Seize the Day!

Forgive me for being sappy here, but when I brought my baby home from the hospital almost 2 years ago, I specifically remember walking in the door that very first day and looking around my house thinking of all the baby proofing we'd soon need to do. Even though I knew we still had time before she'd start running around, getting into things, I knew it would come quicker than I was ready. And I specifically remember rocking her one day, trying hard to visualize what it would be like to have a 2-year-old in the house. Don't ask me why, but try as I might, I just could not picture it! I couldn't see past the newborn. I couldn't see past the sleepy eyes, and the soft cries. I couldn't see past the tiny onesies and the little clutched fists. And to be honest, I didn't want to.
 And so it's been with every stage of her life, I've blindfolded my eyes to the future and learned to savor each and every moment of her life...living in the 'now'.
 One month from today, we will officially say goodbye to this sassy One-year-old, and say hello to an energetic two-year-old who is determined to grow up entirely too fast. But before we welcome the "terrific two's",  I thought it would be fun to plan a few more one-year-old activities together.

Her First Play Dough!

Now that she's not shoving everything into her mouth and trying to eat things anymore (I won't miss
that stage), I thought it would be fun to make some play dough. I remember my mom making home made play dough for my brother and I when we were little. I used a no fuss recipe that was pretty simple.

1 cup cold water

 2 cups of flower

 1 cup of salt

 2teaspoons oil

 2 tablespoons cornstarch

 A few drops of blue food coloring (turned out a mint green after I added the flower)

 She didn't know what to think of it at first, but once I showed her how to pound it, pull it a part and roll it, she had a blast!

 Boxes and Crayons

Why is it that whenever you get busy trying to make a meal, or clean up after a meal, or whatever else you have going on, that is the very moment your toddler starts whining and tugging on you? In our house, if I don't have dinner ready by 5PM sharp, my toddler melts like a puddle on the kitchen floor whining and crying and wanting me to hold her. On this particular day, I was running late and she simply had to wait. So, I grabbed a box from the garage, dumped some crayons and a few pieces of chalk, and she sat there happily drawing for 20 minutes until I was able to finish dinner.

Colored Spaghetti

 Today we did a bit more sensory play. I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought I would try it.  And again, I LOVE that she's not putting everything in her mouth and trying to eat things. It makes these activities so much more fun.  Who knew that a box of cooked spaghetti and a little bit of food coloring (and vegetable oil to keep it all from sticking together) would be so much fun for a toddler? She started with one little noodle, unsure of what to do with it. And she ended with a big pile of multi-colored noodles on her lap. 

Dress up!

And what kid doesn't like to dress up. We've been doing lots of dressing up lately, anywhere from the silly clowning-around look, to the dress-like-a-lady look. I love these silly moments. The moments of complete oblivion on her part. She has no idea how ridiculously silly she looks, nor how utterly adorable, but she doesn't care. It's all part of exploring and having fun!

On this particular day, Mommy got out her old Caboodle. Remember when the Caboodle's first came out? I got one for Christmas when I was in my early teens and I loved that thing! My Grandma Higgs would give me a few pieces of her old jewelry every time I visited, and I slowly had a collection of jewelry, make-up and all sorts of girly things in my Caboodle. I decided to pull it out one morning and show Nylah. She was all too eager to put the bracelets on, and explore all the contents. And this was the day we painted her toes for the first time.

 Grandma Higgs pearls that I wore on my wedding day. :)

One thing is for sure, this year has not been a waste. It's been a year packed full of adventures, not just for this little girl, but for her Mama and Daddy as well. When I look back to all the things we've done, I honestly don't have any regrets. One day when she's older, she will have so many pictures to look back on. For each and every month of her almost 2 years of life, I have a folder of pictures documenting all that's we've done. There's not a month that goes by, that doesn't have a folder.  I can't wait to see what the Terrific Two's have to offer!