AYLA JUNE:: SHE’S A TODDLER

It’s so much fun being the parent of a toddler. I love this stage so much, although YES, it’s not without its new challenges and frustrations. We have new attitudes and new demands, but right along side of it, we have new affections and new connections and new depth of relationship. I tell you, there is nothing else in the world like the feeling when your little one reaches out to give you a hug and a kiss and lays that sweet head on your shoulder and pats your back in comfort and affection. Or when she walks up to you with a book in her hands, asking you to read to her, and she sits down in your lap with the happiest squeal, pops the thumb in her mouth, and snuggles up against you as you read and read and read. Ok, in all reality, some days I get really weary of reading so many books, but I remind myself every day that these little moments with her are the ones that truly matter.

I’m working and learning to be so intentional about parenting and connecting with her. She loves connection already, and nothing makes her happier than when you are on the floor playing with her or chasing her around the house. Some days I get so busy…and she gets lost in the middle of the to-dos. And it’s interesting to me that on those days is when we struggle the most with the fussies and whines and meltdowns. I’ve learned to take time with her, and it makes such a difference in her happy levels when I do.

She’s turned into quite the chatterbox and I feel like she will be endlessly amusing once she can actually talk with words…because she’s already endlessly amusing with the unintelligible jabbers. She doesn’t miss anything and is the first to hear a plane flying overhead (and points up in the sky to let us know) or hear the school buses come by in the morning (and passionately says “kuh! kuh! kuh!” which is her sound for truck…close enough). She tries to repeat a lot of words, and has learned how to sign a few things like please, thank you, and more. My parents bought her one of those animal sound wheel toy things, and she’s learned how to do a sheep baa, a kitty meow, a cow moo, and a puppy bark. She does good with being able to point out where the eyes, nose, and ears are when you ask her, and has a fascination with sticking her fingers in your mouth and nose. We have our share of food battles sometimes, and for all my big ideas about how my kid was going to eat all the things, she mostly eats bread, avocado, pancakes, fruit, and eggs.

My favorite things about her:: her peaceful heart, her eyes, the way she leans in for a kiss after meal time prayers, watching her light up when Ben comes home from work, and the way she feels snuggled against my chest as we read books after nap time.

What about you:: what are your favorite things about the toddler stage?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!