Talking Two Year Old

As Harper's vocabulary continues to grow, I am constantly amazed at the conversations we have.  Here are a few gems:
1. (Background - she loves to close all the doors upstairs every morning.  Also she watches Dora the Explorer as much as I'll let her.)
       Me: Harper, Mommy needs you to open her door
       Harper: No.
       Me: Please open the door.
       Harper: No mommy, you have to say abre (open in Spanish)

2. While making silly faces and noises at lunch....
      Harper:  What's Harper doing?
      Me: I don't know
      Harper:  I don't know either
followed by 2 minutes of hysterical laughing.  Seriously, when did she learn "either" and how to use it correctly?

3.  Harper:  I want to watch T.V.
     Me: Why?
     Harper: Because I have to.
Maybe we need to do some lessons on have to versus want to?!

Some days I think I'm conversing with a 14 year old.  I can only imagine what's to come.

Swimming

On Monday I saw the Olympic trials were going to be on, so I tuned in while we were giving Harper her bath and getting her ready for bed.  Who knew she would love it so much.  Every night since she asks to "watch whimming?"  And she even rushed through her bath so she can maximize her swim watching time.  During every race she shouts "Go Guys, GO!"

Looks like we have another Summer Olympics fan in the house.

Camping

We took Harper camping last weekend for the first time.  I turns out she loves camping.  She loves playing in the tent, being outdoors, and all the other components of camping.  Here's a photo trip through our weekend.

Getting to eat chips in her camp chair

Gathering wood for the fire

Roasting Hot Dogs

Tossing rocks in the river with dad

Staying up late to sit by the fire

Having a blast hanging out with our friend Chris, or "Tis" as she calls him

Weekend with Daddy

A couple of weekends ago Joe took Harper to Cincinnati for a daddy daughter weekend.  They went to the Children's Museum and the aquarium.  The left Saturday early afternoon and came back late Sunday afternoon.  It sounds like they had an amazing time.

What did this momma do with her free time?  

1. Went for a run without worrying about getting home at a certain time
2. Took as long of a shower as I wanted
3. Read my kindle in my bathrobe while drinking a cup of coffee
4. Went out with some girl friends from work
5. Had one too many shots
6. Ate breakfast and read the paper at a coffee shop at a very leisurely pace
7. Took a nap

It was a great weekend!

Watching the trains go round

Sitting on the real size train

Fish Face

Posing next to a giant alligator

I've often wondered...

• How I would react if I got pulled over for speeding.  Would I cry and try to get out of it?  Would I feign ignorance.  As it turns out, I just say sorry and take my lumps.  I got my first speeding ticket ever on Monday.  Lame way to start the summer.
• How I would handle when my kid hit the why phase.  Would I say "Because I said so?"  Would I answer all her questions without fail?  Turns out I answer her questions until there is just no way to answer any more and I try a diversionary tactic to get her to stop.
• What would happen if I weren't religious about seeing my dentist every six months.  Apparently I have to have a wicked tartar cleaning, sit through a patronizing lesson on how to properly brush and floss, and oh yeah...I have my first every cavity and have to get a filling. 

Let's just say it's been a crazy first week of summer.  I've loved every minute of hanging out with Harper, but some of the extraneous stuff I could definitely do without.

Call of Nature

A couple of weekends ago, whilst shopping at Target (both a Mommy and Harper favorite) Harper became fascinated by the wall of kids underwear.  After a very long debate, she decided that Minnie Mouse underwear were for her, so we threw them in the cart.  I was hoping to get to potty training this summer while I was off work.  Harper had a different idea.   Last Thursday morning she saw the freshly washed underwear in her laundry basket and said "I wear underwear."  Well, there's no arguing with a two year old who gets an idea in her head, so she put on her very first pair of big girl underwear.  I sent a few extra and told the lovely ladies at daycare that there was absolutely no pressure, and if she went back into diapers, no problem.  That evening when I picked her up, I was truly shocked to see her still wearing the same outfit I sent her in.  Day 1, no accidents all day.  Well, since then it's been an awesome surprise how quickly she is picking it up.  She's had a few accidents, and of course the dreaded number two (although we had our first one in the potty yesterday).  I am so impressed at how well she's doing, although I'm also a little sad because it's another step away from being a baby.  I have picked up a few tips to share with any of you embarking on this journey

1. Pack Post-its:  They are perfect for sticking over the sensors of automatic flushers which scare the crap out of Harper.  She even requests them. "Mommy, sticker, no flushing"
2. Toilet Rings:  You know, those cute little rings you put on the big potty to make it small butt size.  We take ours everywhere.  It's so much better than having to hold her on bigger public toilets.
3. M&M's:  Not a new idea, but definitely a great one.  We give two for peeing, and four for pooping.  Daycare gives gummies I think.

So in honor of my ever growing little girl, here are some pictures of the new "Big Girl" things Harper has been up to.

Checking out the Fire Trucks at COSI

Running through the sprinkler

Mowing the "lawn"

Playing "Daddy Hockey"

Update Part 1

So yeah...It's been a month since my last post.  May is by far my busiest month at work and I seriously haven't had time for much of anything.  So I will update you on the past month in a couple segments

Harper's Birthday Party

Harper's Birthday party had a train theme.  I am trying to decide if I'm a buy it at the store kind of mom or a craft it myself kind of mom.  I decided to trial run this year and make all the decorations myself.  I used Pinterest for the first time to look up some ideas and found some great stuff.  Here are pics of what I put together.

Snack train filled with all of Harper's favorites

Railroad Crossing sign above the gift table... There was another on the front door.

Play area for the kids.  Harper's train table in the basement was also a big hit.

I also made her happy birthday banner but apparently forgot to take a picture.  Harper had a blast at her party.  We had a bounce house in the back yard which was the best thing ever.  She did a great job reading her cards and thanking all her friends for the presents.