Arden: 19, 20 & 21 Months!

Hmmm…does it sound like I have some catching up to do or what?!?

Arden: if you’re reading this, you can thank your sweet little brother or sister for my lapse in documenting your life.  I used every ounce of energy I had in March in April to take care of you–but unfortunately these monthly updates kind of fell by the wayside!  So just do me a favor and pretend these two pictures have lots of words to go with them 🙂

Height: 35 in
Weight: 27 lbs
Clothing size: 2T
Shoe size: 6

Dear Arden,

Can you tell this month has been a wild one?!? We took a trip to the beach, enjoyed lots of extra playdates with our Texas friends, sold our house, and made the 12 hour drive back to Gigi & Papa’s–our temporary home until our house is finished in July.  I do believe “whirlwind” would be an accurate description of the last 30 days!

For the most part you’ve handled the transition really well, but there have been a few days where you seemed a little “out of sorts”. (This could also be due to the fact that you’re an almost 2-year old though, right?!) I just wish I could be inside your head to know if you understand what’s going on, or if you still think we’re on vacation 🙂  You babble about your Texas friends a lot, which always makes me a little emotional.  A couple of times you have listed all their names and then said “sad”.  I’d say there’s a 99% chance that this is because you’ve been listening to me talk for the last month, but it still broke my heart a little to hear you say that.  On the flip side though, you’re loving the time with your cousins.  You’ve got Maren wrapped around your finger and you know it…if you want to go down in the basement to play, you just grab her hand and say “c’mon Mare-Mare!”  We have bets going on how long it’ll be until she gets tired of that!!! 😉

Some funny and notable stories from this month…

Every time we’re at a stoplight and see a “no crossing” sign lit up, you say “high five!” 

Your favorite phrase this month is “nuffin’ in der!”  You love to find things that are empty just so you can look inside and say that 🙂

I may have created a monster.  I usually say “no ma’am” when you’re doing something you shouldn’t be…well now you tell me “no MA’AM!” (20 times) when I try to make you do anything you don’t want to.  Yikes!  Papa says that at least you’re polite about it???

Another favorite phrase lately: “I did it!”  It works in a lot of situations…squeezing through tight spaces putting a lid on something, climbing to the top of a playset, etc.  It’s so much fun to see you celebrate your little accomplishments.

Your need for independence is at an all-time high.  I’m glad you have the desire to do things yourself, but it can be oh-so frustrating for me sometimes–not to mention unsafe!  Parking lots are always a challenge…you don’t want to be held, you don’t want to hold my hand…so I usually end up carrying you in kicking and screaming.  Then there are stairs…oh, stairs. Going from a 1-story in Texas to Gigi & Papa’s house with a second story and a basement, you have been a stair climbing machine.  And just the last week or so you decided that you can go up and down standing up.  Norah told me the other day, “Aunt Vanessa, Arden is trying to go down the stairs on her LEGS!” Ha! I’m still encouraging going on your bottom or tummy, but you are a determined little thing.  Anyway, I know all I can do is keep you safe at this point…and pray that eventually the “cool-factor” will wear off and you’ll want to hold my hand in the parking lot again 🙂

If you’re going to give someone a kiss, it WILL be on the lips.  Norah tried to turn her cheek one time and you reached right around and got her on the lips. Haha.

We’ve been experimenting a little more with time-out lately (see “need for independence” above!!!”), but I’m not sure how well it’s working just yet.  As I count you are mouthing the numbers along with me and smiling.  And sometimes you just put yourself in timeout for the fun of it.  Again, once the newness wears off I hope that it won’t be so much FUN anymore! :/

You are breaking in your new sibling’s crib right now (yours is on a moving truck somewhere)…poor baby will never get anything that’s brand new!  I was a little worried about how you would react to a new bed, but the first night I laid you down you just looked at it and said “new night-night” and smiled 🙂  Now let’s just hope you don’t get mad when it ends up in the baby’s room in July!

Well girly, we’ve had a great month and I can already tell the one ahead is going to be equally as awesome.  We’ve got trips to grandma & grandpa’s, the lake, and lot of new things to try out in Kansas City.  I’m so excited to make this place your new home 🙂

Love you more than you could know!
Mom