"I Fly by Myself"

Arwen Grace is a water baby ... well, water toddler that is. She is also an "i do myself" one too ... which makes it interesting at the pool when she wants to swim (which she calls "flying") by herself before she can actually swim!

She was apprehensive with jumping in ... and she didn't really "jump" (which doesn't overly surprise me, since she just learn to jump on "land.") ... she did more of tipping over, her feet never leaving their spot. ;) She likes for you to "help" her jump into the water, where she then wants to "fly" in the water ... yep, "by myself." she changes her mind if you let your hands barely off of her and she starts to go under, so fortunately we haven't had any fits over it ... yet. :)

She can go under but not to stay. She doesn't like to, but is happy when she does IF she doesn't get water in her nose or mouth ... but that makes sense to me. I still have a hard time swimming or going under the water without holding my nose and i'm 27 (i think!). Arwen Grace may be our little swimmer if she can grasp on to some techniques. I don't believe she will be swimming on her own yet ... but maybe enough were she won't be so scared next year. We are thinking about lessons for them both next year which will give me some one-on-one time with the baby in the pool. So we will see ...

and here's Arwen Grace ...

this is Arwen Grace. she is 2 years old and is full of energy. she loves to dance and sing and make everyone laugh. she loves to be the focus in the room and tends to be with her charm and silliness.

yes, she has a sister who is almost 4 but i doubt Gracie ever notices. she keeps up with her in most things. she loves to run with or chase Lillian. she sings right along with Lillian in the car, though by herself she tends to sing the same line over and over again. she and Lillian make up dances and spin and twirl to about any music they hear ... they are starting to dress up too!

Arwen Grace has recently started "cooking" for us in their kitchen. she likes to ask "what do you want?" and then tries to fix it for you, but will get quite upset when Lillian cooks it for you first. Arwen Grace isn't likely to let her get away with that and is usually put on the "naughty chair" (aka: Time Out) for hitting, screaming, or throwing things. so we have no worries that she can't stand her own ground ... just are wondering how long it will take to teach her the right way to do that.

She is also a great eater. She eats just about everything you give to her. Every now and then she chooses not to eat something, but will eat it another day. But that is Arwen Grace, always knowing what she wants and how she wants it ... kind of like her mommie. :)

now about this baby ... Arwen Grace can't wait to be a big sister. she just is in awe over babies when she sees them. she just wants to stare and touch and hug and kiss them all at the same time! she likes to pick out clothes for the baby at the store ... unfortunately because we don't know what we are having, we don't tend to buy them. but she is set on giving the baby a Pooh Bear ... so we will let her give that to the baby when she meets him or her in the hospital.

she loves helping look through their old baby clothes and toys and help pick them out and put them away. and as the timing gets closer, she will probably enjoy helping set up the babies things in Lucky's and my room ... but she is waiting on her trundle bed to come in the mail because she will be sharing a room with Lillian. so hopefully she will be okay with the baby taking "her" place. she will have a mattress on our floor to use if needed, so it isn't like she is being booted out for good. :)

big changes are happening in all of our lives and will continue to do so for quite awhile. but miss Arwen Grace adds flavor in our life, a certain amount of sweetness with a ton of craziness! keep tuned in for more of her and her little and funny world.

what was your favorite part of the day?

while putting Arwen Grace down one night, she asked (like she does so much) ... "what was your favorite part of the day?" so i answered that i enjoyed going to the grocery store with Lillian since she behaved so nicely. and then i asked her, "what was your favorite part of the day?" she normally answers "going to Yum-Yum's" (a hot dog/ice cream place in Greensboro) or something that she did that day like going to the pool, and now the beach and the aquarium. but not this night ... she said without hesitation ... "poking Lillian."

LOL ... hey, at least she is honest!