When We're Helping, We're Happy

Pushing the laundry basket from her room to the laundry room. Practicing walking and helping like a big girl. What she's really thinking.... I can't believe I have to do my own laundry!
Pulling clothes out of the dryer and into her basket. Learning the difference between out and in. What she's really thinking.... seriously, I'm one. Pretty sure this is slave labor. I'm telling dad!
Pushing the full basket back to the living room to help me sort and fold. Learning words like pants, shirts, socks etc. What she's really thinking... "I'm so going to throw these on the floor as soon as you fold and sort them- just for making me do this."

Okay- so hopefully her thoughts were not that bad! She really does enjoy this- makes her feel like a big kid. She is turning into a very good "helper". What a wonder girl I have. Aly- you make me smile!

Cause we all just wanna be big rock stars...

Rocking the Mohawk

Her New Favorite Thing to Do

Alyson has found a love for music and dance. Her new favorite thing to do is watch music videos on the computer and dance around with us. I even made up a little song for her to learn dance moves: "Stomp your feet, shake your pants, wiggles your arms and Dance! Dance!"

She is so good at dancing- she's got moves I've never seen! Wish I had a video to post- working on get one.

What?? That's my jam!

I can do that... I should be in videos...

Mom... put on my music and stop taking pictures

It's All about Alyson

Alyson is 14 months old now and developing her view on the world. It's all about her- or at least she thinks it should be! She wants to do everything and be everywhere you are and see everything that you are doing. She is anti Church right now- it doesn't help that it's during nap time and with Daddy's new calling he can't spent the whole 3 hours holding her and telling her how wonderful she is- But she does really well with Family Home Evening and being reverent so there is still hope for her! She is also anti hair bows- so if you think her hair looks crazy in these pictures- it's because it was fixed and then she ripped out the bow at the last second before the picture was taken. Besides her new found need to demonstrate her free agency, she loves to dance, read, sing, laugh and ride her horse ( rocking- for now). She goes into random giggle fits and most everything she says has to do with her dad. "Daddy work?" "Hey Dad" "Daddy play?" etc. We love her and still like her!

Hmm... which book should Mommy read to me...

All of them!! HAHAHAHA

Helping me put up groceries. Any time the fridge is open- she rushes to sit inside it. I don't get it- but we have to be quick- cause the girl is fast!

Alyson, her blanket and every toy she owns. And no- she did not want to play with me.

Ride little horse-y go to town

All good things must come to an end..

So my little baby girl isn't a baby anymore. She wants to be a big girl and just take one nap instead of two. We are still working out the transition and trying to find our new schedule, but I am totally bummed on one hand and then excited on the other.

First- the being bummed. I was spoiled with a baby that loved schedules as much as me. She took two naps, both 2 hours long. The morning nap was my time for a full hour workout and then shower and dressed- most things that moms say they never get on a regular basis. I loved it. Then I knew that I had another 2 hour block coming for schoolwork, or project or cleaning the house. And now.. sadly... I'll lose one of my nap times. So I am bummed cause now I will have to incorporate housework in with a kid under foot. Plus church on Sunday will stink as it will be during nap time and she refuses to sleep in church. How much longer till nursery again???

But not to sound too selfish and self centered, I am excited because that will mean more awake time with Alyson and we can start to develop a new playtime schedule with all kinds of learning and reading and exploring. So it will be fun to watch her become even more interactive and see her growing into a little lady.

Oh well... guess 4 whole hours to myself was rather extravagant. I'll take 2 hours and enjoy my little girl.

Oh this girl....

So having turned 1 in November, we were to switch to whole milk and get off the bottle. Doctor's orders. The doctor wanted it all done by her next check up- 15 months- which is in February. So we make the switch to whole milk in half a day. Alyson loves it. So I'm thinking- get rid of bottles- that will be easy too. Well... I try about mid December to get rid of the bottles. Nope- not going to happen. She throws the sippy cup at me and says "bad momma" So that goes on for about 3 days and every day "bad momma". So I give up, Christmas is coming, I'll just deal with it latter. Then, the Monday following Christmas, I decide to try again. Alyson and I have the following conversation:

Me: Alyson, are you ready to be a big girl and drink all your milk from a sippy cup?

Alyson: Yeah.

Me: No more bottles, just sippy cups?

Alyson: Yeah.

Me: Do you understand what Mommy is saying?

Alyson: *Laughs* Yeah Momma.

So I give her the milk in a sippy cup and no problems! She hasn't had a bottle since. Guess I was a bad momma for not asking if she was ready. Everything will be done when she wants it too... guess I know where she got that one from. She may look like Jonathan, but I guess she is going to act like me!