Typical Toddler Behaviors

String Bean has been exerting her independence lately, which I'm told (and I read) is typical behavior of a two-year old. Here are some examples:

• No longer am I allowed to button her jacket.
• Nor unbutton it.
• Shoes are apparently up to the wearer to pick and put on.
  
• And take off.
  
• If I give String Bean two choices of dresses to wear, she will chose neither. It is as if she is saying, "I need options, Mom!" (I had my best success when I laid 9 dresses on her bed and sent her into her room alone to pick out one.)
• When told, "You are wearing your monkey pajama pants," a toddler remembers that she has 2 pairs of monkey pajama pants. No matter which one I pull out, it would be the wrong one. Tears follow.
  
• Although coloring is a favorite activity, if it is my idea, String Bean isn't interested...until 15 minutes later.
  
• Leaving the house has become a chore. "I need this," is the common cry I hear as String Bean goes around the house picking up random objects and toys to take along on the quick run to pick up the babysitter.
  
• Don't get me started on accessories.
  

What Did You Say?!

String Bean's language explosion is here to stay. Every day she is saying new words, even ones we didn't know she knew. Today was no exception.

Mr. Bean was dressing String Bean for church and I was listening to their chatter on the baby monitor while finishing my hair. The outfit Mr. Bean picked out was a brown shirt with a pink corduroy jumper. He put the brown shirt on String Bean and she pointed at it and said, "Brown shirt!" Although, it didn't come out that way.

The first word, "brown," sounded more like "bull" and the second word's "r" was mysteriously missing.

We've gotten a lot of giggles out of that today and even took a video to show her some day. Somewhere along the line she realized we giggled whenever she said it, so she ran around the house saying, "Brown shirt! Brown shirt! Brown shirt!" Or her version of it anyway.

Thank goodness she didn't realize she was being funny until after we'd left church!

Finally Catching Up

String Bean's first birthday was about 48 weeks ago. She got this really cute dress from our babysitter, Lexie. It was a 12 month size corduroy jumper. Just today we were finally able to let her wear it since it finally fits. String Bean is finally catching up to last year's wardrobe. (Although she did wear a pair of newborn size shorts last week.) At 23 months, the 12 month clothes actually fit.

Now to see if she hits the weight requirement to turn her carseat around at her 2 year appointment. Most kids hit that weight milestone before their first birthday.

Working (from Home)

At work we have an inspection coming up on Friday. Nothing like a deadline to light a fire under your butt and get you moving. I'm going to be putting in some extra hours this week in preparation for it.

As a stay-at-home mom, deadlines and other work issues aren't quite the same...

• Rushing to finish a project happens when you hear the baby waking up from the nap and you aren't quite finished with whatever you planned to do during nap time.
• You hear your "boss" having problems with a "project" and you race into the bathroom to clean up the mess before it gets worse.
• Getting to an important appointment on time is a great day. Getting there a few minutes late is par for the course and getting there early is virtually unheard of.
• When your "boss" makes you redo something it usually was done correctly the first time such as the laundry, the carpets...you get the idea.
• Dressing for success equals clean clothes that are preferably stain-free.
• Your boss calling you at home in the middle of the night is typical.
  
• It is pretty easy to leave your work worries at work since you rarely leave work anyway.
  

Items of Clothing for String Bean and Cashew

I was browsing the online stores this evening and found several items that fall into the category of "oh, too cute" that String Bean and Cashew would rock on the runway. I don't think either of our models need these clothes (nevermind the expense), but they are sure fun to look at.

The descriptions on these items of clothing are taken directly from the online stores:

Your grandmother's coat, reproduced for your little glamour girl. Super soft faux-fur is so fun for her to wear over everything from sweet dresses to funky jeans and tees.

Found at Old Navy for $36.50.




Skip to the chocolate shop in sweetly giftable looks full of playful polka dots. Rich and seasonal colors will look so cute on your little girl with our bodysuit, jumper and head-to-toe matching accessories.

Found at Gymboree for $95.00 for the entire collection.






Fun lined rainboots that you don't have to save for a rainy day. Great for playing outside or helping out in the garden.

Found at Belly Dance Baby for $29.00





Shabby Baby "Aviary"

Brown and pink floral and bird print little girl's dress. It is a long sleeve empire waist dress with a pleated skirt and a square neckline. Snap button closure at the back of the neck.

Found at Kitsel for $52.00






Soft pink hat with picot edge trim and pink and white knitted flower.

This reminds me of a flapper's hat from the 20s!

Found at Etsy for $23.00

(If you have yet to discover the joy of Etsy, I encourage you to try it out by visiting my friend Whitney's shop!)




Because AV club, jazz band, and hanging with the exchange students was way cooler than anyone ever knew. Rock this cool design on a baby tee or one-piece. Knock the baby shower circle out of their cake-and-ice-cream coma with this crowd-pleasing gift.

Found at Baby Wit for $21.00.



I could probably surf the web and post more items to add to Cashew and String Bean's fashion extravaganza, but I'll leave it at these choice items. Chuckle with me at the thought!