she's two!

Our littlest is two. This is a first for us.  When the older ones have turned two, our littlest has been a newborn.  This time, our newborn is still in the womb and will be for a few more months (hopefully!).  So for now, and for the first time, our baby is two.

I thought I'd update you on her current tricks and skills!

• She's talking about anything and everything. She often repeats things and at times surprises us with a saying all her own. She's using four-five word sentences on a regular basis and also knows how to greet and respond in Swahili.  This morning, she had fallen in her room and I went and got her and brought her back to bed with me. Kevin came upstairs to check on her since he heard her fall.  Kev talked to her for a bit and then said, "Come here and and I'll put you in her bed. " Little bit responded with, "No, I'm laying here talking to Mommy."
• She's averaging two wet diapers a week.  She sleeps in a diaper but it's usually dry and she'll wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom if she needs to.  For the first time since E was born, we're going to be diaper free for a bit.
• She's sleeping in a bed with E and does really good.  Sometimes, naps take a bit longer for the girls to fall asleep but other than that she's doing great.
• She's running very fast and likes for you to watch her. She's also jumping and likes for you to watch her do this as well.  She likes to dance and to "move it, move it."

• Some of her favorite things are her baby, playing with her tea set, watching our chickens, coloring, singing (her own made up songs but I can usually understand Jesus), reading books, and helping Mommy or Daddy with anything.
• She's started joining the big kids in school and has been doing activities to learn her colors.  Each week, she usually learns at least part of their Bible verse and sometimes, all of it.
• Her current stats are: 25.8 pounds and 33 7/8" tall. She's wearing size 2T in clothes and size 7 in shoes.  She's grown almost 2" since December and her shoe size jumped from 5 to 7, kind of skipping size 6.  We're thinking she might be tall?!?!  She's long and lanky like her sister (and her parents)!
• For her birthday, we had our teammates over for cupcakes (strawberry with green and purple icing, her pick) and ice cream.

So there's our update on little, big M.  We're so thankful for her sweet, compassionate spirit.  She's a great playmate for E and J and provides plenty of laughs for us all.

a big lady

M has been "potty training" since before we moved to Kenya. Her "potty training" has consisted of wearing underwear and me remembering to take to the bathroom every so often. M hasn't really initiated much until recently and even now, it's not really all that much. However, she is going long periods of time without going potty in her pants and is also having dry diapers after her naps and in the morning. We are thinking things are clicking for her and it won't be much longer before she starts telling us more. Today, she woke up from her afternoon nap dry and actually has been playing in her bed for awhile after waking up. I brought her downstairs and took her to the bathroom. I was telling Jackline that M had been awake in her bed and Jackline asked if she had a dry diaper. I said yes and that she was going potty now. Jackline replied with "she is becoming a big lady." Indeed, she IS becoming a big lady! :) we are proud of our big lady!