that since it was late and dark she'd sleep. nope. homegirl was a broken record singing every song in her repertoire which becomes one big song of "twinkle little start...ABC song...jingle bells...jesus loves me...the God our Father prayer...where is thumbkin..." it's like we put her on loop. who needs a play list?! it's definitely super cute but at one point after the 6th "how you today mommy?" i just about lost it. she was fine to lower her volume and just enjoy the ride.

so cute in her robe

- i feel like she's totally coming out of her "shell" and let's be honest the shell wasn't that intense, but her look/stare is. usually if people (friends or strangers say "hi" to her she just stares at them). while in Boone she went up to 2 different strangers, grabbed their hand and said, "i'm going to get my daddy." that was when we were in a coffee shop and she was being hilarious. we got her some "coffee" (i.e. warm apple cider) and she was in heaven sitting with us drinking coffee.

me and mama

- she is a pretty amazing little girl. we do know what a gift she is to us and to others. she's been spending the night with different families on a weekly basis since the New Year and hasn't batted an eye. i love love love that she is obedient and good and a joy for others. i'm just saying she might be more obedient with them than with us...you know us parents bring out the "best" in our kids. :) i sometimes wish i could get inside her little head and see what these experiences are like and what she thinks of them. it's a gift to us knowing she is safe and loved and also being enjoyed as God created her to be. it would have been so much harder to make the weekly trek to Durham if she was a mess and threw a tantrum every time we left her. we are so thankful for the many many friends who have taken her into their home as one of their own. i mean, it makes me want to cry. she will know she is loved and that is because of the community God gave us.

my favorite pic of her and daddy

- she is still TWO and does all the normal 2-year-old stuff. like "nnnnnnnnnnnnno!" imagine a wind up here as she says the "n" sound. and she wants to do everything (everything) herself. we are trying to balance encouraging this and making it okay and appropriate to ask for help. she has to give it a good try before she asks for help. but it's important for us to find a balance there b/c being independent is a part of my story and i want Charis to be okay with needing help and others, but especially Jesus. look where i'm at and i'm finally free in that need. she likes to say, "top it" (stop it) a lot but we are trying to turn that into "friendly words" like no thank you. discipline is hard. i'm sure there are tons of books on the topic but that's just overwhelming. i just pray constantly for God to guide us in our parenting. so for all of you that don't see her cry or throw a fit...she does. she goes to time out. she hits us. she talks about her offense after it's done and i'm not sure that is pride or humility. it's hard to know what they "get" at this age.

you can't tell, but she has tevas on

- she still eats really good. but i feel like it can sometimes be hit or miss. or if something doesn't "look" good she won't try it. that's new and must be part of growing up. i mean i sometimes do the same thing.

"i drink it."

- she loves loves loves to read. she could seriously sit for like 30 minutes or longer reading. she especially loves her Jesus Storybook Bible, as do we. sometimes that is my only time in the Word (sadly). but each story points to Jesus and i need that reminder daily. but she'll read anything. even magazines. which i have to be careful b/c she is not ready for the trash mags. but on the way home from Duke i was looking through one so she asked for a magazine. fortunately i found this YMCA camp guide. but after about 5 minutes she asked for the "magazine with the girl on it." yikes! (you never see the words "good clean fun" on People or US)

reading her magazine

- we are noticing that Charis is noticing that i'm sick. at the ripe age of 28 months she is more aware. so, when i'm tired, laid out, sick or sad she is somewhat in-tune to that. we are a little sad about this b/c we've craved her innocence and oblivion. she is really sweet though. she knows we go to the "grocery story to get mommy's medicine" a lot. when i cough she asks, "are you okay?" usually when i get back from the doctor she'll ask, "you feel better, mommy?" and if i cry she isn't afraid and comes and hugs me. i love that. we are just figuring out how to allow her to enter this with us.

it's taken me so long to post this b/c our life has been crazy these past couple weeks. but i've totally been wanting to share some Charis happenings with you b/c she is so fun and a lot of work. we enjoy her so much and sometimes we have no idea what we are doing. i think even since i started this post a couple weeks ago she's already talking so much more and doing more on her own. tonight she really wanted to put her pjs on "by myself." this is a touchy area for me, so i was trying to dignify her desire to try and ability to get dressed. i had to figure out how to gently guide her without doing it. and we did it! she was so very proud of herself. and i was too.
we both got i-phones last month, which have actually be great for the commute to Duke. and for taking pictures. all these pics are from our phones. i'm obsessed. well, i hope you enjoy some of Charis.


"heytell" on her phone