Two and a Half

Mary Frances turned two and a half just days after Margaret was born.  She is so proud of that half, too!  When we went for Margaret's one month check up, I took Mary Frances with me.  Our pediatrician asked Mary Frances if she was two.  She said very matter of fact, "No, I am two and a half."  That half is very important!

Big girl showing off her craft

Two and a half is a lot of fun while a lot of work at the same time.  Mary Frances is full of personality, likes, dislikes, independence, and energy.  Mix all of those things together and you have one toddler who knows what she wants, when she wants it and is not afraid to tell you!  We work a lot on words, tone of voice and attitude.  Mary Frances is also learning what it means to think of others and to do what someone else wants to do, even if she doesn't want to do it.  It's a very hard lesson to learn, even for adults!  I have to admit, I am not always very good at doing that.

Learning to ride her new scooter at the park

Mary Frances has an enormous vocabulary and is very articulate.  She loves to talk and talks almost nonstop.  Paul likes to comment that between Mary Frances and me he can hardly get a word in.  Mary Frances loves to tell stories.  Sometimes the stories are actual events that happened throughout the day or in the past.  Other times she makes up a story and mixes several events/people together from her books, shows, friends, etc.  She has such an imagination and it is fun to see it at work!

Just like mommy!

Mary Frances is also a very caring, loving two and a half year old.  She never ceases to amaze me with how she is so kind to Margaret and her little baby dolls.  She is a little mother, for sure, rocking, feeding and nurturing those babies!  She also is very concerned with helping people feel better.  When we talk about the children I take care of at the hospital or her sick friends, Mary Frances always offers to help them feel better.  Maybe we have a future nurse on our hands!

Helping Margaret look in the mirror

Sister time!  Looking forward to when they can have
"pillow talk"

At the park with her baby

I love my little girl so much!  I just wish time could stand still forever.  Whenever I make comments about Mary Frances getting so big or growing taller, she always comments, "No mom, I want to stay little!"  I wish she could, but I do love watching her grow up into the sweet, beautiful little girl she is becoming.

Love,
Katy