Twenty Three Months Old!

Seriously does not seem right that it is time to plan Ashley's SECOND birthday!!!! This little girl seems like she has grown up overnight. I can not believe the changes that I have seen in just the last couple of months. So here are a few things that my little fireball has been up to and a few things I want to make sure and remember :)

• She is still as feisty as they come. She is determined to do everything herself and when she wants something she will make sure she gets it (poor Ella usually takes the brunt of this determined mindset.)
• She talks so much...I can not believe how quickly she has started talking. Everyone warned me this is what happens with #2 but I was not quite prepared.
• Example #1: the other day we were at the doctors office and Ashley was getting a little too loud, Ella and I both told her that she needed to be quieter, her response was, "don't you say shh to me!"
• Example #2: If I am talking and raise my voice at all even out of excitement she says, "mama CALM down!" This phrase also has a hand gesture :)
• I have been working on letter recognition with Ella and Ashley seems to have benefited as well, she knows a handful of letters and screams them out in excitement.
• She loves, loves, loves Dora...this is apparently a theme in our house!
• She is still a fabulous eater...she sees it, she eats it! From fruits and vegetables to meats, fish and of course any kind of dessert she can get her hands on.
• She is getting ready to potty train. She informs me when she is going to the bathroom by saying, "mama I pooped, you clean it up!"   
• She loves to sing, her favorite songs are Jesus loves me, Happy Birthday, Twinkle Twinkle, You are my Sunshine and the Itsy bitsy spider. She knows all the words and even bobs her head. This is her ploy at bedtime...she says, "mama sing baby Jesus." then it's, "sing twinkle twinkle" and on and on...anything to stay up.
• Bed time is still a struggle at times, she is a mastermind at manipulating me and when she doesn't want to go to bed she says, "mama snuggle with me!" Seriously how can anyone resist that?
• One of her favorite sayings is, "No Way!" 
• Ashley loves herself some puppies...any puppies...stuffed ones, plastic ones at the gym and of course her beloved Apollo.
• She loves to put her treasures in her "pocket" I use the word "pocket" loosely because most of the time this just means down her pants, shirt or in the foot of her jammies. We have found everything from hair accessories, toys she has stolen from the gym, and my wedding ring (yes Bernie was not too happy about the last one)
• But most importantly she still has a smile that lights up any room and melts my heart every single time!

Ok baby girl slow down, you are growing up way to fast for this mama!