Karina’s Day at 2.5 Years Old

My dearest Karina,

It’s insane to me to think of the differences we’ve experienced between you turning two and turning 2.5. Six months can make a world of difference for a toddler!

Quite honestly, this age has been a huge challenge to me as a parent. I want you to be independent, but you’re caught in the middle with doing things yourself and needing help. “I DO IT!” is one of your favorite phrases, and it goes along with just about everything from putting on shoes to picking out clothing to climbing in the van.

Language was a huge concern for us when you turned two, but you’ve grown, and I’m confident you’re going to be just fine. In fact, you will be phasing out of Early On soon. With their help, you are now where you should be, and even ahead in many areas.

The words are starting to flow, and more importantly, your behavior is giving me hope, though we do still have plenty of tantrums. You are VERY sensory-driven, and now can adhere to your desire for “hard work.” You can often be found pushing very heavy things, helping to shovel snow, and even wearing a backpack that weighs just about as much as you.

We joke you are the hardest working toddler anyone has ever seen…and it’s true! Your body’s desire to push itself to its physical limits has been eye-opening. Being a busybody myself, I finally get it, and can see this isn’t just a toddler phase; this is just who you are. Thanks for helping to keep me in shape 😉

From day one, everything you do is done with FIERCE passion. You play hard — jumping, climbing and almost always running full-speed. When you have a tantrum, EVERYONE knows about it, sometimes making my cheeks flush when in public. But you LOVE hard as well. I am constantly getting bombarded with kisses, hugs and begs for “cuddles on couch.”

Here’s a bit more of what a typical day is like for you at this age:

9 a.m. Wake-up, get dressed and eat breakfast! Somehow you’ve managed to unbutton your footie pajamas and get one of your legs out. Books surround your crib and blankets and stuffed animals are strewn about. You are a wild sleeper, so will be staying in your crib until you start to climb out.

9:30-10:30 a.m. Free play while mama is on a conference call. You are great at entertaining yourself and play independently and with your sister. You two have your fights often, but usually you play wonderfully in the morning. Today, you two were playing house with LEGO people, but you can often be found coloring or playing Anna and Elsa from Frozen, too.

10:30 a.m. Time for some fun! Today we pop on our winter gear and head outside. You even kept your mittens on the whole time…This seems to be a rare occurrence these days. Of course you wanted to walk through the snow that was practically as tall as you. I obliged when you were polite about it. “Snow! Please, mama. Thank you.”

11:30 a.m. Time for your favorite treat — hot cocoa, plus lunch. At this point in your life, you pretty much live off of fruit, cereal and peanut butter on bread.

12 p.m. Play time. While I am nursing your brother, you wander off quietly, so I con you into trying to sit on the potty. You’re not quite ready for full training, but we are trying to introduce it in hopes of sending you to preschool next year. You sit for about 5 minutes and then decide you are done trying. “Money, mama?” you ask, hoping I will give you money for sitting. No, dear daughter. Not until something actually appears in the potty!

1:30 p.m. Nap time. I am reminded of your growth with the books you choose — ones that are a bit over your head, but I happily oblige. You absolutely love reading. You go turn off the light – “I did it, mommy!” and come back to cuddle into my lap. I sing you a few songs — “Let it Go” from Frozen, “Alleluia” from Shrek, the ABC’s and Twinkle Little Star. Although you only nap about 25% of the time these days, you usually are pretty happy to just have some quiet time in your crib for a while. Today, you actually fell asleep. Woohoo!

4 p.m. Up from your nap. You always greet me like we haven’t seen each other in days, and it warms my heart. Immediately following, you request “cuddles downstairs.” You have some free play while I make dinner.

5 p.m. Dinnertime! This night we made tofu lettuce wraps. You actually eat most everything on your plate and are wonderful at the table. Many nights this is our rough period of the day. My guess is our fun in the snow and a decent nap help make today’s dinner successful.

6 p.m. We head to the grocery store as a family. You throw a temper tantrum because we didn’t pick the cart you wanted. Sorry baby girl, I was not in the mood to push two carts. After awhile, you give up, but then realize we are at Meijer and ask for a cookie from the bakery. As usual, the cookie and a promise to ride Sandy, the penny pony, get us through the store. As we shop, you and your sister run up and down the aisles. Many strangers comment on your cuteness, as I apologize for you running into them, but I know making you walk is completely necessary for you to burn energy. {Yes, I am that mom with wild children. Sorry, people.}

7 p.m. Back home and wanting a snack before bed. You get a bowl of blackberries, one of your favorite fruits.

7:30 p.m. Bedtime! Daddy puts you down while I handle your brother and sister. You ham it up with cuddles and giggles before settling into his lap for a few books and songs before hitting the hay.

You love bringing books into your crib, and flip through them and talk a bit before drifting off for good.

Many days are exhausting for us as parents, but man! We just adore you and those beautiful sparkling eyes. I just know you are going to rock life and can’t wait to see what the years ahead have in store for you.

Kisses to the moon and back,

Mama