"I No Like It"

Going down the slide

Swinging

Last week I had the flu so I was confined to my bedroom for a few days so I wouldn't get the rest of the family sick. I am feeling much better (except for chest congestion) and we were able to take the girls to the park again on Sunday. They love it there so we are excited about putting up the girls own little playground in the backyard in the next few weeks. Neale and I were happy to finally be outside in nice weather too. It is amazing how much happier we seem to be when the sun is shining!

The girls' new popular saying is "I no like it." If they don't like the song on the radio, the snack I give them, etc. they immediately tell me. The girls love to dance to two Zac Brown songs but when I turn on other songs they almost always tell me "I no like it." Taylor will actually pitch a fit if you don't play the right song and start kicking and jumping around. She is really into her music and dancing. I have taken lots of videos of it so I need to post some. Every day the girls come up to me and say "Dance". It is their favorite thing to do next to playing outside.

Neale and I often talk about how different the girls' personalities are. We have decided that Kaylie is a rule follower. She likes to do the right thing and she wants to make sure that Taylor does too. If Taylor is not doing the right thing Kaylie will tell her to and get right in her face so she can look at her in the eyes and put her hands up in the air like she is explaining it to her. She will start by saying "T" like she is trying to make sure Taylor is paying attention and then she goes on with her explanation and nods her head. Of course, Taylor could care less. She is probably going to do the opposite of what you tell her to because she thinks it is funny.

Mommy and Daddy Time

View from our room balcony

For Christmas I gave Neale a trip skiing so we went to Beech, NC for the long weekend. This is the first time we have been skiing together in the 12+ years we have been together. My last ski experience in high school was spent on the ground (probably because I went to the top of the tallest slope at Snowshoe WVA and didn't have any clue how to ski- no bunny slope for me). I was amazed what a difference it makes if you actually go on the bunny slope first and teach yourself how to ski! I am actually not so bad at it. I only fell 3 times the whole weekend (and once I made myself so I wouldn't go into the woods and another other time I was walking...haha). Neale can ski well but fell pretty hard a few times. We both had a great time. The first day it was in the high 40's and sunny. The second day was cold and windy so it was a little hard for this beach girl to tolerate. I have lived in SC my whole life and I have always said that I will never live north of SC. After this weekend I can confirm that. We really had a great time though.

The girls stayed with Nana and Granddad Stovall (Thank you so much!). We called to check in on them when we had a phone signal and the girls would say "Hi Mommy" and kiss the phone. They told the girls "Mama is skiing" and the girls replied "Mama working". When we got home Kaylie ran right to me and wouldn't let go. She was giving me hugs and kisses and I was definitely feeling the love. Taylor on the other hand turned her back to us and actually put her nose up in the air. She was mad at us! It took her a while to get over but she is now back to her loving little self.

While they were with Nana and Granddad they went to the Zoo and Gaddytown. Nana and Granddad said the monkeys at the zoo were loud and the girls (especially Taylor) were scared of them and did not like them. The girls were still talking about the "bad monkeys" when we were driving home.

The girls are talking so much! When they are eating dinner they tell me "I like it" or "I don't want it". They put their plates in the sink when they are done eating and throw away their trash in the trashcan. They are such sweet loving little girls.

"Love You Too!"

The other night I put the girls to bed and as I was leaving I said "I love you" and started walking out of the room. I heard Taylor shout "Love you too!". We then began a "Love you" "Love you too" back and forth to each other until I was downstairs. Hearing her baby voice saying "love you too" melted my heart!

Those who know me know that I sneeze a lot and that it doesn't sound like a normal sneeze. I was having one of my regular 8 sneezes in a row fits and Taylor looked up at me and said "Bless you." So sweet.

Sunday Neale and I took the girls to The Market Common to walk around and play on the playground. George and Cissie ("Papa" and "Gungie" to the girls) met us there. The girls had a big time looking at the birds and the ducks in the pond and playing on the playground. They loved the slide. Taylor was pretty bold and had no hesitation in climbing up or going down the slide (although her face showed some fear in the photos when she was actually going down). Kaylie was a little more hesitant. She liked it but she hung out at the top of the slide while Taylor lapped her a few times. Looks like it is about time to put up the playground the grandparents got them for their birthdays!

Sentences and Silliness

My silly little girls

My Sweet "T"

Kaylie would only smile when she was doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing

And of course...Taylor joined in

Kaylie

Taylor looking at the ocean

Taylor loved walking around. Kaylie was freezing so stayed right beside mama

This is Kaylie's attempt at doing a pose I asked her to do. Not exactly what I envisioned but we are getting there.

I stole sissy's bunny!

Peek a Book with Sissy

"I Get You" as they say

The "Hi" and "Bye" Games are Taylor's Favorite

Talking on my Dora phone

Wiping my nose

Cleaning Sissy's Hand

My little couch potato

At two years old I just need someone to open the refrigerator to get Daddy a drink!

The girls are speaking in sentences these days. They are able to communicate and get their point across which is nice but also makes me sad at the same time because they are growing up way too fast.

The girls love to be silly. They love to laugh and make everyone else laugh. They love to dance, eat with spoons, dress up, play with puzzles, go potty, take baths with their Ariel dolls, go to "Applebees!", color, watch "Pony" in the car (My Little Pony movie), and dress themselves.

Tonight the girls and I were going to dance before bedtime. I told them we were going to dance and started dancing and they both had a fit. I was wondering what was wrong and then they showed me. They ran over to the cd player and tried to turn on the music. Apparently you can't dance without The Zac Brown Band playing. As soon as I turned on Zac Brown they were dancing away.

The teacher at daycare told me today that Taylor had a toy that Kaylie wanted. Kaylie had a fit because Taylor had it so Taylor put it down and went and sat in the teacher's lap. She said it hurt Taylor's feelings so bad that Kaylie was upset that she threw down the toy and wanted nothing to do with it. She said Taylor is a sweet girl and very sweet to her sissy. Taylor does always try to hug and kiss Kaylie but Kaylie usually won't let her. Kaylie tries to tell Taylor what she is supposed to do. If Taylor isn't doing what Kaylie thinks she is supposed to be doing Kaylie will run up to her and turn her head sideways and point her finger at Taylor and tell her what she should be doing.

Kaylie is very independent. She gets in trouble and I fuss at her and she throws herself on the ground but then she always cries for mama (even if it is me that she is mad at) and once I hold her and she cries it out she is all better.

We have our "Terrible Two" moments but mostly the girls are sweet, loving, and kind. They are happy and giggly and I am so proud of them.