What should I note about the past month? Lauren is fascinated with fictional characters from mermaids to werewolves, unicorns to Bigfoot. She won’t let Ryan stop talking about them and actually invited Bigfoot over to enjoy our fireworks and
cookout on the 4th. She’s learned to wink (hard to tell that both eyes aren’t closed, but if you look closely you’ll see one is barely open), thinks it’s hilarious that she can cross her eyes now, is relentless in her pursuit to one day touch her nose with her tongue like Mommy and Daddy and is so animated when she talks with wonderful facial expressions and hand movements. She’s singing more and makes up songs of her own that are always quite entertaining. She dances non-stop at home when listening to a CD or while watching “So You Think You Can Dance” as well as in the isle of any store that’s playing music with a beat. She’s even requested “to start ballerina lessons when I’m older…when I turn 3”. She’s such a little girl, using words that I’m amazed with like “actually”, “direction”, “refreshments” and “realize.” And I have to wonder how many other 34 month old kids know what a xenopes is??? I just found out and I’m 34 years old! That is just one of the many things she’s learned from reading her jillion books…which she really does read now in her own way. She goes letter by letter, announcing each out loud with great pride. She just loves her books and I know will be truly reading before long. You can ask her to find a particular book and she can locate it just from the writing on the spine…she does amaze me.
However, as much as she adores reading, this past month has brought about a new love – two little words that have become second nature for her, “Know what?” It starts off the majority of her sentences these days. Maybe she got it from me…maybe she got it from Ryan. At first it was so cute, like any new thing she says, but now it’s become a habit for her. I don’t think she even realizes that she’s saying it most of the time. However, she will continue to say it until you respond back to her with, “What?”
Lauren continues to make us laugh with all the things she says. This month has been crazy and I didn’t get a chance to jot many down, but here are a few LP quotes that made me smile:
While trying to get LP down for a nap, she was relying on her favorite stall tactic, talking nonstop. I finally threatened, “If you don’t stop talking like that, you won’t get to play in the sprinkler when you wake up.” Lauren responded wholeheartedly with, “How do I need to talk then, Mommy?” 7/8/09
After driving by a field full of equestrian jumps, Lauren shouted, “Mommy! I saw some toys for horses and a place for them to dance, run, jump and play!” How she knew this, I still have no clue. 7/11/09
Lauren so loved the beach and has been planning a trip back since we got home. After she decided that we should fly next time in order to get there faster, she also added, “Why don’t we go to the beach first…then to Africa. We can go from jungle to jungle to find Horton!” 7/14/09
Oh, life with Lauren is entertaining, fulfilling, enlightening, challenging, exhausting, and an immeasurable blessing. She knows how to bring a smile to my face, a tear to my eye, and has provided me with a whole life time of wonderful memories already. I simply can’t imagine life without her and know I’m better because of her. 34 months down…countless more to go!!! Check out our photo shoot this month, click here.