When Did She Become a 13 Year Old?

Not really. She's almost two. But, Caroline sure does ACT like a 13 year old. At least, I guess this is what 13 year olds act like? Lately, since Caroline's vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds, she's putting together thoughts and sentences that I never thought would come out of an almost-two year old's mouth.

Exhibit A: Twice she has kicked me out of her room. On both occasions, it has been times when she was in her crib for bedtime. Sometimes she coughs bad at night, so I take her a sippy-cup of water. The first time she did this, she said "Mommy. Back through door." And I said, "You want mommy to go back through the door?". And she replied, "Yes." And that was that. The second time this happened, the conversation was more like "Mommy out room", followed by a cheery "Bye, mommy!!" as I was walking out.

Exhibit B: She's particular about who she wants to talk to. Last night on the way home from a birthday party, she was chatty Cathy. And since I like her response to this question, I asked her "Hi, Caroline. How are you today?" She always says, very cutely (like everything else she does), "Good!". Well, then Daddy made the mistake of asking. He asked her the same question "How are you today, Caroline?" And Caroline says "No! Shh! Eh-eh. No daddy talk to Caroline." Seriously, how do you control your laughter?

Exhibit C: She's possessive. We have a near-catastrophic meltdown whenever Daddy drives Mommy's car. "No daddy!! That's mommy's seat!! No drive mommy's car!!! THIS daddy's seat (kicking the passenger seat)!!!"

We spend our days laughing. She's so doggone funny that it hurts sometimes!!!

Special Prayer Request

I am writing post this with the hopes of reaching out to my blog readers for their help. This is not something I would normally do, but I am asking my few readers to say a quick prayer for my sweet little niece, Jessica. (This is Wally's sister's baby girl.)

Jessica is two and a half years old and has been battling various health issues over the last year. Right now she is in the Pediatric ICU at MUSC. She has been down there since Friday, February 18th. Without going into too much detail (respectfully, at the request of the family), I am asking that you pray for her health and comfort level as these next few weeks will be trying.

I am asking for strength for her parents, Wendy & John Wendell, as they have been trough many challenges over the last two weeks - more than what some people go through in a lifetime.

I am asking for guidance for the hands of the doctors that are treating her.

I am asking that we can understand God's plan - whatever it may be and however hard it is to comprehend.

We love you, Jessica...and want you home soon!

Chatty Cathy

There is nothing sweeter than the sound of Caroline's voice in the morning. She wakes up happy and never requires immediate attention. She is content in her crib listening to her soother, turning it off and on, singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and telling stories to Fuzzy (her lovey).

But, what I really think she's doing is gearing up for the day. The child talks ALL DAY. ALL THE TIME.

I am NOT complaining. I love it. Like I said in an earlier post, her talking capabilities have allowed us to avoid major communication melt-downs. I think it's entertaining and educational.

But, I wanted to let you know what a typical morning is like - from the moment I open her bedroom door to the time I actually walk out of her bedroom into the kitchen. This is everything she said this morning - in under 1 minute. Ok, maybe 2 minutes.

• Hi, Mommy!
• Sleepsack off?
• Here my fuzzy
• Pillow in mommy room (wanted me to put her pillow in my room)
• Blankey in mommy room (after I put the pillow in my room)
• Circle (after pointing to the speaker on her soother)
• Circle (after pointing to the face of her soother)
• Book broken (sad voice, showing me each page in her Peek-A-Baby book where she pulled the flaps off)
• Book no broken (showing me an intact book)
• Mommy rings off (after inspecting my left hand)
• Mommy drive hand (after inspecting my left hand again; this is the same hand that she will not hold because I drive with this hand - her words, not mine)
• Out
• Something to eat?

And that's just the tip of the iceberg! This continues all day!!