Our Big Girl

 It's been some time now since I've updated on our dear darling Julip girl! It would be clever to say it's because she's just growing too fast and I can't keep up, but truthfully, we have just been busy this summer!

Our sweet Julip is transforming into a little girl more and more everyday! And this summer, she's welcomed quite a few major milestones. She started potty training nearly three months ago and has been diaper free (during waking hours) for about two months. She was so ready. We didn't have to do much to accomplish this big step, she was just so proud of herself every time! We did/do reward her with raisins for a job well done. Raisins are her favorite treat! Now, she'll announce that she needs to go to the bathroom, run quickly, pull her panties down, and climb the big toilet all by herself. She'll call for us when she's finished. It is so crazy to see her being so independent! And needless to say, I'm thankful for no more dirty diapers (that girl is more than regular, if you know what I mean.)

Another milestone happened this week! To avoid any potential falls down the stairs in the future, we moved Julip's room from upstairs to downstairs. To avoid me having to breakdown a crib and build it again, I decided it was time for a big girl bed! (I make it sound like it was an easy decision. Dustin had a lot of "talking me into it" going on for about a month or two now, ha). She has done SO WELL! I never could have imagined this easy of a transition. We set the pac'n'play up in her new room in case she tried to get out of bed. The plan was to make her sleep back in the "baby bed" if she didn't want to stay in her "big girl bed". We haven't had to use it once! She just falls right to sleep with her babydoll and raccoon. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's been easier doing the night routine in her new room/bed than it has ever been before. I think she's proud of herself! And I can literally notice a difference in her confidence as she takes on these new environments! 

                            

My sweet girl sleeping away. Futons work as GREAT toddler beds (so far)!

Julip has also been such a sweet big sister. She helps me around the house getting diapers or wipes, reading for her baby sister, and announcing, "Ewalese is awake, Mom!" when she hears baby noises in the morning. I often times find her "nursing" and swaddling her babydolls. It melts my heart. 

I'm so thankful for a "Little Momma" around the house. 

Sometimes Julip and I get to have a Trader Joe's date just the two of us. I'm pretty sure it's both of our favorite place to visit. She just recently got to push the cart around all by herself. She did so well,  likely because she gets to practice with her own cart at home all the time. (Thanks Uncle Wayne for her favorite possession! She gets so upset when I try to put her toys in the cart back in their proper place. Silly girl!)

     Notice how she put her bunny in the baby seat? And her little toe nails are painted purple! 

She has gotten to the point where she can say whatever she needs to say to communicate well with us. It's amazing how kid's vocabularies just pick up words and phrases so quickly! My favorite things she says nowadays include, "It don't matter!" in a really southern accent (thanks to Chase!), "Totally dude!" (thanks to Finding Nemo), "Peace out!", randomly calling out to fellow shoppers and commenting, "I like your dress!" or "I like your hairs!", and telling her daddy when he leaves for work in the morning, "Don't leave us, Daddy!" (our attempt at making Daddy stay home with us. I can tell it really gets to him, haha!)

                        

 On Fridays (D's day off) we make a big breakfast and watch travel documentaries like Rick Steves and Samantha Brown. I was just a little older than Julip when I moved to Germany! It is one of the most defining things that ever happened to me and I'm more than open to that for our family one day.  I love her little German voice! 

Other facts about Julip:

• Her best friend is still Pizza
• She can sing all of Rainbow Connection and mildly obsessed with the muppets! 
• She loves talking in this funny man voice when she's trying to make you laugh. (Gee, I wonder where she got funny voices from...)
• She'll eat nearly anything we ask including salmon as long as she gets a raisin for each big bite. Incentives totally works! She also likes spicy food! 
• She loves being naked. Like all the time. I have to keep panties on standby near the door for when visitors stop by. 
• She loves brushing her teeth (without toothpaste- one day we're going to rock her world). 
• Her favorite phrase is, "I can do it by myself!"
• She gets in trouble everyday for trying to "help" her baby sister roll over or pick her up. 
• Her daddy taught her to say, "Go Ole Miss, Hotty Toddy, I hate State!" haha (sorry family)
• She loves praying for her friends and family every night and has an impressive rotation for everyone.
• She has gotten pretty clever with prolonging going to sleep at night. She always begs for, "More water... more songs... more pray... more kisses... more hugs... more book... one more time." It can get pretty ridiculous, but is endearing! 
• She is starting to form memories!
• She loves telling people, "Happy Birthday!" all the time. 
• When she sneezes it sounds like she's saying, "Ahhh-chooom!" and she always tells herself, "Bless you, Jubie!" haha
• She tries to whistle like me but always just makes a high pitch noise through pursed lips. 
• She is TOTALLY an extravert and is really interested in people. At the zoo, she'd rather watch people watching the animals than the actual animals. Every time. 
• Her favorite movie (maybe because she's only seen two ever) is Finding Nemo! 
• She loves the beach and mountains (my kind of girl!)
• She finally, after 2.5 years got to try CHOCOLATE for the first time and really enjoyed it (duh!). It was gourmet dark chocolate. We're letting her enjoy treats with us from now on (as long as they aren't nutrient void) :)
• Her favorite places are Trader Joes and Whole Foods, the Zoo, and Church. I think those are mine, too, ha! 
• She loves reading books and will say (in a really loud voice), "Adippy dippy da, a dippy da, dippy dippy da" when pretending to read aloud. 
• Her favorite animal is probably a kitty cat, with dogs, chickens, seals, turtles, and owls following closely behind. 
• She loves the sound of thunder (like me) and watching the rain! 
• She literally eats nearly a cup of nuts a day (by choice). She is obsessed with almonds, peanuts, and walnuts. I buy them every time I go to the store! Same with blueberries. We go through 10lb bags of frozen blueberries every other month. Crazy. 
• She loves wearing my clothes, shoes, and has lots of purses. She loves jewelry, "toe paint" and makeup and always want's to "show Mirror" her outfits. I have no idea where this girly girl came from. But at the same time, she loves getting dirty, climbing trees, and always has a scraped knee. AND I've caught her in her daddy's boxers on multiple occasions. Good balance, I think! 
• She comforts her sister all the time by saying, "It's okay, baby Ewalese!" or '"Were almost home, Sister!" 
• The nursery worker always tells her she's busy, so when she makes a mess she looks at me and says, "I'm too busy, momma!" Thankfully, she doesn't sense that that's not a compliment, ha! 
• She has started calling her sister, "Lula, Lula, Lula" like her Bobo does. 

Can you tell, I really like my little Julibelle? I'm so thankful for such a sweet, healthy, active, adventurous, kind, independent, loving, busy girl! 

I hope she always likes me (but... I don't have high expectations)!

with Love, 

this momma crow who thinks her baby crows are the blackest