The Totman's: Bethany turns 2

My how time flies... as I look at little April I can't help but remember back just two short years ago when the baby I was cuddling was Bethany and now she is 2! Such an fun loving active toddler who loves her baby sister and family so much. We had her two year dr. appointment on Halloween and while she has fairly average stats, I feel like she acts so much older than 2. She keeps up with friends that are much older, she doesn't have a lot of fear, and when I read about things she should be doing now - like learning how to jump - I think back to when she mastered that last spring!

Height: 34 1/2 inches - 55%
Weight: 28.4 lbs - 50%
Head: 47 cm - 75%

Bethany is progressing with the toilet training and we've instituted the "Poopy Prize" as a result. I think Bethany is a rule person like me and likes to look forward to things, know what is going to happen etc. So when we told her to sit on her potty chair or the toilet she was like, why? I have a perfectly good diaper for that! But, when we told her about this wonderful prize that she could get if she went, she immediately sat on the toilet and pooped. I took out a slinky from the box of toys I've saved for when I need Bethany occupied while I'm feeding April and told her it was a special prize for when she goes poopy. Oh, a Poopy Prize! she said. We let her play for a few minutes and then carefully put it away for the next time she had to go. It was a huge success, she was now telling everyone about her poopy prize and when she would see anything that resembled a slinky she'd ask if it was her poopy prize. There is a commercial on tv with a slinky that goes down the road and she yells "MY POOPY PRIZE" every time it is on. So happy that it is still working and that we don't have to think of a new prize each time either! I'm not pushing the training but we ask her throughout the day and so far she is most consistent right away in the morning and before bed. Other times will be harder to spot and catch when she needs to go but the Dr said normally kids are interested between 2 1/2 and 3 so she's doing good to be starting now!

Bethany listens and understands us so well that I'm often surprised at what she picks up on even if we aren't talking directly to her. We had been watching the Vikings game and then mentioned the Chicago Bears and she started listing off her cousins that live in "ChicaGO" because we had been talking about that the week before. Grandma and Papa were visiting Chicago and so she remembers that and picks up on it anytime she hears about Chicago.

Speaking of the Vikings, she loves to watch the games with us and although the season has been miserable it is quite funny what she sees us do. Now, just ask her if she likes the Vikings and she'll put her hand on her head, shake it and say "oh no" :)

Bethany is VERY good at counting and saying her ABC's. In fact, it is the choice song to try and help April if she starts crying in the car. So, as I'm driving and listening to April scream because she's had enough of being in the car, all of a sudden Bethany starts yelling at the top of her lungs the ABC's to try and quiet April down! Very relaxing car rides these days.

She is also starting to pick up on emotions. We've mentioned to her when things she does make us happy or sometimes sad and so now if we're excited about something and laughing, she'll come up and say "Happy mommy?" - yes, hunny, I'm happy :) Or, if I'm overwhelmed with the lack of sleep and started to cry once, she crawled into my lap to give me a hug... "sad mommy? It ok." Makes my heart want to burst with her sweet spirit caring for others so much!

Bethany is very aware of April and wants to know exactly where she is at all times! In the morning if we leave her in our room to stay asleep and come out to help Bethany get breakfast she always asks "where's April? where April go?" If I forget and leave our door open she'll always run in and peak at her sister trying to sleep.

At night before bed, our reading the Bible time and prayer as a family always ends with kisses. Bethany has to kiss April first. I've been replaced as the first one she wants to hug and kiss!

We are also entering the "why" phase. She is genuinely interested in why things happen, or why I do things a certain way but asking why 10-15 times is a little much even though it is cute!

If we have plans for the day it is fun to tell Bethany about them and then she looks forward to it all day. For example, going to the zoo with Charlie was talked about the entire day before and afterwards she had so much fun telling daddy about it too.

Bethany loves music and so each car has a kids CD constantly playing if she's riding along and she knows which car she is in and which songs are coming up. In daddy's car she'll say "the bus song" or "jericho" until we turn on the CD! We sing songs a lot at home, she has a clean-up song and we made up a zoo song and they all have dances too. Her laptop she got for her birthday has songs and that button is constantly being pushed :)

She surprises us with a lot of new and funny words like aroma (Dan taught her that when making coffee).

Bethany's 2nd birthday was a lot of fun. We played at home in the morning and after her nap Dan got off work early so we could go to IHOP for dinner and then to Mall of America to go on rides. Bethany loved it! As a chaperone we could ride along with her when she didn't meet the height requirement and she just wanted to keep going and going on all the rides. Some were a little scary, but the one we took a video of I thought was so fast but she loved it!

On Saturday we went trick or treating in Wayzata at some local businesses and she had so much fun as a "ee odder" before coming home for her nap before her birthday party. Both grandparents and my sister's family and my Aunt Lynette came and Bethany loved being in the center of attention. Amber brought some balloons including an Elmo balloon which was a big hit! I decorated my first cake as Elmo for her and it turned out good - at least it looked like Elmo!

Bethany, your dad and I love you so much. Whenever I tell you that mommy loves you, you always say "daddy?" Yes, daddy loves you. "April" Yes, April loves you. And we're also reminding you that Jesus loves you too. You are so special to us and everyone around you. Thanks for making our lives so entertaining with your joyful spirit. We can't wait to see you continue to grow and develop into the beautiful little girl that you are!