2.5 years old!

Matisse has accomplished many toddler milestones since our last post.  She is now sleeping in a "big girl" daybed (because she climbed/fell out of her crib one night).  She is also potty trained and wearing "undies" all the time now.  One of her favorite things to do at school right now is play with blocks and "build REALLY REALLY tall towers."  Matisse loves going to the library to play in the playroom and check out new books.  Her recurrent favorites right now are "Ballet Kitty" (and Matisse of course loves her own pink tutu and shiny silver ballet slippers), "Hide and Seek" (she loves finding the chameleon - she calls it "meleon"), and "Flying" about an airplane's journey (she can recite the whole book to us).  Matisse got to ride on an airplane again when we went to Salt Lake City over Labor Day weekend.  We went to our friend Brooke's wedding, and she danced the night away with her new favorite friend Annora (our friends' 13 year old daughter).

Some funny Matisse moments recently:

- Matisse heard someone call me Tammy.  Matisse told me "You're not Tammy, you're just Mommy."

- Whenever she burps or toots, she makes a surprised face and says "Excuse me, my burp" or "Excuse me, my toot."

- Ever since starting in the "Twos" room at daycare in June, Matisse has been obsessed with a stuffed whale there - she frequently mentions it when we talk about what she did at school.  On more than one occasion, when arriving at daycare, we have been greeted by one of the kids immediately bringing the whale to her as soon as she walks in the door!

- We ordered cold weather clothes recently, and Matisse has been obsessed with laying out clothes together to make outfits and has uttered the words "fashion show" on several occasions.

Videos:

Matisse dancing

Matisse singing Frere Jacques

Matisse and one of her favorite stuffed animals (Lucky)

Matisse after her first haircut (by Mommy)

Matisse lining up all of Mimi's KCups

Matisse goofing off at the Riverwalk with Adelyn & Vincent

Matisse at Sea World

This is my sleepy face

Matisse's first night in her big girl bed

All dressed up for bed

Matisse with Mommy at lunch

Little sweetie (in Utah)

Matisse and Mommy

Matisse all dressed up with Mommy and Daddy

Matisse with her new favorite friend Annora

Ballerina tea party

Matisse trying to drink peanut butter (I'm just like my Daddy)

Daddy swinging Matisse

Wearing one of our fall outfits

28 months

Matisse is a talker!  She is content to provide a running commentary on everything.  And she does not like to be left out of the conversation - if Mommy and Daddy are talking and she is left out, she shakes her head and says "Mommy and Daddy talking" with a disapproving look on her face and a wrinkled nose.  This weekend we asked her what she wanted to do, and she said "Go outside, run around, play...take my shoes off."  This weekend she also randomly declared "I love animals" (which is true - she has a stuffed animal with her wherever she goes, and always takes several to bed).  We currently are not very interested in using the potty.



Video - Matisse loves chocolate

Daddy and Matisse in the tent

Matisse on the tea cup ride at Kid Mania - we just had to ride it

Matisse at the park

Taking a break from playing

Matisse and her big monkey

Matisse's surprise face

Matisse goofing off with Daddy

Matisse's ice cream goatee (our first ice cream cone)

This is what I got when I asked Matisse to smile

Matisse's new love - breakfast tacos

Matisse has discovered she can hang

Matisse with all of her books and stuffed animals

26 months

 Matisse is constantly saying new and complex things all the time.  She recognizes a few letters, and she loves saying "M Matisse!" whenever she sees the letter M (or when she sees W - it's just an upside-down M, right?).  She now includes 3 and 4 when she counts, finally!  Matisse has been very "mothering" recently, hugging and patting her stuffed animals and saying "It's okay!"  Last night she started asking "Why?" when we asked her to do things.  One of her favorite games right now is "Round and round", which involves her running around in circles and laughing.




 Video - Matisse singing "Rain rain go away..."
  

Matisse having fun at a farm day in Dallas:

 

Ready for summer!

All decked out

Bubbles!

Matisse loves being outside!

Matisse loves her pony

Practicing my ballerina arms

Matisse stands on one leg like the flamingoes

Matisse giving Mommy kisses

Afternoon nap with Mommy

25 months

 Matisse has changed so much in the last month.  She is very independent - the most common thing she says these days is "No, I'M doing it!" when you try to do anything for her.  She has to pick out her own clothes and socks.  She has also started negotiating - she will hold up one finger and say "One, 'kay?" and nod, asking you to agree with whatever it is she wants ("Chocolate?  One, 'kay?").  This week we heard her use a few complete sentences ("I see daddy's car").  She has also finally begun to sleep through the night more nights than not.

Matisse painting

Mini Mama sitting in Mama's chair

Matisse at the Denton Easter egg hunt

Matisse opening her eggs

Matisse + cookie = happy

Matisse with bluebonnets

Matisse running through the bluebonnets

Matisse and Daddy

My favorite game "Go", which involves yelling go and being thrown on the bed by Daddy

Matisse "drinking" Mommy and Daddy's coffee

Matisse and Mommy at the zoo

Matisse and Mommy on the train at the zoo