Journey Kay is 20 months

Dear Journey Kay,

I'm 6 days late on this! Sorry baby girl. 

You weigh about 23-24 pounds and are so tall. You are wearing size 18-24 month clothes and 2T leggings. You wear size 6-7 shoes and size 3 diapers. 

You're showing a little interest in the potty chair but mainly just like to put things inside and then sit on them. You've never actually gone in the potty but like to pretend and then flush. You still try to assist Jonah in there when he needs to go and he tells you "go away sissy. I need my privacy!" You are still referred to mostly as sissy or sissy pie but if I ask you what your name is you say "journ kay"

Galloping and skipping is still your preferred method of getting to where you're going

You call me Daddy a lot. I don't know why and I correct you but you still call me Daddy most of the time.

You love to play. You'll find anything and make a game out of it. Play doh is a big activity for you and Jonah right now. It excites you just about as much as going outside does.

Jonah really likes to tackle you. You hold your own and he's mostly gentle

You take off your diaper every chance you get. It is sooooooo annoying. You take off your pants and socks first. You never leave socks on. Then you take your diaper off and bring it to me. We've had a poopy mess only once thank goodness..you took off your diaper and then pooped in Dad's office! And while that mess was being cleaned you were off in our bathroom scooping toilet water out and pouring it all over the floor. That was all before lunch. So I had a plan. I put your diaper on, then your pants and then a onesie and snapped it shut over your pants...Thought I had got you beat but then I go in to get you after nap time and you are naked in your bed. So you've mastered the buttons on onesies now...you're unstoppable. My next idea involves duck tape...

You carry a bucket around filled with pigs, letters, puzzle pieces and put it on your shoulder and call it a purse

As I sit here writing this you are putting play coins between each one of your toes. You have 3 on one side and 2 on the other...oh you just gave up. Onto sticking your foot into a play puzzle shoe that is supposed to teach you to tie your shoes..

                                                                   Twinkies!!!

You love talking on the phone to whoever I am talking to. You talk on your play phones a lot too and when I ask you who you're talking to it's almost always Mema. You also love selfies.

Too early for pictures...

You have been challenging lately. If something doesn't go your way you have a complete fit over it. It can be just a quick fit or a reeeeeeealllly long one that involves screaming, throwing yourself on the floor, squirming out of my arms, hitting, throwing things...It's tough. Sometimes I feel so defeated with you. Like everything we do is a struggle even the smallest of things like putting your toothbrush away after were done is a battle. I've been trying to set limits and tell you when an activity is over and how many minutes we have left. It helps some. Also learned an awesome trick from Julia. I set a timer on my phone and when it "beeps big time" that means it's time to go. This has really helped with Jonah mostly but you take all queues from him so if he's cool with it then you follow. I tell Jonah all the time to be good and set a good example because you watch everything he does. I know this is just a phase or I keep telling myself that. This too shall pass....right?

You love your afternoon naps and will sleep until I wake you most days. I put you down around 1 and wake you at 4. You always want a snack the moment you get up. You love to eat and ask for a "beena" (banana) first thing in the morning. You would prefer to be plopped down in your seat at the table the moment you wake up and food served.

When you're not being a turd sandwich...you are the sweetest and smartest little lady. You can count to 10 and can sing most of the ABC song. I love the LMNOP part...you mumble through it. You're getting much better at colors but still working on those. Everything is always pink. You are really into puzzles and can name lots of animals and shapes. You've been sitting and listening to your books when I'm reading and will sit and read to yourself and just turn the pages and babble. You babble a lot. Most words are completely clear but when you have a lot to say it all just comes out together as jibberish. I think your little mind is working so fast and your mouth just can't keep up. I know once you figure all that out you will probably talk (clearly) non stop, much like your brother. 

Easter egg hunt at Jackson's birthday party

 

This month has been rough at times and doesn't look like the next is going to be any different but I do know it's a phase and I can never stay mad long because you find a way to turn it around and make me laugh like when you came out of time out and found a pair of binoculars and crept up beside me looking through them and said quietly "i seeeeee you"
Time outs work and we've been trying to make you accountable for your actions. Like if you pour your snacks out all over the floor cause you're mad then you better believe you are picking them up. I guess it's time to start treating you like a big girl which breaks my heart a bit but also makes me so happy when I see you making the right choices like throwing your own trash away and picking up your toys when you're done playing with them. Baby steps.

You truly are a sweetheart though and I know it's hard being little and especially right now you want to do so many things that you just can't do yet. We will get through this together little lady. I promise to keep my patience with you and you promise to stop pooping all over my floor ok?
I love you sissy pie. Happy 20 months!

Love,
 Mommy
xoxoxox