Ruby is now 23 months old. Only 1 more month and she will be 2!!!
Over the last month she has been talking more and more. She speaks in sentences. She carries around her ladybug doll and asks it questions about what it wants to do 'Want to ride car ladybug?' She commands me, 'Mama come sit down here right now.' She asks for cupcakes and ice cream for breakfast. She tells me what color shoes she wants to wear. She reads phrases from some of her favorite books. She tells the birds that dart from the birdfeeder at seeing her, 'Come here birdie...food.' On hearing a train going by she spontaneously said, 'There it goes again.' She pointed at my scraped knee and said, 'hurt.' She is really starting to understand concepts and commenting on something rather than just tell me what it is.
She is becomming pretty independent. I usually walk with her down the stairs, holding her hand and I say 'Mama help Ruby.' She looked at me one day and said very clearly, 'Ruby help Ruby.' She tries to do lots of things herself and when she succeeds she smiles so proudly. Just today she figured out how to do a harmonica by herself. She was literally jumping and smiling so much. She can put train tracks together, do puzzles, squeeze glue, spread peanut butter (sort of!) on bread, pour her oatmeal into the bowl, shake spices into whatever we are cooking, and eat cereal and milk with a spoon (still a little messy, but I'm proud).
Ruby is calm-natured, but very active. Her shins are all bruised and scraped from all the climbing, running, jumping, exploring, bounce houses, dirt-digging, ride-on toy riding. She is pretty fearless on the playground. She bravely vaults the rock walls that are meant for older kids, she jumps in the big bounce houses, and climbs up steep slides on her own. I'm so glad that she has this confidence and is willing to try new things that are physically demanding.
She likes to fingerpaint, dig in the dirt, play with beads, watch Finding Nemo, chase mama and daddy outside, hang out in her playhouse in the backyard, and "cook" in the sink with water and her playfood. She really enjoys playdates with friends.
She still has the least hair of any child her age, but there is a bit of hair coming in. She has the most beautiful blue/green hazel color eyes now. I continue to think of her as my baby (since she still looks like one in many ways)! But really, she is a smart toddler who will soon be a big sister!
Love you Ruby.
