Giggles + The Grump: Trevor & Jessica's Kid

This blog post has been sponsored by Thomas the Train.

Making sure everything is just right...on the bed...where LT can't get to it

I just re-read the last post we did for LC, which sadly was 9 months ago, and she sounds like a little baby. Somehow in those nine months we've gone from a two year old to a teenager. The things she says make me laugh every day. She speaks so well, it is like having a conversation an adult sometimes. Some of my favorites are when you ask her if she wants to do something: "No, not right now. Soon." A similar response: "No, I'm good." She delivers these responses often while sitting on my bed or the couch with her legs crossed completely occupied with whatever she's up to. For a long time, we were simply known as Trevor and Jessica instead of Mommy and Daddy. She is trying to exert her independence more every day, even suggesting that she should drive the van by herself to Walgreens to get medicine for Daddy.

Waiting for the car keys, apparently

LC also recently learned how to ask questions. What number you are? What is your favorite color? What is your favorite train? How old you be on your birthday party? What's LT doing? Where's Grandma/Mimi/PopPop/Aunt Ashley? What is that doggie's name?
The list is seems endless, but she mostly gets one question in her head and asks it several times in several different ways. It is awesome to see her little brain processing all of these questions and answers, but it does get annoying after a few hours.

She has officially reached the point of understanding everything we say, so we've really had to be careful and usually end up spelling certain words. She's started picking up on idioms and phrases we use, so it's pretty funny when she repeats them. LC is also starting to discover her feelings and try to express them to us--we're currently on scared/scary, so a lot of things in this world--even LT--are scary. It's really sweet to hear her try to express herself, but you can't help but laugh when she picks some completely innocuous object, describes it as scary and makes us remove it from her sight.

But hanging upside down for extended periods isn't scary

Thomas is still number one in a lot ways, but when it comes to actually watching a show on TV, Chuggington is the big favorite--both LC and LT love that show. LC has gotten very in to each of the characters, so Trevor and I are now experts on who every "chugger" is, whether they are a boy or a girl, what they say, what color eyes they have and how old they are. She still watches some Barney, and is starting to get in to Super Why. The Thomas tent and ride-on train are still both favorite toys for both kids, and LC usually sleeps in her Tommy jammies, on her Tommy blanket, clutching her stuffed Tommy doll. He's a cheeky little engine.

Sadly, there is no Thomas paraphernalia discount club

LC has also gotten in to arts and crafts. She loves to paint and use crayons, stamps and markers, and she is very proud when she finishes a picture or project. She loves to put her art in Daddy's work bag so he can put it up in his office. She also loves play-doh, but that can be difficult to use with LT around as he tends to eat it or feed it to the dog.

Speaking of LT--or "bro-shack" as she calls him--they are starting to play together more and more. He loves to chase her around the house while she yells about how fast she is. And they love to go in to a bedroom and close the door and run around and scream. When I open it and ask what they are up to, LC will answer "Close the door, Mommy! We're PLAYING" Um, ok. LT can't really be trusted to not climb a wall or hang from the ceiling fan when unattended, so they don't get much alone play time yet. As LT starts to assert himself and LC grows more aware of her little world, they are definitely testing each other and fighting more, but so far it mostly love between them.

Future partners in crime

It's amazing interacting with LC because she seems so advanced for her age. We have so many long, coherent conversations with her (often about trains), that we sometimes forget she's not even three. We find ourselves getting aggravated when she does something childish, forgetting that every kid that age does the same things. Each week she gets a little bigger, so we've been really trying to take things easy and enjoy our baby girl--I'm sure it won't be long before Mom and Dad aren't cool, so we'll take as much "awesome" time as we can get.