Growing Up So Fast!

Yesterday, Paprika turned 2 Years, 9 Months old. I cannot believe how much she has changed and grown in the past month. She is growing up before our eyes, and each day she asserts her independence a little more.

Of course, the biggest change has been her bedtime routine. She doesn't want us to sing to her anymore (we have sung "rockabye baby" to her since birth), and she doesn't want us to put her to bed. She's still in the crib, with the bar lowered and a big ottoman beside the crib so she can step out safely and comfortably. She crawls into bed, puts the covers over herself and says goodnight. Then, in the morning, she wakes up, gets out of bed, and comes and wakes us up!

Up until recently, she had always been a very late riser. But now she goes to bed around 10pm and wakes up at 6am or 6:30am! Today she woke up at 6am, and by noon she was exhausted.

I asked her if she wanted a nap (she always refuses), so I let it go. She went upstairs, and a few minutes later I went to check on her, and she had gone into her bedroom, closed the door, crawled in her crib, pulled the covers over herself, put her paci in her mouth, and was fast asleep!





She has a great sense of humor. She is always laughing, smiling, joking...being sarcastic! I have no idea where she got that from...I'm guessing Mr. Mustard! She wakes up each day with the hugest smile on her face, and she keeps me laughing.



Paprika is so fiercely independent. Now when we go to Disneyland, she doesn't want us to ride the rides with her. She wants to ride by herself! She loves her baby dolls and wants to play mommy to them all. She puts them to sleep, pushes them in the stroller, and makes sure they are well-fed, and nice and warm.

She also loves dinosaurs, and anything with sharp teeth! Sharks are a big favorite in our house! She also has a thing for butterflies, ladybugs, spiders, and other insects. She loves playing dress-up and pretending. And, of course, she loves her "pretty dresses!"





I can't help but be a little sad for how fast she's growing up. I think it's good thing, of course. It's just hard to let go! I am so excited to see how she responds to us having a baby in the house...in just a few more weeks!